Vampire movies never go out of style. Whether it’s the gory undead or the six-pack immortals showing off in leather, audiences keep coming back for more. The Underworld franchise proved that point and became a regular presence in theaters for nearly ten years. The first film opened in 2003 on a modest $22 million budget and went on to make almost $100 million worldwide. Critics shrugged, but moviegoers turned out anyway. That success launched four sequels and made Kate Beckinsale the name most fans remember.
As the vampire warrior Selene, Beckinsale gave the series its cold charm and emotional pull. She headlined four of the five entries and became the face of the franchise. In 2018, she announced in an interview with Variety that she wouldn’t be returning, saying simply, “I wouldn’t return. I’ve done plenty of those.” For fans who saw her as the only real reason to keep watching, the statement hit like a silver bullet.
Rumors about an Underworld 6 floated for years after the cliffhanger ending of Blood Wars. But creator Len Wiseman recently confirmed that a reboot is being planned. It’s not clear if he means a full reset or another sequel. Either way, fans are asking the same question: what happens to Selene—and can Underworld even exist without Kate Beckinsale?
What made those films stand out was the stylish mix of action, gothic horror, and slow-motion gunplay that seemed frozen in time from the early 2000s. The story followed Selene as she protected a human named Michael, hunted by werewolves known as Lycans. The sequels expanded the mythology with uneven results. Evolution made more money than the first one. Rise of the Lycans told the origin story of the vampire–werewolf feud but made less. Beckinsale skipped that one, then returned for Awakening in 2012, which grossed $160 million and became the biggest hit of the series. The fifth movie, Blood Wars, released in 2017, earned only half as much, suggesting the franchise had run its course.
Reviews: The Underworld Franchise Films Ranked
Beckinsale’s exit might be explained by several factors. After years in a physically demanding role, she probably earned a break. The stories had also grown repetitive, and critics weren’t kind. Typecasting was a real possibility. Then there’s the off-screen subplot: her marriage and later divorce from Len Wiseman, the man who built the franchise. The two met on the first film, married in 2004, separated in 2015, and finalized the divorce in 2019. Wiseman is still involved in the property, which may not help if a reunion ever came up.
In 2021, Beckinsale sounded more open to the idea when she also told Variety in 2021 that another sequel was “highly doubtful,” but joked that she still had Selene’s leather gear in storage. “You never know who you want to impress,” she said. Since then, nothing more has been said, and fans are left guessing.
The Underworld story world still leaves plenty of paths unexplored. The prequel Rise of the Lycans already showed that the mythology could stand without Selene. Expanding on that history—or following Selene’s daughter, Eve, introduced in Awakening—could give new life to the franchise. Many fans would rather see a legacy sequel than a full reboot. Passing the torch to Eve could keep continuity while freshening up the story for younger audiences.
Several proposed crossovers never materialized. Writer Kevin Grevioux once tried to link I, Frankenstein to Underworld. Producers discussed pairing Selene with Milla Jovovich’s Alice from Resident Evil. The most famous idea involved a showdown with Blade, which nearly happened before Marvel reclaimed the rights. By then, the moment had passed.
Beckinsale is now 52, and the most realistic move might be to bring her back briefly to pass the mantle. Without her, though, Underworld may not have much bite. The one entry she skipped, Rise of the Lycans, made less money than any of the others. Like Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones, this brand is built on one performer. Hollywood has learned the hard way that some characters can’t be easily replaced.
Still, in an industry that keeps reviving everything from Tron to Ghostbusters, it’s safe to say that no franchise ever truly dies. The question is simply when—and whether anyone can make audiences care again without the woman who gave the undead their pulse in the first place. For most of us, Kate Beckinsale was the best part of Underworld, and if she’s really done, maybe the franchise should finally rest in peace.
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English (US) · 