Underworld Awakening opens sometime after Evolution, and the war has now spilled into the public eye. People are now aware of the existence of Vampires and Lycans, and the government decides to terminate both species in an event called “The Purge”. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and Michael (not portrayed by Scott Speedman) have been locked up in a facility called Antigen, and awakens in a world where both species are endangered. Selene meets up with her daughter Eve (India Eisley), who is the first hybrid child. Along with a vampire named David (Theo James), Selene and Eve outrun Dr. Jacobs (Stephen Rea) and Antigen, who want to use Eve for a mysterious plot.

The first noticable aspect of Awakening is that the plot is rather thin. In fact, you could even argue that it’s as complex as the plot for a thirty-minute episode of a TV series. The 0nly difference being that it’s stretched out to be a feature length film. It should even be noted that Directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein only have experience in making TV epsiodes. The part that separtate this instalment from the rest is that humans are now aware of the war, and that makes for an interesting plot device. However, only the first 10 minutes of the film makes use of that. Honestly, the story seemed to remind me of David Goyer’s Blade: Trinity and Guillermo Del Toro’s Blade II, but that was only in certain ways. The writers try to throw in a twist near the end of the film, but it’s rather predictable.

Even the characters aren’t that interesting. The whole film Selene is on a bloody rampage to find Michael, and she’s willing to kill anyone who gets in her way. Even we she first meets her daughter, Selene shows no emotion. However, if you’re looking to see Kate Beckinsale kick some major butt, then this is the film for you. Eve was a rather interesting character. We are able to feel some sympathy for her as she’s never been outside the facilities at Antigen, and is dealing with the problem of having a monster inside of her. This does leave potential for future instalments. Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) is given an emotional past, but that’s never expanded on, and Ealy is given little to work with in the film. But of the characters in Awakening as interesting as the likes of Viktor (Billy Nighy) or Lucian (Michael Sheen) are nowhere to be found in this film.

The VFX in Underworld Awakening aren’t anything special, and fans can expect the same as seen in the previous film. However, one that really stands out was the Super Lycan. Yeah, it’s nothing more than double the size of a normal Lycan, but seeing Selene fight it is definitely a treat. Although, it does look rather silly when you see Kris Holden-Ried change into the beast. The most disappointing aspect of the film has to be the 3D. Honestly, there are very few scenes in Underworld Awakening that benefit from 3D. In fact, some of the fights are hard to make out because the glasses make the scene too dark. I usually don’t complain about 3D, but if you’re going to force it on the audience, then at least make it worth the experience.

Overall, Underworld Awakening is just a bloody, mindless time at the theater. Fans of the franchise, like myself, will likely enjoy it.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Underworld Awakening opens on January 20th, 2012.

The plot is rather simple: “A beautiful adventuress joins forces with an all-female spy agency as they race around the world to recover a trio of powerful relics.”

The Playlist has contacted each of the actresses represenatives, and have debunked this story. Makes sense as we would have likely heard something about this earlier if it was true.

Plot: “Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.”

Underworld Awakening opens on January 20th, 2012.

Sources are now telling Collider that both actresses have joined the cast. Beckinsale will be playing Lori (played by Sharon Stone in the original), and Biel will be playing Melina. They join Colin Farrell and Bryan Cranston in the upcoming remake. Filming is scheduled to begin next Monday in Toronto.

Source: Deadline

“After being held in a coma-like state for fifteen years, vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) learns that she has a fourteen-year-old vampire/Lycan hybrid daughter, Nissa, and when she finds her they must stop BioCom from creating super Lycans that will kill them all.”

Underworld 4: New Dawn is expected in 3D on January 20th, 2012.

According to Shock Til You Drop, Sony has created a website (here) to find “a female” teenager to star in Underworld 4. It’s assumed this will be for Selene’s daughter.

Moviegoers and TV viewers can now get closer to their favorite projects than ever before with Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Face of the Fan®, a new initiative for virtual talent sourcing. By visiting FaceOfTheFan.com, users nationwide can participate in online casting calls and contests for Sony Pictures’ properties—turning today’s fans into tomorrow’s stars™. With this ongoing program, crossing all of Sony’s platforms – film, television, and online – Face of the Fan will give the biggest fans a chance to get involved with Sony’s most popular franchises.

Face of the Fan launches with a casting call for Screen Gems’ and Lakeshore Entertainment’s successful action franchise Underworld, for which the filmmakers are searching for a fresh talent to play a pivotal role as a female teenager. Users from across the country can log onto the website, download select pages from a script to rehearse, and then upload their audition video and other credentials for submission. The submitted videos will then be reviewed by a panel of studio and production executives; selected participants may be contacted by casting agents for future roles. The site will also help users spread the word and expand the conversation by providing them with the tools to share the programs with their family and friends through social networking.

“The Face of the Fan program enables us to source people from all over the country to find unknown talent and give them a shot at something they may not have otherwise been able to do,” said Clint Culpepper, president, Screen Gems.

Future Face of the Fan initiatives include a casting call for Screen Gems’ Mortal Instruments and a contest tied to Columbia Pictures’/Sony Pictures Animation’s highly anticipated 3D hybrid live-action/computer animated family comedy The Smurfs, as well as an upcoming contest from Sony Pictures Television for “Wheel of Fortune.”

The concept for Face of the Fan builds on several past initiatives from Sony Pictures, in which uber-fans were chosen to participate in various marketing-related activities. Whether meeting talent on the red carpet, interviewing them at Comic-Con, or becoming guest correspondents covering the movies, these contests allowed the winning fans to get close to actors and filmmakers like never before and share their experiences online with their friends, family, and other fans.

Commenting on the announcement, Dwight Caines, president, Worldwide Digital Marketing for Sony Pictures, said, “As new Face of the Fan initiatives roll out, we hope to provide a unique way to reward those people who show tremendous enthusiasm for their favorite movies or TV shows by giving them an opportunity to meet talent and filmmakers.”

Underworld 4 is scheduled to begin filming in March next year, with a release in January of 2012.

Screen Gems has now released (via Collider) a press release for the film, which confirms Beckinsale will return, as well as many other bits of information on the film.

Screenwriter J. Michael Straczynsk (The Changeling) is now attached to tweak Hlavin’s script. The film will also feature Selene’s daughter, which the studio is currently looking for an actress for the role.  Len Wiseman, who directed Underworld and Underworld Evolution, will not be directing, but will return as producer. A search is currently out for a director. Production is scheduled to begin next March.

Underworld 4 is slated for a release on January 20, 2012.

The film is being pushed back to a January 20th, 2012 date for the Screen Gems film that will be shot in 3D.

Source: CS