Will the Underworld Film Franchise Move Forward Without Kate Beckinsale?

by

Vampire movies are incredibly popular, and fans enjoy them in all forms – from scary, monstrous creatures to attractive, romantic figures. The Underworld series is a prime example of this enduring appeal, becoming a regular fixture in theaters for almost ten years. The first Underworld film, made with a $22 million budget, earned close to $100 million worldwide, even though critics had mixed opinions. Despite some negative reviews, the producers continued the series, releasing four more films.

The success of the Underworld franchise launched Kate Beckinsale into stardom. She played the vampire Selene in four out of the five films, becoming the most recognizable face of the series. However, in a 2018 interview with Variety, Beckinsale definitively stated she wouldn’t reprise the role, simply saying, “I’ve done enough of those movies.”

For years, fans have hoped for a sixth Underworld movie, especially after the last film, Underworld: Blood Wars, left things on a cliffhanger. But recently, the creator of the series, Len Wiseman, announced they’re actually planning a fresh start with a reboot. It’s not clear if “reboot” is just a way to generate excitement, or if it means a completely new story. The big question now is whether this new film will continue the existing storyline, or if it will ignore everything that came before. And, of course, everyone is wondering what this means for Kate Beckinsale’s involvement and the future of the Underworld series.

The ‘Underworld’ Movies in Order


Sony Pictures

The Underworld series has consistently delivered action-packed vampire and werewolf movies for over two decades. Its distinctive dark visual style, early 2000s vibe, and science fiction take on traditional monsters set it apart. The original film centers on Selene (Kate Beckinsale) trying to safeguard Michael (Scott Speedman), a medical student targeted by werewolves—known as Lycans in the series—who are trying to create a powerful new hybrid. Following the success of the first Underworld movie in 2003, a prequel, Underworld: Evolution, was released in 2006 and performed even better in theaters both in the US and around the world.

Kate Beckinsale didn’t appear in the 2009 film, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, which told the story of how the vampire and werewolf conflict started. Though the movie was still successful, it made less money than the earlier films. She returned as Selene in 2012 for Underworld: Awakening, which became the most profitable movie in the series, earning $160 million globally. The film’s success was mainly due to Beckinsale’s involvement, and it also had the biggest budget of any Underworld movie, at $70 million.

The fifth Underworld movie, Underworld: Blood Wars, came out internationally in 2016 and in the U.S. in early 2017. However, it earned significantly less money than the previous film, Underworld: Awakening, bringing in almost half as much revenue after four years. Underworld: Blood Wars was the first movie in the series not to earn back its production costs in the United States, which likely signaled the end of the Underworld franchise. A complete look at the box office numbers for all five Underworld films is provided below.

Title Release Date Domestic Box Office Worldwide Box Office Budget
Underworld Sept. 19, 2003 $51,970,690 $95,708,457 $22 million
Underworld: Evolution Jan. 20, 2006 $62,318,875 $111,340,801 $45 million
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Jan. 23, 2009 $45,802,315 $91,085,163 $35 million
Underworld: Awakening Jan. 20, 2012 $62,321,039 $160,112,671 $70 million
Underworld: Blood Wars Nov. 24, 2016 $30,353,973 $81,093,313 $35 million

Why Did Beckinsale Depart the ‘Underworld’ Franchise?


Sony Pictures

I think Kate Beckinsale made the right decision stepping away from the Underworld movies. After playing Selene for fourteen years, it’s understandable she’s ready for something new! That role was incredibly physically demanding, and honestly, she’s earned a break from all the action. It just seems like she’s outgrown the part, and I respect her for knowing when it’s time to move on.

Sometimes, actors move on from roles simply because they’ve lost enthusiasm. Kate Beckinsale had played this character for a long time, and although audiences still liked it, the films weren’t being well-received anymore. The series was becoming predictable, and continuing could have negatively impacted her career. While the movies had become her trademark, she probably felt limited by the role and wanted to show her range as an actress, especially as the films’ quality was declining.

Kate Beckinsale’s personal life also played a role in her potential return to the Underworld series. She divorced her husband, Len Wiseman, who created and directed the first two Underworld films, after they separated in 2015. They originally met on the set of the first movie, where her then-partner, Michael Sheen, also starred. Beckinsale and Wiseman married in 2004 and officially divorced in 2019, but Wiseman remained involved with the franchise, meaning he could have prevented her from reprising her role.

Kate Beckinsale initially seemed firmly against returning to the Underworld series back in 2018. However, by 2021, she appeared more open to the idea. While telling Variety in July 2021 that another Underworld film was unlikely, she also hinted she wouldn’t mind reprising her role, joking that she still had Selene’s iconic black pants and ‘you never know who you want to impress.’ Since that interview, Beckinsale hasn’t publicly discussed the possibility of a new Underworld movie.

History of Failed ‘Underworld’ Crossovers


New Line Cinema

The Underworld movies have largely centered on Selene, but the world created by Len Wiseman is rich with possibilities. Many interesting details haven’t been fully developed, likely to keep the focus on Selene’s story. Now that the franchise is being revisited, there’s a chance to delve deeper into this world. The Rise of the Lycans was a good start, showing us the history of the conflict between vampires and Lycans and giving us more insight into Lucian, the compelling villain from the first film. There are still many different directions the series could take.

Over the years, there’s been talk of connecting the Underworld series with other popular horror franchises, inspired by the classic Universal Monsters films. The first attempt at this was a crossover with the 2014 movie I, Frankenstein. Created by Kevin Grevioux—who helped write the original Underworld and played the werewolf Raze—I, Frankenstein features Frankenstein’s monster, Adam (Aaron Eckhart), battling angels and demons in the present day. The film shared a similar feel with Underworld, and Grevioux originally included Underworld references and even planned a scene after the credits with Kate Beckinsale returning as Selene. Unfortunately, those plans never came to fruition.

Back in 2016, the producer of the Underworld movies, David Kern, shared that they had been talking about combining the Underworld and Resident Evil franchises. Both series were popular action-horror films during the 2000s and 2010s, and both featured strong female leads. The idea of a team-up between Kate Beckinsale’s Selene and Milla Jovovich’s Alice feels very much like a product of that era, but it probably would have been a hit in theaters. However, despite being distributed by the same company, Screen Gems, a crossover between Underworld and Resident Evil ultimately remained just an idea.

Perhaps the most talked-about potential team-up that never materialized was a crossover between the Underworld and Blade franchises. In 2016, while promoting Underworld: Blood Wars, Kate Beckinsale shared that discussions had taken place about a film uniting the two famous vampire series. Despite the logistical challenges – Underworld films were produced by Screen Gems (Sony Pictures) and Blade by New Line Cinema – the project seemed close to becoming reality, with Wesley Snipes reportedly in negotiations to return as Blade.

Plans for a crossover between the Blade and Underworld franchises fell apart when Marvel Studios got the rights back to the Blade character. While a new Blade movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been stuck in development for six years, Wesley Snipes recently returned to the role in Deadpool & Wolverine. Kate Beckinsale hasn’t played Selene since 2017, and there are currently no signs of her reprising the role.

Can Kate Beckinsale’s Selene Return in an ‘Underworld’ Reboot?


Screen Gems

Given Kate Beckinsale’s willingness to reprise her role but potential reluctance to continue the series long-term, a sixth Underworld film would likely succeed best as a legacy sequel, introducing a new main character. The story has already laid the groundwork for this with Eve, Selene’s daughter, who was introduced in Awakening. This approach would allow the series to continue the story while also shifting focus to a new generation, potentially attracting viewers who weren’t even born when the first Underworld film came out 20 years ago. It’s a way to honor the past and create a fresh start.

Look, if Kate Beckinsale wasn’t interested in coming back, they could’ve handled it like they did with Scott Speedman’s character – basically writing her out but still letting someone new, like Eve, take over as the lead. But honestly, at that point, maybe a full reboot would be the best move. I know, it’s hard to picture anyone but Beckinsale as Selene, but starting fresh, without worrying about past movies and with the freedom to do their own thing, could be exactly what the Underworld series needs to get exciting again.

After the film The Rise of the Lycans – the only Underworld movie not starring Kate Beckinsale – didn’t perform as well as previous installments, Screen Gems may now view the franchise as being centered around Beckinsale. Similar to how Harrison Ford is strongly associated with Indiana Jones, Underworld seems to rely on one central star. Like the Halloween series’ unsuccessful attempts to move away from its lead, this could mean future Underworld movies will only be made if Beckinsale is involved, as the studio might see films without her as too risky financially.

It’s worth asking whether Underworld should even come back. The movies are very much a product of the early 2000s, from their visual style to the heavy use of blue tones. While updating the look could make it feel more modern, it risks losing the unique qualities that define Underworld. Just like Disney’s repeated attempts with Tron prove, franchises rarely stay gone forever, and a new Underworld installment will probably happen eventually. The main question everyone has is whether Kate Beckinsale will reprise her role, and if not, whether the series could succeed without her.

Read More

2025-10-24 03:37