A Comic Book/Movie Love Child - Underworld's Kevin Grevioux

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans opens this Friday

Actor/writer/renasissance man Kevin Grevioux is a busy guy these days. His latest acting project is Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, the newest installment in the film series about the war between vampires and werewolves, or “Lycans.” This latest enty delves into the backstory of the series, and allows Grevioux to reprise his role from the first film as henchman Raze. We got up with Grevioux for a quick chat about the film. He also provided us with some info and art from his upcoming comic book projects.

Newsarama: Kevin, give us an idea of the storyline for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.

Kevin Grevioux: Basically, this third installment is the origin of the war between the vampire and lycan races. We hinted at it in the first Underworld movie with the backstory of Lucian and Sonja. Here, we see what actually led up to her tragic death and Lucian’s hatred for Viktor and his kind.

NRAMA: Tell us about some of the new characters we'll be meeting.

KG: All of the main characters you have seen in the series before are back: Viktor, Lucian, Tanis and Raze. But now we get to see Sonja, Lucian’s true love whose death started it all. And Sonja is beautifully played by Rhona Mitra. She brought a real energy and integrity to the role that really jumps off the screen. She is an excellent addition to the mythos.

NRAMA: Why the decision to go into flashback for this story?

KG: Looking at Underworld Evolution, it was really a kind of closing of a chapter that ended with Selene becoming something more than a vampire. So going back to the impetus for the entire war in this film was only natural.

NRAMA: Of course in the film, you're back as Raze. What do you get to do this time, and why did you decide to resurrect your character through the miracle of flashback?

KG: You see the beginning of Raze’s story as he enters the world of the conflict – who and what he was before he became Lucian’s immortal lieutenant. Once again, it was only natural to bring back Raze, since we are doing a prequel.

Kevin Grevioux as Raze

NRAMA: Is it true people had trouble believing it was really your voice on the commentary track to the DVD of the first film?

KG: From what I hear, that seems to be the case. But to tell you the truth, I’ve heard that comment pretty much ever since I hit puberty, and it’s still hard to understand why people have such a hard time believing I have a heavy voice. It’s not like I’m the only one out there.

NRAMA: And now, a complete fanboy question – what's it like to work with Bill Nighy?

KG: Bill is a consummate professional. He’s the senior member of the cast, so everyone pretty much looks at him as a kind of mentor/father figure. I learned a lot from him by talking to him and just watching him work.

NRAMA: Do you have plans for future Underworld films, and if so, can you talk about them at this time?

KG: There are plans, but you are correct, I can’t speak about them at this point. I am writing an Underworld miniseries for IDW, so I will be able to do different stories in the Underworld universe.

NRAMA: Why do you feel the Underworld films have garnered such a following?

KG: First of all, I think that the story is steeped in the quintessential human interactions of love and war. They are both things that everyone can identify with and has an opinion about. Secondly, because most people like vampires and werewolves. These are classic monsters that people are familiar with and there is comfort in that.

And when you put them in a story that revolve around the aforementioned relationships, I think you have a winner. And lastly, I also think having attractive women like Kate Beckinsale and Rhona Mitra can’t hurt either! (laughs)

The Pale Horsemen

NRAMA: Are there any other film projects you're working on at this time that you're able to talk about?

KG: A couple or three things. My comic ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction got picked up as film last year by Benderspink. We have a director attached, but I can’t tell you who it is right now.

I’ve also written a script called The Pale Horsemen that just got a green light. It’s based on a yet to be released graphic novel I wrote. There are a few more things I have cooking, but I can’t really talk about them yet. Announcements should come soon.

NRAMA: What about your upcoming comics work?

I' Frankenstein

KG: I have a lot of books on the burner. I have two series coming out from Ape Entertainment. One is called Sista Samurai. It’s about a biracial woman who is a supermodel by day and a ninja by night. I also have a book called Monstroids.. It's a cool all-ages book about the classic monsters like Frankenborg, Draculoid and Gearwolf who have been turned into cyborgs, and now fight against evil.

I'm also doing a book called I’Frankenstein. It casts the original Frankenstein monster as a modern day private detective in a film noir kind of world. It's being published by Red 5 Comics who is also publishing my ZMD comic, and I'm really having a blast writing it.

NRAMA: And finally, what can readers expect in the New Warriors finale?

KG: Wall-to-wall action! More than that...you have to read the book! (laughs)

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans roars into theaters this Friday, Jan.23.

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