The Underworld series has been dormant since 2017's Underworld; Blood Wars, but here's everything we know about a possible Underworld 6. Vampires and werewolves have long been rivals for the title of most iconic fictional monster, but in 2003's Underworld, their battle hit the silver screen in a big way. Bad reviews from critics didn't deter movie fans from heading to the theater, and Underworld proved to be a huge hit at the box office, nearly quintupling its $22 million production budget.
Underworld would spawn a franchise consisting of five total films to date, including three sequels and one prequel. All of them have turned out to be profitable ventures, although many feel that the series' quality dipped steadily as it went along. Underworld: Blood Wars, while still managing to more than double its budget, posted the lowest box office take of the franchise so far, which is probably why neither producer Lakeshore Entertainment or distributor Screen Gems has been quick to greenlight an Underworld 6.
However, in the current age of Hollywood being more dependent on existing properties with a fanbase to draw in audiences than ever before, it stands to reason that an Underworld 6 might happen eventually. Here's what we know about the potential sequel.
Underworld 6: Will It Happen?
While there was some brief talk about making an Underworld 6 shortly after the release of Blood Wars from co-creator Len Wiseman, with series star Kate Beckinsale reportedly game to return, nothing ever came of it. This made more sense in 2018, when Beckinsale publicly declared that she was officially done playing Selene in Underworld films. There's also been some statements made by Wiseman in the last few years about a possible Underworld TV series, but that too has never turned into a tangible project. For now, it appears that another Underworld entry is on indefinite hold, and even if it ever happens, it seems likely Beckinsale will decline to participate.
Underworld 6: What the Story Could Be About
Fans will recall that Underworld: Blood Wars ended with some big happenings having occurred. Selene underwent an ancient ritual that saw her be resurrected with all new powers and a new wardrobe. It's revealed that Selene's long-lost werewolf love Michael Corvin was killed by Lycan villain Marius, or at least that's how it appears. Selene and her friend David became vampire elders, and Selene was finally reunited with her hybrid vampire/werewolf daughter Eve.
A hypothetical Underworld 6 could explore whether Michael is really dead or not, as he's managed to defeat death before. It could also look at Selene's life now that she's in a position of authority among her kind, as well as more fully explore her mother/daughter relationship with Eve. The problem is, with Beckinsale not wanting to come back, that wouldn't be possible, as it's highly doubtful producers would ever consider recasting Selene, as Beckinsale's portrayal of her is too iconic among fans. There are still some upset that Michael got recast when Scott Speedman wouldn't come back, and that would likely apply tenfold for Selene. With that in mind, it may be more feasible just to reboot the franchise, if not entirely, than by having it focus on new characters living within the same universe.