Underworld
Directed by	Len Wiseman
Produced by	Robert Bernacchi Gary Lucchesi Tom Rosenberg
Written by	Kevin Grevioux Len Wiseman Danny McBride
Starring	Kate Beckinsale Scott Speedman Michael Sheen Bill Nighy Shane Brolly
Distributed by	Screen Gems (Sony)
Release date(s)	September 19, 2003
Running time	116 Min/133 min (Special edition)
Language	English
Followed by	Underworld: Evolution
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Underworld is a 2003 action-horror film about the secret history of vampire and werewolves, where the latter are referred to as "Lycan" as an abbreviated form of lycanthrope. It is the first film in the Underworld series. The main plot revolves around Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire "Death Dealer", or one who hunts Lycans, a job she is extremely good at due to the fact that she is fueled with hatred for the whole species, whom she believes to have killed her entire family. She finds herself attracted to a medical intern, Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), after saving him from the Lycan master Lucian (who bit Michael and infected him with the Lycan virus), and must decide whether to do her "duty" and kill him or to risk her life to save him. This movie has many parallels as a dark Romeo and Juliet tale. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Tom B. Rosenberg is an American film producer as well as founder and chairman of Lakeshore Entertainment. ... Kevin Grevioux Kevin Grevioux (born in Chicago, Illinois, but spent most of his childhood in Minnesota, Boston, and New Jersey) is an American actor, screenwriter, comic book writer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... An American screenwriter, his is most well-know for co-writing Underworld and Underworld: Evolution Categories: | ... Kathryn Bailey Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001), Van Helsing (2004), and Underworld (2003). ... Actor Scott Speedman in Underworld: Evolution Scott Speedman (born September 1, 1975) is an English-born Canadian actor. ... Michael Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is an award-winning Welsh actor, known for his work on stage and film, best known for his portrayal of Tony Blair in the Stephen Frears 2006 British film The Queen. ... Bill Nighy (IPA: ; born December 12, 1949) is a Golden Globe and BAFTA-award winning English actor. ... Shane Brolly (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK) is a British actor. ... Screen Gems is an American subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainments Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. ... Look up Action film in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... “Horror Movie” redirects here. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... A secret history (or shadow history) is a revisionist interpretation of either fictional or real (or known) history which is claimed to have been deliberately suppressed or forgotten. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Article is in violation of WP:WAF; has no real-world context. ... For other uses, see Werewolf (disambiguation). ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... In folklore, lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a wolf. ... The Underworld series is a series of vampire/werewolf films directed by Len Wiseman. ... Beckinsale portrays Selene Selene is a fictional character from Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. ... Kathryn Bailey Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001), Van Helsing (2004), and Underworld (2003). ... An armored original Death Dealer A Death Dealer is a vampire warrior dedicated to fighting lycans (werewolves) in the Underworld mythos. ... Michael Corvin while in human form Michael Corvin is a fictional character from the Underworld films, portrayed by Scott Speedman; he is the first Hybrid from the mythos and one of two protagonists in the films. ... Actor Scott Speedman in Underworld: Evolution Scott Speedman (born September 1, 1975) is an English-born Canadian actor. ... Sheen portrays Lucian in Underworld Lucian is a fictional character and second-generation Lycan, the leader of the Lycan horde in the movie Underworld. ... Romeo and Juliet in the famous balcony scene by Ford Madox Brown For other uses, see Romeo and Juliet (disambiguation). ...

Corvinus Strain

In the Underworld universe, Vampires and Lycans are not mystical creatures, but rather the product of a virus. Sixteen centuries ago, a man named Alexander Corvinus was the only survivor of a plague that wiped out his village. Somehow, the man's body was able to mutate the virus, mold it to his own benefit and he became the first true immortal. Later, he had three sons, one of which did not inherit his father's immortality and was simply human. The other two were bitten, one by bat and one by wolf, creating the Vampire and Lycan lines. Corvinus' third son also carried the Corvinus Strain, hidden away in his genetic code — an exact duplicate of the original virus, passed along to his human descendants through the centuries. This, according to Singe, is the key to creating a Hybrid. Further reading Christopher Frayling - Vampyres: Lord Byron to Count Dracula 1992. ... For other meanings of the word underworld see Underworld (disambiguation) Kate Beckinsale as Selene in Underworld (2003) Underworld is a 2003 movie about vampires and werewolves, where the latter are referred to as Lycans as an abbreviated form of lycanthrope. ... This article is about biological infectious particles. ... Alexander Corvinus Alexander Corvinus is a fictional character from the film Underworld: Evolution. ... This article is about living for infinite period of time. ... Corvinus Strain is a term coined by the fictional Lycan scientist, Singe, from the Underworld movie series in reference to a genetic anomaly that is a key factor in the movies plots. ... In the Underworld series of films, a hybrid is a person who is both vampire and lycan. ...

Vampires vs. Lycans

Since that time, a war has broken out. The Lycans were enslaved by the Vampires, used as indentured servants to be the guardians of their lairs during the daylight hours, but they revolted during the Middle Ages. Both sides have their own lair and chain of command. Vampires have Death Dealers, vampire warriors charged to fight and kill the Lycan enemy. There are three elders, rules and tradition demand two be at rest while one is awake; this arrangement calls for each elder to rule for one century followed by two centuries of sleep. For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... Further reading Christopher Frayling - Vampyres: Lord Byron to Count Dracula 1992. ... An armored original Death Dealer A Death Dealer is a vampire warrior dedicated to fighting lycans (werewolves) in the Underworld mythos. ...

Plot outline

The movie opens with Selene, a Death Dealer, and Rigel trailing a pair of Lycans, unaware that they are in turn stalking a human - Michael Corvin. Trailing them into a subway station, the two Death Dealers are spotted and a shoot-out ensues, with Rigel being killed by the Lycans. A woman is shot in the crossfire, and Michael tries to assist her. The two sides of monsters continue their fight, and the Lycans eventually retreat. Beckinsale portrays Selene Selene is a fictional character from Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. ... Michael Corvin while in human form Michael Corvin is a fictional character from the Underworld films, portrayed by Scott Speedman; he is the first Hybrid from the mythos and one of two protagonists in the films. ...

Arriving at Ördögház, Selene confronts Kahn, the chief Death Dealer, with her findings during the battle; but the regent Kraven blows off the significance of her claims. Selene decides to further investigate the ordeal alone. Meanwhile, in the Lycan lair, a scientist named Singe unsuccessfully seeks a match for the Corvinus Strain. They decide to try again in pursuit of Michael. Underworld is a 2003 horror/action movie (see 2003 in film) about vampires and werewolves, where the latter are referred to as Lycans as an abbreviated form of lycanthrope. ... Kahn is a fictional character and a Vampire, the leader of the Death Dealers in the movie Underworld. ... Brolly portrays Kraven in Underworld and Underworld: Evolution Kraven is a fictional character from the movies Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. ...

Selene finds Michael and demands answers. They are attacked by Lycan hordes, including Lucian, the original Lycan leader who is thought to be dead. Michael is bitten by Lucian, who gathers a blood sample. Selene, unaware of him being bitten, aids Michael in escaping the building. Selene takes Michael to the vampire lair for safety, but he soon escapes when the other vampires figure out he's become a Lycan. Selene grows suspicious of Kraven and collects evidence to take to the library. She learns that Lucian is still alive and that he and Kraven are secret allies with each other. Selene decides to awaken Viktor, an elder. Sheen portrays Lucian in Underworld Lucian is a fictional character and second-generation Lycan, the leader of the Lycan horde in the movie Underworld. ... Viktor is one of the Vampire Elders in the Underworld mythos, portrayed by Bill Nighy. ...

Michael tries to seek aid from his friend at the hospital, but his tale of being bitten by a man leads to treachery on the part of his friend. He escapes again, attempting to meet with Selene and begging for answers. Selene drives out to meet Michael, where she sees that he had indeed been bitten. She explains the long history between Vampire and Lycan. Kraven runs into Viktor, who demands to know what has happened, and learns that he has been awakened a century early. It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Article is in violation of WP:WAF; has no real-world context. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Selene takes Michael to a safehouse. Michael mentions his nightmares and Selene explains they are actually Lucian's memories. Selene explains that her hatred of Lycans stems from her belief that they killed her family. Michael is captured while another Vampire-Lycan firefight breaks out. Selene ends up the only vampire survivor and Singe the only Lycan survivor.

Kraven tries to explain what has happened to Viktor right as Selene arrives with Singe. The captive Lycan reveals that the Lycans had been experimenting to combine the bloodlines of the two species via the Corvinus Strain, something they can only do with a descendant of Alexander Corvinus himself, which is why they targeted Michael. They wished to make a Hybrid so they could end the war. He also reveals Kraven's treachery, forcing Kraven to flee. Kahn arrives at the crypt and informs Viktor that the Vampire counsel, including Amelia the 'active' elder, was attacked by the Lycans and there were no survivors. Viktor kills Singe and turns to Selene telling her all she has to do is kill Michael and she will be exonerated. Corvinus Strain is a term coined by the fictional Lycan scientist, Singe, from the Underworld movie series in reference to a genetic anomaly that is a key factor in the movies plots. ... Alexander Corvinus Alexander Corvinus is a fictional character from the film Underworld: Evolution. ... In the Underworld series of films, a hybrid is a person who is both vampire and lycan. ...

Michael wakes up strapped to a slab in Singe's lab. He is greeted by Lucian, who then extracts blood from Michael and injects it into himself. While Michael watches him, he recognizes the pendant Lucian wears, and suddenly, his nightmares make sense: he recalls the events of how Lucian's wife, Viktor's daughter Sonja, was murdered by Viktor out of fear that the infant in her womb would be a hybrid that would overthrow him. Viktor, it is revealed, started the war. Lucian explains the rest of the story to Michael.

The vampires begin their attack on the Lycans' base, and a running battle through the caverns ensues. Meanwhile, Kraven betrays Lucian, shooting him in the back. Selene finds Michael and unties him, telling him to leave despite his protests that they will kill her for releasing him. Kraven discovers them and a confrontation ensues. Out of spite, Kraven reveals that Viktor was the one who killed her family. Viktor was unable to kill Selene because she reminded him too much of his daugther Sonja. Lucian, not yet dead, appears and distracts Kraven long enough to advise Selene to bite Michael, reminding her of Singe's words. She takes his advice and bites Michael. Kraven finishes Lucian off. Selene confronts Viktor, who despite his guilt, defends all his actions.

Michael changes into his hybrid form and battles with Viktor. Selene kills Viktor by slicing his head in half. Selene picks up Sonja's pendant and gives it to Michael to keep. They walk out together, speechless and numb. Selene then narrates to the audience that she fears she will become a target following Viktor's death. Back in the crypt, Singe's blood pours across the floor until it reaches the remaining elder's sarcophagus. Marcus' eyes flutter open. First vampire blue, then hybrid black... The Etruscan Sarcophagus of the Spouses, at the National Etruscan Museum. ...

Cast

Kathryn Bailey Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001), Van Helsing (2004), and Underworld (2003). ... Beckinsale portrays Selene Selene is a fictional character from Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. ... Actor Scott Speedman in Underworld: Evolution Scott Speedman (born September 1, 1975) is an English-born Canadian actor. ... Michael Corvin while in human form Michael Corvin is a fictional character from the Underworld films, portrayed by Scott Speedman; he is the first Hybrid from the mythos and one of two protagonists in the films. ... Michael Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is an award-winning Welsh actor, known for his work on stage and film, best known for his portrayal of Tony Blair in the Stephen Frears 2006 British film The Queen. ... Sheen portrays Lucian in Underworld Lucian is a fictional character and second-generation Lycan, the leader of the Lycan horde in the movie Underworld. ... Bill Nighy (IPA: ; born December 12, 1949) is a Golden Globe and BAFTA-award winning English actor. ... Viktor is one of the Vampire Elders in the Underworld mythos, portrayed by Bill Nighy. ... Shane Brolly (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK) is a British actor. ... Brolly portrays Kraven in Underworld and Underworld: Evolution Kraven is a fictional character from the movies Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. ... Sophia Myles (IPA: ) (born March 18, 1980) is an English film and television actress. ... Erika is a vampire seductress, a social-climbing courtier in Viktors mansion, obsessed with rising through the ranks of the vampire aristocracy. ... Robbie Gee (born 24 March 1970) is a British actor, well-known and well-loved for his Desmonds character Lee Graham, and for turning in a fine comedic performance in Guy Ritchies crime caper Snatch, he also appeared in the movie Mean Machine playing Trojan. ... Kahn is a fictional character and a Vampire, the leader of the Death Dealers in the movie Underworld. ... Wentworth Earl Miller III (born June 2, 1972) is an English-born American actor who plays Michael Scofield in the Fox Networks television series Prison Break. ... Kevin Grevioux Kevin Grevioux (born in Chicago, Illinois, but spent most of his childhood in Minnesota, Boston, and New Jersey) is an American actor, screenwriter, comic book writer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Zita Görög (in Hungarian: Görög Zita) (born September 27, 1979 in Pásztó, Hungary) is a Hungarian actress and model, often credited as Zita Gorog. ... Amelia in 1202 Amelia is the only known female Vampire Elder in the Underworld mythos. ... Soren battles Raze in Underworld Soren is a fictional character and vampire in the Underworld mythos, Kravens janissary and the rival of Raze. ... Trix may mean: [[Trix , a card game Trix (cereal), a breakfast cereal Trix (technical analysis), a technical analysis oscillator Trix (operating system), start for the first attempt at the GNU kernel. ...

Legal controversy

The film was the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by White Wolf, Inc. and Nancy A. Collins claiming the setting was too similar to the Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse games both set in their World of Darkness setting. The logo of White Wolf Publishing, one of White Wolf, Inc. ... Nancy A. Collins (born 1959) is a horror fiction writer that is best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonia Blue. ... Vampire: The Masquerade (Revised Edition) cover. ... This articles content is specific to the fictional setting known as the World of Darkness. ... The World of Darkness (or WoD) is the name given to three related but distinct fictional universes. ...

White Wolf filed 17 counts of copyright infringement, and claimed over 80 points of unique similarity between White Wolf's game systems and the movie. White Wolf, Inc. also claimed the script was very similar to a story entitled The Love of Monsters (1994) which they published and was written by Nancy A. Collins. [1] A PDF file of White Wolf's filing can be read here: [2] In September 2003, a judge granted White Wolf an expedited hearing; this was the last White Wolf's press releases had to say about the case: [3].

Critical reception

Underworld was poorly received by critics, scoring just 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, and only 16% from the "Cream of the Crop". Roger Ebert said "This is a movie so paltry in its characters and shallow in its story that the war seems to exist primarily to provide graphic visuals." However the New York Daily News praised it as being "stylish and cruel, and mightily entertaining for certain covens out there." This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Sequels and Prequels

The follow-up story, Underworld: Evolution, was released January 20, 2006. Underworld 3: The Rise of the Lycans is also planned [4] but will not feature Kate Beckinsale but will star Rhona Mitra. It will be a prequel and will be released in 2010. January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Underworld 3 is the third movie in the Underworld film series. ... Rhona Mitra (born August 9, 1976) is an English actress. ... A prequel is a work that portrays events which include the structure, conventions, and/or characters of a previously completed narrative, but occur at an earlier time. ...

Soundtrack

Main article: Underworld (soundtrack)

The Underworld soundtrack was also released in 2003 to go along with the release of the film. It was produced by Danny Lohner and distributed via Roadrunner Records. It featured numerous alternative rock bands, such as A Perfect Circle, Milla, and The Dillinger Escape Plan, to name a few. Track Listing Awakening - The Damning Well (featuring Wes Borland, Richard Patrick, Josh Freese, and Danny Lohner) REV 22:20 - Puscifer (featuring Maynard James Keenan and Danny Lohner) Throwing Punches - Page Hamilton Rocket Collecting - Milla Now I Know - Renholdër Bring Me the Disco King (Loner Mix) - David Bowie (featuring Maynard... Daniel Patrick Lohner (born December 13, 1970 in Corpus Christi, Texas) , most commonly known as Danny Lohner is an industrial musician who plays bass guitar, guitar and keyboards. ... Roadrunner Records is a major record label that concentrates on metal bands. ... A Perfect Circle (often referred to as APC) was an alternative rock supergroup, formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel. ... Milla Jovovich (Serbian: Милица Јововић/Milica Jovović, Ukrainian: Мілла Йовович/Mіlla Jovovič; born Milica Nataša Jovović on December 17, 1975) is an American supermodel, actress, musician, singer, and fashion designer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

• Underworld at the Internet Movie Database
• Underworld: Evolution at the Internet Movie Database
• Underworld Official Site
• Kate Beckinsale interview for Underworld