The action horror trilogy Underworld will be available on Netflix starting next month. Directed by Len Wiseman, with a script penned by Danny McBride, the first film in the trilogy was released in 2o03. Underworld focused on the character of Selene. Portrayed by Kate Beckinsale, Selene was depicted as a vampire who is known as a Death Killer. Driven by revenge against the lycanthropes that had murdered her family. Selene’s quest is complicated by the fact that she develops an attraction for Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a human who becomes the target of the Lycans. Costing a production budget of $22 million, Underworld was a surprise hit box office. The film earned over $95 million internationally.
The success led to a franchise. Underworld: Evolution was released in 2006, continuing Selene’s relationship with Michael and expanding the mythology of the films. The third installment, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, served as a prequel to the series and explored the origins of the bitter battles between vampires and Lycans. Although it has been over a decade since the premiere of Rise of the Lycans, audiences will have a chance to experience the Underworld trilogy all over again as it will be available to stream on Netflix starting May 1.
There has been something of a divide regarding the Underworld franchise. Reviews of the films have generally been negative, although many critics have individually praised Beckinsale’s performance as well as Underworld’s stylistic elements. The franchise has a strong fanbase nonetheless, evidenced by two additional sequels and an animated feature that followed Selene as a hunter in three different periods.
It all began with a trilogy which is well-known. But, given Netflix’s ubiquity, and the current situation with many subscribers looking for content to stream, the feud between vampires and Lycans, particularly Selene’s place within that feud, will very likely be appreciated by a whole new audience once it arrives on the streaming platform. Similar spikes in popularity have occurred for other familiar titles recently, including Molly’s Game. The Underworld trilogy is a good candidate to continue on that trend.
Source: Screenrant, by ABDULLAH AL-GHAMDI