Proof that 40K inspirations in Chronicles of Riddick are intentional?

Question

Is there any kind of direct mention anywhere, (like in an interview or something) or at least strong indirect evidence, that the striking similarities between aspects of The Chronicles of Riddick and Warhammer 40,000; such as, for example, between the Necromongers and the Imperium of Man, are deliberate to any degree? This is something that's been bugging me for years.

It's well-known, of course, that Vin Diesel played tabletop games, and that he had some creative control over the series, (in fact, I remember hearing an apocryphal story somewhere that the character of Riddick himself was based on a Drow character that Diesel had played in a long-running D&D campaign) so it's not that outlandish to try to make this connection, but is there any evidence beyond just speculation?

Answer 1

Works created within the same culture often have shared aesthetics and tropes (e.g. Japanese mecha anime of the same era often share many aesthetic similarities and motifs, likewise with works of American sci-fi or fantasy). But I don't think most people would connect the two franchises as you have, and based on my own research, I can't find any evidence of 40k influencing Chronicles.

Seriously? You don't see any similarities between two civilizations which both purport to conquer or, if not possible, exterminate, all worlds of man, both use extensive skull/death cult imagery and gothic-type architecture in their ships, armor, etc., both are highly religious Imperiums on a great crusade, both value martial prowess to an extreme extent, both have a tendency to hook partially-dead people up to their computers, both destroy planets they have no further use for, etc. etc.? They don't seem like almost exactly the same to you? Really?

1. Expansionist/militaristic empires are a common trope (tvtropes warning) in fiction and in reality (the British Empire, the French Empire, the Nazis, Imperial Japan, the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, etc.). Star Wars alone contains several sci-fi examples of this: the Infinite Empire, Yuuzhan Vong and, of course, the Galactic Empire. Star Trek provides the Borg, Klingons, Romulans, Terran Empire, Dominion, etc. Most of these empires have policies of convert/subjugate or exterminate, and many are driven by pseudo-religious ideology and fanaticism.
2. Many militaristic societies in life use dark/aggressive imagery, so that's not really a meaningful connection, either. Skulls and death heads are not unique to 40K. But, even if they were, skulls don't feature prominently in Necromonger imagery, if at all. Necromonger iconography consists primarily of sculpted faces, rounded and ribbed/grooved clamshell armor and a very "high fashion" look.
3. Since writers naturally draw conscious or unconscious inspiration from the same notorious historical military empires, there are bound to be a few coincidental similarities. But the 40k Imperium of Man is a unique blend of crusader + Nazi + Roman iconography (though the Nazis themselves also drew heavily from the Romans, so it's hard to say what comes from where). Whereas, production interviews reveal that Twohy wanted to create something very unique, and the production crew ended up drawing inspiration from "the works of legendary sculptor and fashion illustrator Erte, one of the originators of the Art Deco style" and "the creations of Filippo Negroli (an Italian Renaissance armor designer), modified to reflect the stealth and post-modern technology of the Necromongers" (Cinema Review - Production Notes: The Chronicles of Riddick).

Others have also noted that Twohy seemed to be channeling Dune in Chronicles (whereas Pitch Black was clearly paying homage to Alien/Aliens), but this question is the first time I've come across anyone linking Chronicles with 40K.

Answer 2

While I'd like to agree that they were the imperium of man lets look at the facts;

While they share a certain architecture both have distinct philosophical differences

• the imperium of man does not like Xenos now while that doesn't mean much yet what we know of the Necromongers is that they are on eof the 4 ancient races (not necessarily man), yet they seem to take any humanoid who is both willing and worthy.
• the imperium of man may be agressive in it expansion and it treatment of outsiders but it home rule is somewhat different; while you may be subjet to routine house searches have you data searched and maybe even burnt as a heritic (if your lucky) you know this isn't random infact the amount of paperwork needed to go through the ministerium before they do almost anything is ridiculous. so not a rule by might but bureaucracy.
• while both are heavily religious one worships a man who has become a god (the god emperor of man) this man lives still (well certain people have seen that his life support has been shut down but the imperium as a whole doesn't know this) and is used as a rallying point to stay to what is human and breed an intense hatred to any who speak against them. whereas the Necromonger worship chaos and death.

Necrons maybe.... a primitive version

So in closing not the imperium of man maybe a cult of Korn with some slaanesh worship thrown in for fun.

And yeah on that note I'll say maybe but I've been looking closer at Necromunder the table top that takes place in a hive city with rival gangs whiles still in the 40k universe it seems to fit them better and may also explain the inspiration for the name.

Answer 3

I got the 40k vibe from the film for sure: I don’t think there is a direct analogue, but definitely similar vibes. They seem like a kinda of sort of mix of the imperium and necrons. It’s not one for one anywhere, but the vibe is there. Those lense dudes give me a real adeptus mechanicus vibe.