Who Plays Who?

Michael Sheen Bill Nighy Rhona Mitra Steven Mackintosh Kevin Grevioux David Ashton Geraldine Brophy Leighton Cardno Alexander Carroll Elizabeth Hawthorne Jason Hood Mark Mitchinson Tania Nolan Craig Parker Timothy Raby Larry Rew Peter Tait Olivia Taylforth Jared Turner Eleanor Williams Edwin Wright Kate Beckinsale Shane Brolly Brian Steele

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Lucian Viktor Sonja Tannis Raze Coloman Nobleman's Wife Fearful Lycan Young Lucian Orsova Death Dealer Nobleman Luka Sabas Janosh Kosta Gyorg Young Sonja Xristo Teenage Girl Death Dealer Captain Selene Kraven Big Lycan

The Inside Story When "Underworld" debuted in 2003, its richly imagined telling of a centuries-long war between two immortal races wowed audiences across the globe. Ruthless Vampires and savage werewolves returned in its sequel "Underworld: Evolution", and a worldwide audience devoured its elegant visual aesthetic, eerie characters and compelling action. Now "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" takes fans back almost a millennium to the beginning of an epic conflict. Created by longtime friends Len Wiseman and Kevin Grevioux, the film reveals the secrets at the heart of the Underworld saga’s eternal battle. Wiseman, who directed the first two films, has taken on the duties of producer for this installment, while Grevioux returns for the third time in the role of Lycan enforcer Raze. "The history has always been a driving force for Underworld," says Wiseman. "In the past, we’ve had glimpses of how it all started. Now we’re finally able to play it out with the Death Dealers and their armour and the horses and masses of werewolves." Even before the first film was shot, the pair created a complex mythology for their Vampire and werewolf antiheroes. "Kevin and I always intended this to be a trilogy," says Wiseman ("Die Hard 4.0"), now a sought after director. "It was decided at the time to start with the middle story in the timeline, and it is pretty cool now to be doing the prequel that we talked about so long ago." "A big part of the whole Underworld series is that the events that have taken place over the last eight centuries determine what’s happening in the present," says producer Richard Wright ("Crank 2: High Voltage"). "There are whole sequences in the first film that are devoted to back story. And in the second film, the whole visit to the Tannis character’s lair is eight minutes of back story." Grevioux wrote the original screenplay with Danny McBride. "Len wanted to do a werewolf movie and asked me if I had any ideas," he says. "When we started hashing out characters and the overall structure, we thought: 'What if we did a Romeo and Juliet story, with werewolves on one side and Vampires on the other and make it a cool, surrealistic modern-day love story?' We also decided to change the way werewolves and Vampires have traditionally been looked at and go more for a scientific basis for their existence, rather than the traditional mysticism." "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" traces the origin of the age-old rivalry between the Lycans and the Vampires to its ancient beginnings in a forbidden relationship. Lucian is the first Lycan, a creature able to transform from werewolf to human and back again at will. Sonja is a Death Dealer and the daughter of Viktor, a powerful Vampire Elder. "Their relationship actually leads directly to the Lycans’ revolt against the Vampires," Grevioux explained. "Everything revolves around the fact that Sonja and Lucian are in love with each other. Even though Sonja is Viktor’s daughter, there is an uncontrollable bond that grows between them. That already makes it a different kind of story from the first two stories." For the first time in the franchise’s history, Wiseman has turned over the director's reins to someone else. Patrick Tatopoulos, creator of the first film’s fantastical and frightening creatures, as well as the production designer of the second, was selected to succeed him. Tatopoulos sees a certain logic in the fact that he makes his directing debut on "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans". It is the first of the films to be told primarily from Lucian’s perspective. "I created the werewolf on the first and second films," he says. "So I think for the story to be told by the werewolf was a great thing for me." 2004 BAFTA Film ("Love Actually") and BAFTA TV ("State of Play") awards winner Bill Nighy, who continues his role as Vampire Elder Viktor, credits the filmmakers’ faith in the franchise for making "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" more than just another vampire action movie. "Len Wiseman, Danny McBride and Richard Wright are more than just enthusiasts. They’re believers. They’re not winking at the audience. You can cynically build a vampire movie, but I don’t think you’ll have the same kind of success that a believer would. They love the vampire myth and they know their vampire law. I love it when it gets Vampire technical. I love to see a Vampire sipping blood in a sophisticated manner. The moral equations are treated with as much respect as they would be in any kind of story." The team were thrilled to have been able to reassemble the cast that created some of the series's most unforgettable characters, an ensemble that features several distinguished British actors with busy careers. "I had no idea that we’d be able to maintain the cast that we’ve had," says Wiseman. "I was thrilled to be able to get so many of them back." 2007 RTS Television Award winner Michael Sheen ("Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!") has appeared as Lucian in all three movies. "One thing that Michael always brings to his work is passion," says Tatopoulos. "There’s nothing that escapes him and every detail of this character is very precise." "Michael is one of those very rare actors who will deliver any role with great intelligence, great wit and great power. Nobody in the history of cinema delivers a werewolf as brilliantly and as powerfully as Michael Sheen. I say that with complete confidence," Nighy ("Guest House Paradiso" & "Valkyrie") stated. Sheen ("The Queen" & "Blood Diamond") says he was happily surprised to have an opportunity to play the character again. "I got the chance to show the story that we heard about in the first film. In the beginning, you think that he’s the bad guy and then you start to get more information about him. The idea of showing how the character came to be is very attractive." It also reveals a new side of Viktor. "We get to see why Viktor becomes the way he is in the first film," says Wiseman. Peter Sellers Comedy Award winner Nighy ("Still Crazy" 1998 & "Love Actually" 2004) brings the same commitment to the Vampire ruler as he does to his stage work. "Vampires are, by dint of being Vampires, cool," Nighy says. "Being senior Vampire, I get to snarl and sneer and to be tortured, too." Actress Rhona Mitra ("Shooter" & "Doomsday") was initially apprehensive about joining a franchise so closely associated with Kate Beckinsale who played Selene in the first two editions. "Once I understood it was a prequel and a complete departure in terms of the character, I knew I could carve out something for myself." "It was very hard to find somebody with the toughness you need from the Death Dealer, who also has a vulnerable side," says Wiseman. "I think it’s a very difficult thing to pull off as deftly as Rhona has." The character reminds Tatopoulos of Selene in many ways. "Sonja is to me the archetype for Selene. Sonja is a warrior, but there’s something very fragile in her as well." Steven Mackintosh returns as Tannis, the Vampire archivist. "I wasn’t creating a character from scratch," he says. "But there is a difference. The earlier incarnation of Tannis is different. I liken him to the Hugh Hefner of the Vampire world." "Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans" was shot in high definition, on location in New Zealand. "For this kind of picture, HD worked perfectly," says cinematographer Emery ("Valkyrie"). "It’s a very dark film because Vampires only come out at night." The Verdict "Those who have been fans of the first two editions in the "Underworld" trilogy will find this a much better and more spectacular production. The creature effects are seamless and very impressive. The transition from human form to fiercesome werewolf-like Lycans in the final chapters impressive battle is faultless. One noticeable aspect in this film is Nighy's performance. He really cranks it up an extra notch or two. Newcomers who are attracted to the franchise and who have previously only seen Michael Sheen in "The Queen" and now, "Frost/Nixon", may find his role as Lucian takes a little getting used to. Diehard "Underworld" fans shouldn't take that observation as being detrimental, or in any way, reflecting on, or diminishing Sheen's performance. If you're into Vampires, Werewolves, bloodied battles and a good yarn, then "Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans" should provide good value for your cinema dollars. And again, newcomers to the franchise needn't worry about having missed the previous two films, "Underworld" & "Underworld Evolution", because this film, like George Lucas's "Star Wars" franchise, takes you back to the origins. See this and if you like what you see, either hire the other two on DVD or pick them up at your local Sanity store. Well worth having a look at! 3 1/2 STARS." Synopsis

More than a thousand years before the events of the original Underworld, two races of preternatural beings came into being, each springing from the bloodlines of a different son of the original Immortal, Alexander Corvinus. Vampires, arising from the Markus line, became elegant, aristocratic, cunning blood drinkers. Werewolves, from the William line, became savage beasts, with an insatiable appetite for violence. The Vampires came to dominate the local region, the wild lands in what is now known as western Hungary: with their superior intelligence, strength, and political skill. But even they feared the werewolves, who, though incapable of organization and higher thought, were capable of immense strength and savagery. And then another genetic fluke transformed the balance of power again: a female werewolf, captive in the Vampire stronghold, gave birth to a seemingly human child, Lucian. A Lycan able to take the form of man or beast at will. One who will, in time, rally the enslaved to fight against their cruel master.

What Do The Critics Say?

"First time director Tatopoulos has created a moody, atmospheric, stylish work (shot in New Zealand), and loyal fans will find that there's still bite left in this franchise. Former creature designer Tatopoulos has created a stylish entry into this well worn horror franchise. Tatopoulos has not changed anything too drastically, and the buckets of blood, violence and gore still reign supreme." Andrew J McGlinn FILMINK "Here, we get to actually see the history rather than simply talking about it, as creature creator Patrick Tatopoulos takes over the directing reins. Being a monster man, he gets straight to the point, and it isn't long before blood flows. Tatopoulos has trimmed the fat for a more-satisfying bloodsucker brawl than we have any right to hope for." Luke Y Thompson E!ONLINE "I wouldn't say that Rise of the Lycans redeems the Underworld franchise, but at least it shows that a solid movie can be made from this material." Ethan Alter GIANT MAGAZINE "Michael Sheen certainly makes the most out of his role as Lucian. He's the center of attention and relishes in it. Fans of the monster-film genre will not be disappointed." Wilson Morales BLACKFILM "What a strange irony that the latest and best of the three Underworld films is the only one lacking the series' biggest asset. That would be Kate Beckinsale, whose icy vampiric assassin provided the only real reason to tune in to earlier entries. Nighy and Sheen, for their part, relish the opportunity to take center stage. Though they both dial the campiness down from their previous entries, there's still a twinkle in their eyes that reminds us to lighten the hell up." Rob Vaux MANIA

"If you've had enough Oscar-nominated oatmeal, and you're in the mood for a big bowl of sugary cereal with no nutritional content, Underworld: Rise of the Lycansis ready for you to sink your fake fangs into it. Takes us back to the very roots of the franchise’s racial conflict.Silly, but never boring." Alonso Duralde MSNBC "It's clear a great deal of effort was put into creating a completely immersive world. The switch from bullets and explosives to swords and teeth turn every battle into a fantastic, bloody good time!" Uncle Creepy DREAD CENTRAL "For all you guys who were dragged kicking and screaming to Twilight last year, here's your chance to show your woman what a real vampire movie is all about." Kevin Carr 7M PICTURES "The performances are forceful enough to keep things interesting even when no one is sprouting fangs or drinking blood." Joe Leydon VARIETY "Superfluous yet modestly entertaining thanks to Nighy and the franchise's blend of camp and visually diverting mayhem." John P. McCarthy BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE "Surprisingly campy fun, mostly succeeding through the power of its lead performances. The highlight of this fantasy/horror hybrid is watching a pair of the best British character actors: Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen: shed their thespian respectability and unleash their inner beasts. Of course it's all about CGI effects, and one of the coolest scenes in this installment is a kind of reverse American Werewolf in London transformation." Claudia Puig USA TODAY

Crew Bytes "UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS" was .......
directed by Patrick Tatopoulos ["Bird of Passage"]; costume design by Jane Holland ["Sione's Wedding", "The World's Fastest Indian" and "30 Days Of Night"]; production design by Dan Hennah ["LOTR I, II & III", "King Kong" and "The Water Horse"]; cinematography by Ross Emery ["Bangers", "The Cave" and "The Condemned"]; original music by Paul Haslinger ["Blue Crush", "Underworld", "Prom Night" and "Death Race"]. Run Time 92 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] ©2009 - Sony Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©2009 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark laws applied.