New Underworld: Blood Wars Images Released

Kate Beckinsale is returning to the Underworld universe as fan-favorite protagonist vampire Selene, but the character isn't exactly thrilled to be back in the spotlight.

In Underworld: Blood Wars, Selene hasn't had the easiest of times, and Beckinsale told Empire that her weariness does come through in the new film, which picks up right after Underworld: Awakening.

"She's always been really passionate, but now, in a way, she doesn't really give a s***. In Blood Wars, Selene is at a really low ebb," Beckinsale tells us. "You see a different side to her. [Her one-time mentor] Viktor has emerged as a traitor. [Her lover] Michael has disappeared. She's had a baby that she didn't know about."

Yeah, so don't go looking to her for support. While the heroine of the franchise returns, Blood Wars does see a new director at the helm in Anna Foerster, who is aiming to maintain the foundation of the series while also injecting some new elements.

"With Underworld, you have rules that are very specific to the franchise, but you can veer off from that," Foerster told us. "What I bring to this movie is a defined visual concept and some cool surprises. I think fans will see a new side to Selene."

You can find new images from the anticipated film in the gallery.

Underworld: Blood Wars follows Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale), as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her. With her only allies, David (Theo James) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance), she must stop the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires, even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The cast also features Tobias Menzies(Outlander), Lara Pulver (Sherlock), James Faulkner (Game of Thrones), Peter Andersson(The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), newcomer Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James (A&E's Damien) and Daisy Head (Fallen), and is directed by Anna Foerster.

The screenplay was penned by Cory Goodman (The Last Witch Hunter, Priest) and based on characters originally created by Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman and Danny McBride. The was produced by Lakeshore Entertainment's Tom Rosenberg (The Lincoln Lawyer, Million Dollar Baby), Gary Lucchesi(Million Dollar Baby, Underworld), Richard S. Wright (The Lincoln Lawyer, Underworld), David Kern (Underworld: Awakening), and Len Wiseman (Underworld, Total Recall).

More Underworld: Blood Wars: Kate Beckinsale Talks Underworld And How The Films Changed Her Career / Underworld And Divergent Star Theo James Discusses Being In Multiple Female-Led Movies / Blood Wars Director Compares Outlander Experience to Underworld

Underworld: Blood Wars opens nationwide on January 6, 2017.