Underworld is a series of action horror films directed by Len Wiseman, Patrick Tatopoulos, Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein. The first film, Underworld, was released in 2003. 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. The second film, , was released in 2006. In this film, Selene takes Michael Corvin, a human bitten first by Lucian, the leader of the Lycan horde and later by Selene, thus becoming a Lycan/Vampire hybrid, to a vampire safehouse and plans to return to Viktor's estate to awaken Markus, the last Vampire Elder. The third film, , is the prequel to the series, chronicling the origins of the vampire-lycan war (it was released on January 23, 2009). The fourth film, , the sequel to , was released on January 20, 2012. In this film, humans have discovered the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, and are trying to eradicate both species. A fifth film titled is in production and is set to be released 2016.