The tradition of vampires and werewolves in Hollywood goes back to the beginning of film, but Underworld takes the myths deeper. Unbeknownst to the humanity around them, Vampires and Lycans (werewolves) have been engaged in a centuries-long battle for dominance in hidden sectors of the city. “This isn’t drawn off a comic book or a novel,” explains screenwriter Danny McBride. “This is from genre guys sitting together in a living room, wanting to create a universe, base it on science and bring vampires and werewolves into a new light.”

The genesis for Underworld began during a conversation about werewolf movies between director Len Wiseman and his friend Kevin Grevioux, who is a co-writer and plays the role of Raze in the film. “If it’s the new werewolf film of the millennium, I want to see something different,” says Wiseman.

Grevioux suggested creating a type of Romeo/Juliet story and instead of Montagues and Capulets, it would be werewolves and vampires. Further, his background in genetic engineering proved vital to the filmmakers’ new take on these age-old legends. “We wanted to use science as a base rather than mysticism, so I created a virus which was the reason that vampires and werewolves became what … Read More »