Screen Gems and parent company Sony have postponed the release of the fifth instalment in the Underworld series until 2017.

Underworld: Blood Wars is rumoured to be the last in the series that Kate Beckinsale will star in. Some speculate that she may be passing the torch to a new main protagonist in this upcoming film.

Actors Theo James, Trent Garrett, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James and Charles Dance will co-star in Blood Wars, so it is possible that one of them will be the actor to take the lead role after Beckinsale's departure. For now, it is only speculation.

Underworld: Blood Wars is set to be released on January 6 for the US and February 3, 2017 for the UK.