Beckinsale And James Set To Return For 'Underworld 5'

The action horror genre remains ever more ripe with lycan and vampire fandom for the current four-movie installment of the Underworld franchise which began in 2003, and it was just last August that Lakeshore Entertainment stated they were rebooting the franchise with a fifth film tentatively titled Underworld: Next Generation. At the time, a cast wasn't in place, but updates have arrived on this end and the franchise is officially going forward with two of its principal cast members.

THR writes that actress Kate Beckinsale is set to reprise her role as vampire warrior 'Selene' with the Divergent Series co-star, actor Theo James returning as her ally, David. Cory Goodman wrote the script for Anna Foerster, who directed episodes for Starz series, Outlander, and served as director of photography for the 2004 disaster flick, The Day After Tomorrow and 2013 hostage flick, White House Down, to helm with a story that will focus on a younger generation of werewolves and vampires.

The previous four films began as the brainchild of author and creator, franchise co-star and actor Kevin Grevioux, with Beckinsale leading the franchise along with actress Rhona Mitra in the epic story of forbidden love amidst a long and enduring war between royal vampire families and werewolf clans. Actors Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, and Scott Speedman also played key roles.

The sequel, Underworld: Evolution (2006), the prequelized third, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) and Evolution's follow-up, Underworld: Awakening (2012), were modest hits worldwide after the success of the first film, ultimately banking on its worldwide gross of well-over $450 million. Len Wiseman directed the first two films as well as produced all three follow-ups with Gary Lucchesi and Tom Rosenberg, who are also returning to produce the new film with Foerster, while details regarding previously stated plans for a TV series are still pending.

Underworld 5 awaits an official title to confirm while cameras are set to roll in Prague this October.

Stay tuned for more info!