Underworld is a film series about vampires and lycans.
Underworld (2003 film) . The film centers on the secret history of vampires and lycans ( an abbreviated form of lycanthrope , which means werewolf ) . Underworld is a series of action horror films directed by Len Wiseman , Patrick Tatopoulos , Måns Mårlind , Björn Stein and Anna Foerster . It tells the story of Selene ( Kate Beckinsale ) , a vampire who works as a Death Dealer , killing the lycans ( Werewolves ) who allegedly slaughtered her family . In this film , Selene takes Michael Corvin , a lycan/vampire hybrid , to a vampire safehouse and plans to return to Viktor 's estate to awaken another elder Markus , whom they discover is the first Vampire and a powerful enemy . The third film , Underworld : Rise of the Lycans , is the prequel to the series , chronicling the origins of the vampire-lycan war ( it was released on January 23 , 2009 ) .