It has been a long time since word first broke of a possible Underworld TV series. Len Wiseman, who directed the first couple of entries in the film franchise and has ushered it along as a producer ever since, first discussed the possibility way back in 2015 before 2017's Underworld: Blood Wars came out. Now, as the original film turns 20, the filmmaker has strongly indicated that the TV show is still happening.
Entertainment Weekly recently spoke to Wiseman in honor of the 20th anniversary of Underworld. During the conversation, he was asked if there were plans to bring back the franchise in any fashion. To which he replied, "There is a fashion that is in the works. I can't talk about it, but there is a future to Underworld for sure." He was then asked specifically about the possible TV show and said, "That's the one I'm referring to." So there we have it.
For various reasons, Wiseman couldn't - or wouldn't - divulge further. For one, the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild have been on strike for months with no end in sight. As a result, new projects can't really be worked on or actively promoted right now. Beyond that, it's possible that this is still an "in development" sort of thing rather than a thing that is absolutely happening. Time will tell, but at the very least, it's not dead in the water.
Wiseman first mentioned the possible TV show back in 2015. He discussed it more meaningfully for the first time in January 2016 in an interview with Collider. Here’s what he had to say about it at the time:
“There's been a lot of conversations and even development on what that series would be. It's really appropriate for television, in terms of how those characters can really tie in, but also become something new. It's really an attractive space. I don't want to put a date on it because then that's going to be printed and it might not happen in that timeframe, but it is a thought.”
Wisely, he did not put a date on it. Broadly speaking, Sony has reason to believe this is a good idea. The movies were quite popular, with the five entries taking in a combined $542 million at the box office. Plus, 20 years is just enough time for nostalgia to truly kick in for the original Underworld. Would Kate Beckinsale return as the vampire warrior Selene? Are we really going to see vampires at war with werewolves on TV in the not-too-distant future? It seems like a distinct possibility.
Stay tuned for more official information on the Underworld TV show, most likely after the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes get resolved, whenever that may be.
