Kate Beckinsale will Return for Another 'Underworld' Film; TV Series in the Works

The Underworld franchise isn't going anywhere any time soon, not after four movies and more than $450M for the low-budget vampire flicks. Although Kate Beckinsale has been the lead "death dealer" for much of the series, a surprising move was made earlier this year when Theo James signed on to return and lead the fifth film, titled Underworld: Next Generation. So does that mean we've seen the last of Beckinsale's Selene? Not according to her husband and Underworld director, Len Wiseman, who should probably know a thing or two on the situation.

Appearing at NYCC over the weekend, Wiseman revealed to IGN that Beckinsale isn't done with Underworld just yet. Not only that, but we may be seeing the Vampire/Lycan war spread to TV!

Wiseman: There’s a few things being developed right now. There are some characters who we really liked that will be in a kind of a spin-off like we did with Rise of the Lycans, then we have another film in the works with Kate [Beckinsale] as well…and then there’s a television series. 

A television series seems like a natural move for the franchise, especially with so many new shows focusing on the supernatural world.

The spinoff Underworld: Next Generation would have Theo James returning as David, who previously appeared in 2012's Underworld: Awakening. It may also involve Eve (India Eisley), the hybrid daughter of Selene and her human lover, Michael (Scott Speedman). Filming is expected to begin next year with a script by Priest writer, Cory Goodman.

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Len Wiseman Directing 'Black Chapter'; Frank Marshall Takes 'The Longest Night'

* As the one responsible for the Underworld movies and part of the Sleepy Hollow producing team, Len Wiseman knows his way around the supernatural genre. He rarely stays away from it for long (remember he directed Live Free or Die Hard), and now he's getting back in with the supernatural thriller, Black Chapter. The story he developed with writer Zak Penn follows an "FBI agent who is drawn into a classified military program that trains its operatives to use paranormal activities.” Let's see if he finds a role for his wife, Kate Beckinsale, as he usually does. [Variety]

* Indiana Jones and Jurassic World producer Frank Marshall is about to direct his first film since 2006's Eight Below. He's agreed to helm real life tale, The Longest Night, adapted from Sean Flynn's GQ article about  “a true-life Coast Guard rescue operation undertaken against the most impossible odds.” Sounds potentially interesting, although Marshall is hardly the most inspiring of filmmakers. We'll see if he's as chatty about this one as he is with the blockbusters he produces. [THR]

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Len Wiseman to direct 'The Mummy' reboot

Despite this summer's dull and tedious Total Recall remake mostly crapping the bed here in the States, the film actually did pretty well overseas. The $170M worldwide total is indicative of the trend when it comes to Len Wiseman-directed flicks. They tend to do average business here, while scoring big on the foreign market where  they love to watch mediocre American action movies. Wiseman's Underworld franchise fits into that category as well. But the fact remains he does make money, and Universal must be happy with him, because they've picked him to lead their reboot of The Mummy.

It was earlier this year we learned of the studio's plan to reboot the classic movie monster, with Transformers duo Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci producing. Jon Spaihts(Prometheus) would be writing the script, and the trio seemed to indicate Universal's plan to really move the ball forward with a fresh approach. The hiring of Wiseman sorta contradicts that, as he's not exactly a director I see as being especially creative.

There is some recent history between Orci, Kurtzman, and Wiseman as they're teaming up on a Sleepy Hollow pilot, so I'm sure that figured into the decision. Still, this blunts my excitement a thousand fold. Hopefully they'll make a smarter choice with their Van Helsing relaunch which has Tom Cruise attached. [Deadline]

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Underworld 4 official title and plot details revealed

We learned back in September that Kate Beckinsale would be slipping into the black leather once again for a fourth installment of the Underworld franchise. Yay! At the time little was known other than the planned 3D release in January 2012. Well now that's changed.

BloodyDisgusting has managed to learn that the next film will be titled Underworld 4: New Dawn. Oh yay, another subtitle signifying rebirth of some sort. That's a new one. Why not just call it The Dark Vampire Rises? Or Werewolf Begins?  There's also a plot now, or atleast a tiny bit of one...

"After being held in a coma-like state for fifteen years, vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) learns that she has a fourteen-year-old vampire/Lycan hybrid daughter, Nissa, and when she finds her they must stop BioCom from creating super Lycans that will kill them all."
That's not official, so don't be surprised if it changes or is completely thrown out. I actually like the idea of following up on Selene's relationship with that human dude Scott Speedman played. Sorry, can't be bothered to look up his name.

The Swedish directing duo of Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein will be taking over the directing reins from Patrick Tatopoulos. Len Wiseman, who helmed the first two Underworld flicks, is still on board as a producer.

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