Vin Diesel has appeared in a new official photo from Riddick.

The actor is seen sitting on a vehicle in the pouring rain in the dark shot, which was unveiled on Diesel's Facebook page, Digital Spy reported.

Diesel reprises his role as the eponymous escaped convict in the upcoming sequel to Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick.

Riddick will be released at US theatres including IMAX on September 6, 2013. The film will receive an R rating, the first in the franchise's history.

Writer/director David Twohy, who is best known for his work on The Fugitive, returns to the series to direct.

Karl Urban also reprises his role from the sequel, alongside a cast including Katee Sackhoff, Jordi Mollà, Matt Nable, Bokeem Woodbine, Nolan Gerard Funk, Keri Hilson and WWE's Dave Bautista.