Yes, Vin Diesel wore special, prototype contact lenses to achieve the distinctive eye look for his character, Richard B. Riddick, in the film Pitch Black (2000) and its subsequent sequels. These custom-made lenses were crucial for depicting Riddick's unique "eyesight" – his ability to see in the dark, often referred to as "shine" or "eyeshine."
The Challenges of Riddick's Contacts
While essential for the character's visual identity, the prototype contact lenses posed significant challenges during the production of Pitch Black.
- Prototype Issues: The contacts were experimental, and their new design led to complications.
- Removal Difficulties: After the very first day of filming, the crew encountered extreme difficulty removing the lenses from Diesel's eyes. This unforeseen problem required immediate attention.
- Emergency Optometrist: Due to the remote filming location, an optometrist had to be specially flown in from the nearest town, a journey of three hours, just to safely remove the lenses.
- "Hubcaps" Nickname: Vin Diesel himself humorously referred to these bulky and problematic contacts as "hubcaps," highlighting their unwieldy nature.
Despite these initial hurdles, the iconic glowing eyes became a hallmark of the Riddick character, contributing significantly to his mysterious and formidable presence on screen. The use of practical effects like these specialized contact lenses helped establish a unique visual aesthetic for the critically acclaimed science fiction film.
For more interesting facts about the film and its production, you can explore Pitch Black (2000) trivia on IMDb.
