It’s hard to imagine that what began with a gun-slinging vampire franchise in 2003 is now heading into production on its fifth installment. Nevertheless, Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment just announced the start of filming, and Kate Beckinsale and Theo James are officially back for Underworld 5.
Production set up shop in Prague and will continue to film in and around the Czech capital over the course of 10 weeks. While Beckinsale and James return as Selene and her ally David, respectively, Tywin Lannister himself, Charles Dance, is also back to play vampire elder Thomas.
Elsewhere, Outlander’s Tobias Menzies will play “a formidable new Lycan leader,” while Sherlock’s Lara Pulver will play “a fiercely ambitious vampire.” Joining them are James Faulkner (another Game of Thrones actor), Peter Andersson (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Bradley James (A&E’s Damien series), Daisy Head (Fallen), and newcomer actress Clementine Nicholson.
Anna Foerster, who previously helmed episodes of Outlander and Criminal Minds, directs Underworld 5 from a screenplay by The Last Witch Hunter scribe Cory Goodman. Foerster is no stranger to the world of major action blockbusters after her long-standing collaboration with Roland Emmerich, which saw her serve as director of photography on films like White House Down and The Day After Tomorrow.
Plot details (and the official title) for Underworld 5 are still being kept under wraps, but the story will reportedly focus a younger generation of vampires and werewolves locked in this supernatural war. As such, it wouldn’t be all too surprising if this film acted as a soft reboot to the franchise. Considering reports of an Underworld TV series in development, it seems the studio is looking to further broaden the scope of this world to incorporate a larger audience.
No release date has yet been announced for Underworld 5.
