Kate Beckinsale to return for 'Underworld 4'

A real surprise? Not exactly. Even though she said she wouldn't, Kate Beckinsale is heading back to the "Underworld" franchise for a fourth installment of the series. Yep, sexy Selene is back in action.

ComingSoon reports Beckinsale has already signed on for the part. John Hlavin wrote the script for "Underworld 4," and J. Michael Straczynski is doing revisions. Screen Gems is looking for a director.

I definitely liked Beckinsale in the the first two films and had some trouble adjusting to Rhona Mitra's Sonja in "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans," so I'm glad she's back. Beckinsale starred in "Whiteout."

John Hlavin to write 'Underworld 4'

John Hlavin, whose credits include "The Shield" and "Trust Me," is on board to write "Underworld 4," the latest installment in the popular series that began with Len Wiseman's "Underworld" in 2003.

Hlavin told Heat Vision that plot details will remain secret for a while. However, he said "Underworld 4" won't be a prequel. "It will satisfy old fans and excite new audiences...," he said.

Kate Becksinale said last year she probably won't return for another film. Her appearance in a fourth film has been rumored for a while though, but no official deals are in place at this stage.

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No surprise: 'Underworld 4' in the works

Even though I didn't fall in love with this year's “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” I didn't exactly hate it either. As someone who very much enjoyed the first "Underworld" but hated the sequel, I was satisfied by the third flick.

News of a fourth installment in the franchise doesn't surprise me though. Yep, the folks at ShockTillYouDrop report Screen Gems is indeed working on "Underworld 4," which a potential release planned for January 2011.

Of course, as pretty much every upcoming movie these days, it will also be released in 3D. That means Lycans and vampires will be jumping straight into your face this time.

No word yet on who will return for the sequel and who won't. My guess is we won't get to see Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman. Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy and Rhona Mitra, perhaps?

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