Actress Kate Beckinsale will not be cast in the third Underworld film, according to Moviehole.

The decision has come as a particular surprise since director and writer Len Wiseman is Beckinsale's husband.

However, the third part to the trilogy is set to be a prequel and the part of Selena, the leather-clad character played by Beckinsale, will not be needed.

The actress clarified the decision by her husband saying, "I think it's a prequel before I'm actually in it, so I think that won't include me if it happens."