“Sworn to destroy those known as the Lycans”, Kate Beckinsale will return to star as Selene the Death Dealer in the 5th instalment of the “Underworld” film franchise.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actress has signed on to reprise her vampire role in the 5th “Underworld” film while director Anna Foerster, who will be making her feature directorial debut through the sequel of “Source Code”, is set to helm the project.
Beckinsale isn’t the only one returning to the franchise as “Divergent” star Theo James is fulfilling an option agreement to reprise his role from 2012’s “Underworld: Awakening”. It is still unclear whether India Eisley will return to play Eve, Selene and Michael Corvin’s (played by Scott Speedman) hybrid daughter.
Tentatively titled “Underworld: Next Generation”, the movie will be based on a screenplay written by Cory Goodman. Lakeshore Entertainment and Screen Gems have kept mum on the plot details, but it is said to “focus on a new and younger generation of vampires and werewolves who are locked in a seemingly never-ending battle between supernatural races”.
Foerster previously served as director of photography and 2nd unit director for Mark Gordon-produced films such as “White House Down”, “10,000 B.C.”, “Independence Day”, and “The Day After Tomorrow”. Her portfolio also includes “Criminal Minds”, “Army Wives”, and “Outlander”.
She will be the first female filmmaker to direct a movie from the successful horror franchise. She was hired to direct the female-led horror franchise before the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asked for an investigation regarding the “systemic failure to hire women directors at all levels of the film and television industry.”
Filming for the 5th “Underworld” movie will begin in Prague this October.
Beckinsale will be seen next in Relativity’s supernatural thriller “The Disappointments Room” and Whit Stillman’s Jane Austen adaptation of “Love and Friendship”. She will also appear in “Absolutely Anything“, in which she stars opposite Simon Pegg and Robin Williams.
(Source: THR / Featured image)
