Michael Ealy joins the cast of Underworld: New Dawn

Despite extremely low expectations, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans proved to be a success even without it's star Kate Beckinsale in skin tight leather. After taking the film off, she's back in Underworld: New Dawn, which sees her character Selene emerging from a 15 year slumber to learn she has a 14 year old daughter. The two team up to stop BioCom from creating a race of Super Lycans.  Along with the returning Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy, she'll now reportedly be joined by fast rising star,  Michael Ealy.

Ealy can be held partially responsible for the mess that was Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls(his role was particularly ridiculous), but he was also very good in the urban heist flick, Takers. Check him out in the underrated thriller, November, starring Courteney Cox. Ealy will be playing a detective tracking down Selene, but ultimately ends up working with her.

New Dawn was written by J. Michael Straczynski(Ninja Assassin), and is being directed by the Swedish duo of Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein(Shelter). Shooting is already underway in Vancouver, with a January 20th, 2012 release date already set. Thanks to Deadline for the info on this story.