Kate Beckinsale starrer dark fantasy action horror franchise Underworld has received a fair share of popularity but at the time of the first movie, the already established Blade franchise had dominated the vampire fandom. And the second installment of the Marvel franchise was coming out.
Beckinsale wanted a big merger of both franchises or at least a crossover. Obviously, the feelings of the fans watching the crossover would be synonyms to the thrilling awesomeness. However, it never happened and Marvel decided to opt out of the idea.
Almost a Big Vampire Crossover
Kate Beckinsale played Selene for over a decade and she has lived the character of a vampire-blooded warrior in six movies of the franchise. The actor was in favor of a big crossover with Marvel’s Wesley Snipes-starrer Blade trilogy. While promoting her 2021 Tanya Wexler-directed action comedy Jolt, Beckinsale told Variety that she was all up for a crossover of Underworld with the Blade franchise. However, Marvel decided to stay away from the idea. “I really wanted them to do an ‘Underworld’-‘Blade’ mashup. What a duo that would be,” she told the outlet at the premiere of her 2021 movie Jolt at the San Vicente Bungalows.
“I would definitely do that, but I think they just wanted to reboot ‘Blade’ as ‘Blade’ so they didn’t go for it.”
MCU’s plans for rebooting Blade with Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali spoiled Beckinsale’s big crossover dream. Of course, now it’s unlikely for another edition of Underworld after the 2016 installment to the franchise, the 50-year-old would definitely go for the crossover with Snipes’ iconic character.
Kate Beckinsale on Playing Selene Over a Decade
Beckinsale has always been enthusiastic about the character. The actor still has a pair of Selene’s signature black leather pants in her closet. “I know exactly where they are,” she told Variety. “You never know who you want to impress,” she added. Also, the character has been close to her heart. “It was a very life-changing role for me. You know, personally as well so I feel very affectionate towards it,” Beckinsale told CELEBS.com “It was you know, it’s exciting to be able to follow a character over such a long period of time you know it’s rare to get that chance,” she added. The actor also revealed her experience of putting on the costume for the first time:
“Putting on the costume the first time was wild it really just the sound of it you know it’s very specific so it was nice it was actually I remember the first movie I did I was very intimidated by the costume and I trust it now I know actually it, it gives you a little help I think if anything.”
Following the Underworld franchise, Beckinsale appeared in several movies. Most recently, the actor appeared in Charlie Day’s satire Fool’s Paradise and Catherine Hardwicke-directed crime drama Prisoner’s Daughter.
Source: Variety, CELEBS.com.
