We previously reported a rumor that Kate Beckinsale (‘Total Recall,’ ‘Van Helsing’) would be returning for ‘Underworld Next Generation‘ and now we have official word she will be back!

At one point it was thought that Theo James (‘Divergent‘,’Insurgent’) would be replacing her in the film and later it looked like they could end up being co-leads. Theo was previously seen in ‘Underworld: Awakening‘ and being in the next film will be fulfilling an options agreement which doesn’t make it too clear if he is still on to be a full lead in the film or just be appearing in it. Thankfully no matter how things play out at the very least they aren’t going the reboot route which another rumor had mentioned for the movie. Though as the fifth installment in the popular franchise is known as ‘Underworld: Next Generation’ and scant rumors of the plot it wouldn’t surprise me if we are getting new characters introduced that will become the leads in any future films.

The scant rumors? Well with Cory Goodman’s (‘Priest’,’The Last Witch Hunter’) script being “said to focus on a new and younger generation of vampires and werewolves who are locked in a seemingly never-ending battle between supernatural races” it wouldn’t be a stretch that this is a casting refresher. At the very least we’ll have Beckinsale in for one last film as the amazing femme fatale Selene. Maybe they’ll write her in a way that she’ll be able to show up as a cameo or supporting character in future films.

What is interesting though is that it was announced that the film will be directed by Anna Foerster who will be the first female director in this female led action-horror franchise. The real reason this is interesting though is it happened right around the same time that Sony hired a female director for the reboot of ‘The Craft‘ and both of these happening prior to the American Civil Liberties Union criticizing Hollywood for a “systemic failure to hire women directors at all levels of the film and television industry.” Did the studios have a head’s up and were playing damage control or did they honestly just have some amazing timing on getting these in?

The film will begin shooting this fall in Prague and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more casting details soon.

Are you excited for another ‘Underworld’ movie or have similar films such as ‘I, Frankenstein’ push you away from the action-horror genre? Share your thoughts below!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter