'Underworld: Blood Wars' release date, spoilers: Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene in new teaser images

Promotional photo for "Underworld: Blood Wars" Facebook/UnderworldMovie

It has been more than a decade since the first "Underworld" movie was released, and Kate Beckinsale is returning for more action in the upcoming film "Underworld: Blood Wars." As Selene, the British actress will try to stop the seemingly endless war between vampires and werewolves, as a new war between the two groups is waged.

The last time fans saw Selene in 2012's "Awakening," the vampire warrior had been taken captive by humans while they waged an all-out war against the vampires and Lycans. After more than a decade, Selene awoke to find out that her lover, Michael (Scott Speedman) was dead and that somehow, she had given birth to his daughter. Since then, the Lycans have been after the child as she seemed to be the key to producing genetically enhanced Lycans.

In "Blood Wars," Selene must fight with the Lycan clan and the vampire group that betrayed her. With her only vampire allies, David (Theo James) and his father, Thomas (Charles Dance), Selene must find a way to stop the war between the two factions, even if she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

In the trailer, it is revealed that Selene and her child are the key to the survival of both the Lycans and the vampires, with Lycan leader Marius (Tobias Menzies) saying that once they have the blood of the two, they will become invincible.

In new photos released by Empire magazine, Beckinsale is every bit the action hero as she dons her all-black leather outfit while fighting the bad guys. Speaking with the magazine, Beckinsale said that in "Blood Wars," her character is "at a really low ebb."

"You see a different side to her," said the actress. "[Her one-time mentor] Viktor has emerged as a traitor. [Her lover] Michael has disappeared. She's had a baby that she didn't know about."

The fifth "Underworld" movie will be directed by Anna Foerster, who told Empire that fans will definitely see a different side of Selene in the upcoming film.

"What I bring to this movie is a defined visual concept and some cool surprises," said Foerster. "I think fans will see a new side of Selene."

"Underworld: Blood Wars" opens in theaters on Jan. 6, 2017.

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