Underworld

Underworld (2003)

Timing: 2:2 (122 min)

6.8/10
6540

7.562/10
245146

7/10
300000

All about film

Video 3

Photo 85

Actors and characters

Release date

2003-09-19

Country

Germany, Hungary, United Kingdom, United States

Production

Lakeshore Entertainment, Screen Gems, Laurinfilm, Subterranean Productions LLC, Subterranean Productions UK Ltd., Underworld Produktions GmbH

Genre

Fantasy, Action, Thriller

Budget

$22 000 000

Revenue

$95 708 457

Website

https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/underworld

Director

Len Wiseman

Actors

Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Bill Nighy, Erwin Leder, Sophia Myles, Robbie Gee, Wentworth Miller, Kevin Grevioux
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Richard S. Wright, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern, Terry McKay, James McQuaide, Robert Bernacchi

Operator

Tony Pierce-Roberts

Composer

Paul Haslinger

Artist

Audition

Celestia Fox, Deborah Aquila, Tricia Wood

Editing

Martin Hunter, Anja Stadelmann
All team (136)

• Initially, this story was conceived as a unique interpretation of the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet, set in a world of werewolves and vampires.
• The actors were given only two weeks to prepare for filming. Computer graphics were used in only a few scenes. To avoid using CGI effects, various technical devices were employed in the sound stages to create an effect of unreality.
• Shortly before the premiere in the US, the president of Screen Gems approved not only the filming of a sequel, but also a prequel. The film premiered slightly earlier in Canada, and the box office returns for the first few days exceeded expectations.
• The name of the main character – Selene – symbolized the Moon in Greek mythology.
• Michael Sheen and Wentworth Miller auditioned for the role that ultimately went to Scott Speedman. The latter eventually landed an episodic role in the film, which took only 2 days to shoot.
• The name Kraven in English (Kraven) sounds the same as “craven,” which means “coward.”
• Michael Corvin, the hero of Scott Speedman, received his name in honor of Ash Corwin, Vincent Perez’s character in “The Crow: City of Angels” (1996). Interestingly, Ash’s name was Michael before his death.
• When Selena encounters the werewolf in the tunnel, wolf howling can be heard; this sound effect was directly borrowed from the classic “An American Werewolf in London” (1981).
• None of the characters mention the name of the city in which the action takes place. However, we can glimpse on Selena’s computer that the city is Budapest.
• The scene with the dog attack was filmed in 2 stages. First, the pack of dogs running with cheerful barking was filmed, and a little later, Scott Speedman running was added to the shot.
• A pack of dogs chases after Michael. The only dogs they could find for the filming were so friendly that they had to overlay their cheerful barking with the sounds of real animal howling. But they couldn't manage one thing – it's clear that the dogs happily wag their tails while chasing Michael.