Michael Sheen’s Werewolf Role Remains One of His Most Memorable

He may be greatest identified for his function because the angel Aziraphale on Good Omens now, however within the early 2000s and effectively into the 2010s, actor Michael Sheen was immediately acknowledged by many for his time enjoying vampires and werewolves in your favourite fantasy franchises. There is not any doubt that Aro, his vampire character from “The Twilight Saga,” is probably going essentially the most recognizable of the 2. The Twilight collection was immensely well-liked within the 2010s, and afterward, the character even developed right into a meme. However regardless of enjoying Aro for 3 movies, the vampire wasn’t Sheen’s most memorable supernatural creature. No, that honor belongs to Lucian, the werewolf antagonist of the very first Underworld.

In fact, there isn’t any denying that Sheen performs angels and vampires with ease, however his time as a werewolf (effectively, technically a lycan, however we’ll get to that) simply made higher use of Sheen’s skills as an actor. As a substitute of enjoying a personality in an archetypal function, Sheen retains Lucian throughout the gray, making one surprise if he is certainly a villain or really one thing of a hero. In reality, the order wherein one watches the Underworld saga might have a drastic influence on how this character is seen, and that is no small feat.

What Is ‘Underworld’ About?

It has been some time since we have been gifted a brand new Underworld installment. The final characteristic, Underworld: Blood Wars, dropped in 2016, and we have not heard a lot from the franchise since. Collection star Kate Beckinsale, who really dated Sheen for a time, has expressed her want to at some point return to her breakout function because the vampire Selene, however there was no official affirmation of extra. The primary Underworld was launched in 2003 and adopted Selene, a vampire warrior referred to as a “Loss of life Supplier,” as she fights to maintain a person named Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) – who himself turns into a vampire/werewolf hybrid – protected from the lycans who want to use his bloodline to their benefit.

After the primary movie, there are 4 extra installments to the Underworld universe. A direct sequel, Underworld: Evolution, was launched in 2006, chronicling the subsequent chapter of Selene’s story, whereas Underworld: Awakening arrived years later in 2012. Blood Wars dropped a number of years after that, and the franchise has been on life help ever since. A prequel referred to as Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was launched in 2009, which adopted the story of Sheen’s Lucian, set on the very starting of the struggle between vampires and werewolves. It is on this installment that we lastly perceive the complete image of the centuries-long battle.

Though Lucian is the antagonist of the primary movie, hoping to make use of Michael within the struggle towards the vampires, we be taught that he is not at all times anti-vampire. In reality, he is not likely anti-vampire in any respect. As first revealed by the tip of the primary Underworld, the prequel Rise of the Lycans later particulars Lucian’s love affair with the vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra). Studying of his daughter’s interspecies relations, the vampire elder Viktor (Invoice Nighy) has her killed after discovering that she’s with baby, which formally commences the struggle between their peoples. This monster-themed Romeo & Juliet is the inspiration for the remainder of the franchise, and though each different Underworld story is seen by way of the eyes of the vampire Selene, it stands out as essentially the most artistic installment.

Lucian Begins because the Antagonist However Evolves Into So A lot Extra

However Rise of the Lycans‘s inverted perspective is not all that it has going for it. Lucian himself is arguably essentially the most tragic character within the Underworld universe, and it is within the prequel that we get to see that in full. After we first meet him in 2003’s Underworld, Lucian seems to be a chilly and calculated Lycan who kicks the plot into movement after biting Michael and infecting him with the werewolf curse. The way in which Sheen performs the character, Lucian is clearly interpreted because the villain, who seemingly desires to tear down the vampire’s empire and finish their bloodline as soon as and for all. However this is not the complete reality.

Because it seems, Lucian is definitely allied with Kraven (Shane Brolly), who may be essentially the most unlikable vampire in film historical past, as they plan to show the previous right into a hybrid in order that he may kill Viktor and the opposite elders (thus giving Kraven management over the vampires), forming a brand new peace between their respective species. All through the Underworld collection, Lycans are at all times the antagonists. They always pave by way of covens of vampires (and typically armies of people) and are virtually at all times portrayed as greedy for extra energy. Since we watch the flicks primarily from Selene’s perspective, it is easy to consider the vampires because the heroes of the story, although they don’t seem to be a lot totally different from their enemies. In reality, typically they’re worse.

Characters like Selene, Michael, and Lucian stand out as a result of they do not conform merely to at least one facet, and as a substitute battle their oppressors regardless of their prior allegiances. By the point we be taught of Lucian’s tragic previous, our entire perspective of this darkish fantasy world has been turned the other way up. Lucian’s drive for vengeance leads him to grow to be more and more extra violent all through the years. Although he is not blinded by his want for revenge, it is clear that it has been his sole focus for therefore lengthy that, in some ways, he is unrecognizable from the person he as soon as was. It is solely after we get the complete story that we’re in a position to perceive why.

‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans’ Highlights Lucian’s Heroics

In Rise of the Lycans, we be taught that the vampires had enslaved werewolves by the thirteenth century, and used them as daylight guards for the evening creatures. However Lucian was totally different. Since his mom was changed into a werewolf whereas pregnant, he was the primary of his sort to have the ability to rework again into human kind at will. The primary Lycan, Lucian, was type of adopted by Viktor and was loyal to the vampire lord for many years regardless of getting used to show others into Lycan slaves. The way in which Sheen and Nighy play off each other, with a fancy master-servant/father-son dynamic, is basically distinctive and arguably probably the greatest components of the Underworld prequel.

As talked about earlier, Lucian falls in love with Viktor’s daughter Sonja and, consequently, they plan to run away collectively. Solely, it would not work out. After Viktor catches wind of this and orders them each killed, Lucian is compelled to observe in horror as Sonja is burned alive by the dawning solar, unable to do a factor about it. In comparison with a few of his different roles, Sheen’s show of horror and grief right here is a number of the greatest performing in the entire collection. The way in which Lucian struggles to get free coupled together with his subsequent rage is a mix that may drive the character into the plot of the primary movie, creating the right bridge for viewers who may then revisit the unique.

However as a substitute of succumbing to his grief and hiding away, Lucian leads a revolt towards the bloodsuckers and takes again Fortress Corvinus for his personal sort. Releasing his enslaved brothers and taking his revenge on Viktor (revenge that, sadly, would not fairly take), Lucian’s origin story ends with him main his Lycan clan into a brand new age of peace and prosperity. If something, Rise of the Lycans proves that Lucian is definitely a hero, and one thing of a freedom fighter. “Lucian…is somebody who has grown up on this oppressive environment,” Sheen defined in an interview selling the movie, emphasizing that he by no means fought again towards the vampires till he was provoked too far. It is this spectacular show of restraint that units this character other than all different Lycans.

Lucian Redeems Himself within the Finish

Whereas many villain-centered prequels try to clarify why our favourite antagonists grow to be villains in any respect, Rise of the Lycans has virtually the alternative impact. As a result of we already realized Lucian’s story from the primary Underworld, all Rise of the Lycans does is reinforce the person he at all times tried to be, whereas additionally reminding us that Viktor was the villain all alongside. However that does not imply the prequel didn’t ship something new. In reality, Sheen shines a lot brighter in Rise of the Lycans when he is allowed to discover Lucian’s true character with out trying to cover behind a later twist.

However make no mistake, Lucian makes some sophisticated decisions alongside the best way, and Sheen performs off them very effectively. As an illustration, his preliminary assault on Selene and Michael is horrifying. Not solely does Sheen lean into the physique horror side of Lucian’s bloodlust, however permits himself to frighten the viewers members nonetheless being launched to this darkish world. It is no surprise that we immediately see Lucian because the antagonist as his violent actions are starkly contrasted with Selene’s feats of heroism. It is solely ultimately that we be taught to see him in a different way.

In fact, by the tip of Underworld, Kraven betrays Lucian, not wishing to share energy or kind a peace treaty with the Lycans, resulting in the character’s final (and considerably anti-climactic) demise. Lucian by no means will get to grow to be a hybrid or dispatch Viktor himself, however in his remaining moments, he is in a position to assist Selene save Michael’s life, thus permitting Michael to take his place as a hybrid. Via Selene, Viktor is lastly defeated, and whereas no peace between the vampires and werewolves ever happens within the Underworld universe, Lucian dies one thing of a hero. In his remaining breaths, Sheen pulls again the curtain and reminds the viewers of the person Lucian was deep inside.

Underworld is out there to lease or purchase on Apple TV+.

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