Sorry, fans, but it's official:
Kate Beckinsale will not appear in
Underworld 3 in any way, shape or form.
The erstwhile Selene confirmed at the February 27 press junket for her new film,
Snow Angels, that, for the foreseeable future, her only involvement with the vampires-versus-werewolves franchise is "in a wifely, supportive type way." Spouse
Len Wiseman, who directed
Underworld and
Underworld: Evolution, is in Auckland, New Zealand, producing
Rise of the Lycans, which commenced shooting on 9th January.
"And my ex is the lead," said the Brit beauty of her daughter's father,
Michael Sheen. "Family franchise."
Rise of the Lycans is being helmed by Special FX master
Patrick Tatopoulos, who oversaw the creature effects on the first two flicks.
Sheen
reunites with series veterans Bill Nighy and
Shane Brolly, and
Rhona Mitra has joined the saga for the new installment. According to MRDISGUSTING at Bloody-Disgusting,
Steven MacKintosh (
Underworld: Evolution) and
Kevin Grevioux (
Underworld) are returning, as well. However, the tiny IMDB cast list does not include MacKintosh, and Grevioux--who originated the saga with Wiseman and screenwriter
Danny McBride--still is listed as "rumored."
But, while Beckinsale won't be joining them this time out, she did say she might like to return to her character one day--perhaps at Fifty.
"No offense Kate," commented Cinema Blend's RAFE TELSCH, "but I don’t think fans want to see you in that leather when you’re that age."
Production on
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is expected to wrap sometime in March. While there currently is no scheduled release date, the film is
expected to hit theaters next year.
[Thanks to The IESB's SILAS LESNICK, WEBMASTER at Len-Wiseman.com, HEATHER at ReelzChannel.com, and JOSEPH B. MAUCERI at FEARSmag.]
P. Ryan Anthony
