Vin Diesel: Reclusiveness of 'Riddick' Was Taxing

Vin Diesel is donning the leather battle gear and getting that see-in-the-dark ability tuned up for his new film sci-fi/action/adventure/horror film Riddick.

Riddick is a sequel to the 2004 action flick The Chronicles of Riddick, which was itself a sequel/spin-off of the 2000 sci-fi/horror gem Pitch Black.

RELATED: Five Things You Didn't Know About Vin Diesel

In the films, Vin Diesel plays the eponymous Riddick, who is a mercenary, a warrior, and overall super-fighter. Riddick has surgically-altered eyes, allowing him to see clearly in the dark, and, like most action heroes, can wipe out an army of foes single-handedly.

But all the work needed to go into a film like this is a tall order. On the red carpet premiere of the film, Diesel talked to ET about the physicality of a movie like Riddick.

"The physicality is intense. Most of the characters I play call for physicality," Diesel said, referring to the many action roles he's played in the past, including XXX and the Fast and Furious franchise.

PICS: Check Out Hollywood's Hottest Movie Posters!

Although, according to Diesel, it wasn't the physical training that was the toughest part, it was getting into the his character's headspace.

"The kind of reclusive nature of the character was probably the most taxing. So it was very good for me to, three months after that, go back to the family setting, like Fast 6. Because that Riddick character can be a very lonely character at times."

RELATED: Vin Diesel Went To A Dark Place for Riddick

Check out the video for more from Vin Diesel about the franchise, and hear from other stars of Riddick about what it was like to work with the action icon.

Riddick hits theaters September 6.