In cinemas this week: Vin Diesel kills it as ‘rebirthed’ revenge-thirsty superhuman in Bloodshot

Vin Diesel getting the lead role in Bloodshot is quite fitting, writes Craig Campbell.

It was 30 years ago that he began his acting career, about the same time that Valiant Comics were starting.

Now Vin plays the superhero character brought to us by Valiant, and they couldn’t have chosen better.

It’s the first of a series of films planned in a so-called shared cinematic universe, and there are few stars better equipped for pulling off such roles.

This first tale sees Marne Ray Garrison, Diesel’s character, assassinated along with his wife.

A team of very clever boffins “rebirth” him, with enhancements that make him superhuman and a bit of a biotech killing machine.

Bloodshot is the name and, when he eventually remembers what happened to his old self and his wife, he breaks out of his facility and goes after the baddies.

Alas, along the way, Bloodshot realises the conspiracy runs deeper than he had thought.

Nobody does this stuff like Vin Diesel, though he still doesn’t quite believe he’s so popular.

“I am flattered that they think that many people would enjoy my work,” admits the 52-year-old, who has Scots, English and German roots.

“I don’t approach any genre a different way than I may approach another one. I treat every role I do like a role worthy of applying whatever kind of talent I have.”

He has definite ideas about films in a series.

“Sequels should be premeditated,” he stresses. “At least sketch out a trilogy if you have any faith in your film.”

Bloodshot is released on Friday March 13.