Underworld is one of the most successful female-led franchises of all-time. That’s why it’s a bit surprising that only male directors have been at the helm … until now. For the fifth installment, Underworld: Blood Wars, Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment brought in Anna Foerster to direct. Foerster built-up her career as a cinematographer on epic blockbusters such as Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow and White House Down, but more recently, she has directed episodes of Criminal Minds and Outlander — helming the latter’s final two gut-wrenching episodes of Season One.
Videos by ComicBook.com
On Friday, at New York Comic Con, ComicBook.com’s Dallas Jackson interviewed Foerster and asked her about being involved with Underworld and Outlander.
“The interesting thing about Outlander is it’s very very character-driven and there is some rather complex and difficult material,” she explained, “especially the season finale we did with Tobias Menzies, who we brought to Underworld. Look, I think it’s great because the action and all the wire-work and eveything, as well as the visual scope on Underworld is one aspect. But the aspect that’s really super-exciting for me is working with actors on real performances and real story, basically. So yes, it’s two different things, but in a way, it has much to do with each other in terms of approach.”
And did her previous working relationship with Menzies help her sell him on Underworld? “Absolutely,” she confidently replied. “We did those two last episodes of the season finale that were, you know, quite intense material. And I think we developed a kind of trust in terms of the way we work. I thought it was a pretty clear decision to do this Underworld together.”
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).
The film was 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).
Underworld: Blood Wars opens nationwide on January 6, 2017.
