Steven Mackintosh

Interview: Chicago ‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans’ Writer Kevin Grevioux on Science-Based Vampires

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:37:33 -0700

CHICAGO – While Alfred Hitchcock and more recently M. Night Shyamalan have teetered between whether or not to write roles for themselves into their own scripts, there’s no tottering for Chicago-born Marvel Comics writer and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” character creator Kevin Grevioux.

For the inside story behind the 2009 “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” film from the lips of the “Underworld” character creator (the original Kate Beckinsdale film opened in 2003), HollywoodChicago.com sat down with the vastly brawny and distinctly deep-voiced Kevin Grevioux on the film that makes the series a trilogy.

Rhona Mitra stars in “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”.
Photo credit: Lakeshore Entertainment Group

“When I wrote the original ‘Underworld’ script, I had my role in it and I knew what I had to do,” Grevioux said in a Chicago interview with HollywoodChicago.com editor-in-chief Adam Fendelman on the topic of his Lycan (werewolf) character named Raze. “I had to taper it to make sure it fit well within the film. I had to make it big enough but not too small.”

Grevioux continued: “After I finished my screenplay, the other writers (Len Wiseman and Danny McBride) were making the role bigger. We all were. But I said at one point: ‘Hold up, fellas. We can’t go down this path. If this role is too big, then they’re gonna get LL Cool J or whoever is the flavor-of-the-month black man to play it and I won’t be able to.’”

That’s when Grevioux knew it was time to defend his own character holy grail. He added: “So we tapered it down some so it would be cool for me but not as attractive to a bigger actor.”

This was at a time when Grevioux was new in the industry and hadn’t yet earned today’s prized Hollywood star power. He added: “At the time, none of us had done a film before. We were all new and had no power. I identify myself more as a writer than an actor. Acting is something I fell into because I had the look – whatever that means – or distinctiveness. But writing is really where I flourish. I have a wealth of ideas.”

To understand Grevioux’s “Underworld” writing in contrast to so many other vampire incarnations including the hit 2008 film “Twilight,” its 2009 sequel “New Moon,” “True Blood” on HBO, all the Anne Rice vampire novels and the underrated foreign child vampire film “Let the Right One In,” one must understand the source from which he derived his vampire and werewolf perspective.

Michael Sheen (left) and Kevin Grevioux star in “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”.
Photo credit: Lakeshore Entertainment Group

As a self-professed conspiracy theorist and sci-fi fanatic with science degrees in microbiology and genetic engineering, Grevioux didn’t write “Underworld” vampires with the typical sense of mysticism. Instead, he created them through science in the way he believes they actually could be.

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Free Chicago Screenings to ‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,’ Autographed Posters With Star Kevin Grevioux

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:35:23 -0700

CHICAGO – “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” star Kevin Grevioux will be in Chicago on Jan. 19, 2009 to give away a limited amount of autographed posters for the film as well as admit-two passes to the movie. Want to know where and when to show up for this special event? Read on as HollywoodChicago.com dishes to you the scoop.

Rhona Mitra in “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”.
Image credit: Ken George, Screen Gems

Originally born in Chicago, Kevin Grevioux is a Marvel Comics writer and is one of the originators of the “Underworld” series. Along with starring in “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” he joins Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra and Steven Mackintosh in the film.

The “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” event with Kevin Grevioux will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2009 at Graham Crackers Comics, which is located at 77 E. Madison between Wabash and Michigan in downtown Chicago.

Kevin Grevioux has also been featured in the films “The Mask,” “Batman Forever,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Men in Black II,” “Cradle 2 the Grave” and “Underworld”.

No purchase is necessary to receive autographed posters and free admit-two passes to the film. Inventory is available while supplies last.

Kevin Grevioux
Photo credit: Screen Gems

A limited number of passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limit of a single admit-two pass per person. Passes will not be given away until noon on Jan. 19, 2009.

Here’s the synopsis for “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”:

“Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires (known as Death Dealers) and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves).

A young Lycan, Lucian (Michael Sheen), emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy): the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years.

Lucian is joined by his secret lover – the beautiful vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra) – in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement.

“Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” opens in theaters nationwide on Jan. 23, 2009.

Note: This is different than our typical HollywoodChicago.com Hookups where we have arranged free passes for you in advance with the studios. We have not done so in this case. We’re merely letting you know about this information because we think it’s crazy snazzy and believe you will, too.

Flip through our five-image “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” slideshow.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 5-Image Gallery For ‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans’ With Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy

BrianTT — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:47:45 -0700

CHICAGO – This 5-image slideshow contains official press images for Screen Gems’ “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” which stars Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Kevin Grevioux, Steven Mackintosh, Tania Nolan, and Craig Parker from writers Danny McBride and Dirk Blackman & Howard McCain and director Patrick Tatopoulos. The film opens on Jan. 23, 2009.

Official synopsis: “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian (Michael Sheen), emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Ken George and courtesy of Screen Gems.

underworld_lycans_1: Rhona Mitra in Screen Gems’ Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
underworld_lycans_2: Rhona Mitra in Screen Gems’ Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
underworld_lycans_3: Michael Sheen in Screen Gems’ Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
underworld_lycans_4: Bill Nighy in Screen Gems’ Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
underworld_lycans_5: Poster for Screen Gems’ Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com