‘Underworld: Blood Wars’ Premiere Delayed for January 2017; Lead Actress Kate Beckinsale Slams Brexit, Says Americans Now Think Brits are “Stupider”

‘Underworld: Blood Wars’ premiere has been delayed for 2017. Actress Kate Beckinsale is set to return as the lead protagonist Selene. She recently expressed her disappointment over Brexit and admitted that Americans she spoke with now think that Brits are “stupider” because of it.

According to Variety, the scheduled release for the upcoming fifth installment in the horror-action cinematic series has been pushed back from the original October 4, 2016 premiere date to January 6, 2017.  The film is currently in post-production.

The new film is directed by Anna Foerster in her feature-film directorial debut. Foerster is known for her various work on science-fiction films such as ‘Alien: Resurrection’, ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, ‘Aeon Flux’, and ‘Independence Day’. She also worked on several episodes for television series ‘Criminal Minds’ as head director.

Foerster will direct a script penned by Cory Goodman. Her film will star returning actors Kate Beckinsale and Theo James, who will reprise their roles as the vampires Selene and David, respectively. Other members of the cast include Tobias Menzies as lycan leader Marius, Lara Pulver as vampire Semira, and Charles Dance as vampire elder Thomas.

Trent Garett replaces Scott Speedman, who played Selene’s lover Michael Corvin in preceding films.

According to Business Standard, David Kern, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Richard S. Wright and Len Wiseman are producing the film with David Minkowski, Jackie Shenoo, and Mattew Stillman co-producing. Foerster is executive producing together with Skip Williamson. It is produced under companies Lakeshore Entertainment and Sketch Films and distributed by Screen Gems.

The ‘Underworld’ series received a total of $458.5 million in the global box office, with the fourth film ‘Underworld: Awakening’ taking up most of the earnings after grossing $160.1 million worldwide.

Meanwhile, Beckinsale expressed her disappointment at Britain’s choice to leave the European Union during BAFTA L.A.’s annual Garden Party on June 26. According to Irish Examiner, she said, "I think a lot of people in the industry are not happy about it." Brexit was naturally a hot topic at the event.

She added, “I’ve heard a lot of Americans say; ‘Oh wow, you look stupider than us now’.” The 42-year old English actress was born in England but moved to Los Angeles to expand her career horizons.

‘Underworld: Blood Wars’ is an upcoming horror-action film intended as the sequel to 2012’s ‘Underworld: Awakening’. It is scheduled to be released on January 6, 2017.