VIN DIESEL - VIN DIESEL DEFENDS SEQUEL CHOICE

Movie hunk VIN DIESEL has fiercely defended his decision to make movie sequel THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK - insisting he is not rushing headlong into a string of follow-ups.

Instead, the 37-year-old actor, who plays RIDDICK in the sequel to PITCH BLACK, hopes to branch out into more challenging roles.

Diesel - real name MARK VINCENT - says, "I think the franchise world is very, very dangerous for an actor. Our generation doesn't remember how it has treated actors of years gone by.

"I think you have to be very careful about which sequels you decide to do. I remember when KEANU REEVES decided not to do SPEED 2 and it was: 'Is he crazy?!'"