Actress Kate Beckinsale has finalized a deal to return as the vampire Selene in Lakeshore Entertainment and Screen Gems' new Underworld 5. We last reported on the Underworld 5 back in September, when Underworld Awakening star Theo James signed on to reprise his role as David, although, at the time, it wasn't believed that Kate Beckinsale would be back as Selene. Our earlier report also revealed that the production was seeking two actresses to play brand new female characters.

The sequel has also brought on director Anna Foerster, who will make her feature debut. She previously served as a second unit director for Roland Emmerich's The Day After Tomorrow and 2012, and she also served as his director of photography on 2013's White House Down. She has also directed episodes of Starz's Outlander and CBS' Madam Secretary.

Cory Goodman (Apollo 18, The Last Witch Hunter) wrote the screenplay, which is said to be focused on a younger generation of vampires and werewolves locked in an ongoing war between the supernatural species. Production is scheduled to begin this October in Prague. Kate Beckinsale most recently starred in Stonehearst Asylum, and she will next be seen in Absolutely Anything, The Face of an Angel and The Disapppointments Room.