A popular genre franchise's next entry will be written by the writer of one of TV's most popular cop dramas. According to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision Blog, John Hlavin (The Shield) has been tapped to write Underworld 4.

While the new writer wouldn't divulge details about this new film, he did stress that the film, "is not a prequel."



Original Underworld director Len Wiseman is still on board as a producer, but the film does not have a director attached as of yet. Kate Beckinsale, who starred in Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, does not have a deal in place to return. The prequel film Underworld 3: The Rise of The Lycans's star Rhona Mitra has not cut a deal to return as well.