Share and Follow
In the early 2000s, two major action horror franchises captivated audiences: “Resident Evil” and “Underworld.” “Resident Evil” followed Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, as she fought against the T-virus outbreak unleashed by the Umbrella Corporation. Meanwhile, “Underworld” centered on Kate Beckinsale’s character Selene, a vampire embroiled in the age-old conflict between vampires and Lycans. With both featuring formidable female leads battling various monstrous adversaries, it’s no surprise that these series attracted similar fanbases.
Sony Pictures Releasing/Screen Gems
Hollywood also recognized the potential synergy between these franchises. David Kern, a producer involved in several “Underworld” films, revealed in 2016 that he had considered merging the two into a crossover film. During a conversation with a friend who had worked on both projects, he discussed the idea. Kern told Bloody Disgusting, “But then you wonder, all the ‘Resident Evil’ fans are also all the same ‘Underworld’ fans, I would think. At that point, are you losing movie and losing content by… You can get one movie to come out one date, then six months later you get another, and you’ve got two different movie tickets sold, whereas if you make a combined thing…”
From a business perspective, Kern’s concerns were valid. Despite neither “Resident Evil” nor “Underworld” receiving widespread critical acclaim, both franchises were financially successful. Each series stood strong independently—Alice didn’t need Selene, and vice versa.
Although a crossover featuring Selene and Alice never came to fruition, “Underworld” had a more realistic opportunity to merge with another action horror film from 2014, “I, Frankenstein.” This movie, a creative spin on Mary Shelley’s classic novel, depicted Frankenstein’s monster, now named Adam and played by Aaron Eckhart, as he fought demons to protect humanity.
“I, Frankenstein” originated from a graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux, who also co-created the “Underworld” series. Grevioux contributed an early draft of the film’s script before writer-director Stuart Beattie joined the project with his version. In 2014, Grevioux told I Am Rogue that he envisioned a crossover, especially since Lakeshore Entertainment produced both films. “In fact, one of the early drafts I did… You know the end credit scenes that Marvel Studios does with their movies?” Grevioux explained. “I actually had one with Adam and Selene.”
Underworld almost crossed over with I, Frankenstein
Screen Gems
While the chances of Selene and Alice bonding in all things gun and gore never materialized, “Underworld” actually stood a much better chance of crossing over with another 2014 action horror film:Â “I, Frankenstein.” A riff on the classic Mary Shelley story, this film sees Frankenstein’s monster, now named Adam (Aaron Eckhart), battle demons and protect humanity.
“I, Frankenstein” is based on a graphic novel created by Kevin Grevioux, who is also one of the co-creators of the “Underworld” franchise. Grevioux also worked on the “I, Frankenstein” film, providing his own draft of the story before writer-director Stuart Beattie boarded the project and wrote his own script. In 2014, Grevioux revealed to I Am Rogue that since production company Lakeshore Entertainment handled both “Underworld” and “I, Frankenstein,” he harbored hopes of a crossover. “In fact, one of the early drafts I did … You know the end credit scenes that Marvel Studios does with their movies?” Grevioux said. “I actually had one with Adam and Selene.”
Since “I, Frankenstein” underperformed at the box office, with only $76.8 million from a $65 million budget, a sequel and/or crossover never moved forward. Even so, let’s be honest: The team-up we all wanted was the one between “Underworld” and “Blade.” Even Kate Beckinsale had her heart set on a crossover with the Marvel character.