I must admit they surely surprised me with that. It could mean anything, but it seems like they're adding a strong spiritual element to the saga.
I'm most intrigued by the white haired vampires and their mythology.
How did you react when you saw that scene in the trailer and what do you think it means?
My first thought was that Selene and those other people in cocoons were getting put into hibernation. I read an article recently where someone speculated that the cocoons were the source of the blonde hair and Selene’s extra powers. So, the ice cave vampire (Lena, I think) cocoons the vampires in her clan to provide them with extra powers. Speed maybe, and perhaps sunlight resistance. It would be really awkward being susceptible to sunlight at high latitudes: the sun stays up pretty much all summer if you live far enough north.
Whether any of that is right or not, the ice cave and lake scenes look very interesting.
Not a fan of the new powers, I hate that she can now basically move like flash/quicksilver and all those cheap blur-like vampire effects. I liked that the powers were somewhat grounded, Vampires being strong, heal fast, and quick, but not lightning quick. That allows to relate to the action, and be able to 'follow' it. Hope its not as bad as it seems in the trailer.
I dunno, am I supposed to sign here or what?
If that's the case we can rule out this being shown in China.
http://flickr.com/photos/55196522@N05/sets/72157625135851207/detail/
It took me by surprise too; quite a striking and unusual visual for this series. They've always leaned more towards the viral vampirism/lycanthropy angle in "Underworld" whereas this looks more spiritual, as you say.
It's a pretty safe bet that the cocooning process enchances Selene and gives her aditional abilities, along with the white tips in her hair, but exactly what these white haired vampires are, and what this rebirth creates, I have no idea. Looking forward to finding out, though.
- Another textbook sociopath -
I had wondered if they were a whole, entirely different race that might (too much time spent driving the last few weeks, gives me too much time for uninterrupted thought) be the descendants of a Daughter of Corvinus. We've only ever heard of the three sons - one bitten by wolf (William), one bitten by bat (Marcus), and one to walk the lonely road of mortality (eventually leading to Michael). We've never heard a word said about him having a fourth child, I admit, although it would be a cool idea. That perhaps he had a daughter who was bitten by something else besides a wolf or bat, and because of this, she developed abilities far different from her brothers. And perhaps, due to seeing the destruction they had wrought with their gifts (okay, William's was just a curse) and how Alexander just cleaned up their messes but did nothing to stop them, she took her fellow wraith-types, went up into the mountains, and she has been taking care of them ever since. They've honed their skills, added to their knowledge, and bade their time because eventually the blood war between Lykans & Vampires would have to escalate to the point of touching these wraith-types.
And perhaps, because Selene shows up telling them, "I've got a daughter to protect, she is the last true descendant of Alexander Corvinus- a hybrid of two hybrid parents. And I must protect her from this war, I have to end this war once and for all.", they decide to help her. That thanks to her transfusion from Alexander, she is able to be the first vampire able to take on the traits of these wraith-types. They sense a kindred spirit in her- someone tired of war, who only wishes to protect those they love and be done with killing. And because she is this kindred spirit, they are willing to fight alongside her with the common goal of ending the war started by Marcus and William, then continued by Lucien and Viktor.
What I do wonder is what the animal would have been that bit them? If it is a spider (which would explain the cocoons) then it is begging for SPIDER-MAN jokes. Assuming European animals that were around to be biting people in an era that still had warlords weilding swords and crossbows when they left their castles, but excluding bats and wolves, then you've got quite a list. A friend of mine, who is a bigger UNDERWORLD fan than I am, suggested a fourth sibling could have been bitten by a different kind of bat, a snowfox, or a cat.
"There is still hope." - Arwen
I hadn't considered that, but it would make sense in keeping with the series' mythology thus far i.e. the vampires originated from bats, the lycans from wolves. Spider would be... interesting. It could work, I'm sure, but it'd be very... different. Spiders suck blood, don't they?
- Another textbook sociopath -
I was thinking snow fox, although that wouldn't explain the cocoons.
Making these Nordic people a new species would be the easiest way to explain why they're so different. Maybe the metamorphosis they undergo in their cocoons won't work on vampires, but it will work on Selene because of her Corvinus blood.
Apparently, only moths make cocoons, but if we bend that a bit, it would turn into a silly Disney storyline: "one bitten by bat, one by wolf, and one little girl, the fairest (blondest) of them all, was bitten by a beautiful butterfly, turned into a princess, and flew away to her ice castle in the north." Umm, yeah...
In this interview with Anna Foerster, it looks like she confirmed that the blonde people are vampires: http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/underworld/259156/underworld-blood-wars-director-talks-putting-new-life-in-series
she’s venturing into an area of different vampire culture, and she experiences things there, and she meets people there that makes her pick up a few new tricks and a new look on the way.