Andreas Tanis
Underworld: Evolution
D.O.B.	Unknown
Age	1000+
Birthplace	Unknown
Hair Color	Brown
Eyes	Yellow
Species	Vampire
Title	Coven Historian
Relatives	Unknown
Status	Deceased
Actor	Steven Mackintosh

Andreas Tanis is a cowardly Vampire of considerable age placed in exile by the order of Viktor, one of the Vampire Elders. He is portayed in Underworld: Evolution and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans by actor Steven Mackintosh.

Underworld: Rise of the LycansEdit

During Viktor's reign, Tanis acts as notary during meetings of the first Vampire Council and is often tasked with locating Viktor's headstrong daughter, Sonja. During one of trips to find Sonja, he discovers she is having an affair with a Lycan servant named Lucian. Instead of informing Viktor, he warns Lucian to not give it away, making the Lycan aware that he knows. When confronted by Sonja, he admits he remains silent simply for his own benefit and agrees to aid the lovers in exchange for her seat on the council. He gives the imprisoned Lucian a key to the shackles preventing him from transforming into his wolf form.

Things spiral out of control when Viktor learns of the affair and condemns both Sonja and Lucian to death, sparking a war between the two species. After the death of Sonja, Lucian escapes his fate and returns with a horde of both Lycans and Werewolves, whom he uses to defeat the Coven and drive away the few remaining Vampires. As Viktor prepares to face the Lycan horde with his Death Dealers, he orders Tanis to take the two other Elders to safety. Tanis and the three Elders leave what is now Lucian's castle by ship.

Underworld: EvolutionEdit

Centuries later, Tanis attains the position of official Coven Historian but is accused of recording "malicious lies" by Viktor, who feels threatened by Tanis's knowledge of the origins of the Vampire and Lycan species. For his trouble, he is exiled by Selene, Viktor's personal replacement for Sonja, to an abandoned monastery. Over 300 years later, Selene comes to realise that what Tanis had recorded years earlier was, in fact, true.

During his imprisonment, Tanis establishes a comfortable life by trading with the Lycans, (most specifically Lucian), providing the UV rounds which are fatal to Vampires. In return, he receives Lycan bodyguards - as well as wine, women and other comforts — making his exile quite safe and pleasant, and causing Selene to comment that his exile seems more comfortable than she remembered. He also has dealings with the original Immortal, Alexander Corvinus. Tanis is likely the only Vampire besides Kraven and his men that knew Lucian is still alive.

During a sexual encounter with two female Vampires, Tanis is interrupted by the sound of an alarm. To his horror, he discovers that it is Selene who tripped the alarm. He engages a trap door, dropping Selene into a Lycan pit located beneath the monastery. More Lycans are sent to attack Selene's lover, Michael Corvin. Michael and Selene kill all of Tanis's Lycans while traveling through the tunnels beneath the monastery. Tanis sends his two Vampire lovers after Selene when he realizes she has gained access to the monastery, but Selene dispatches both of them promptly. Tanis tries to shoot her with a crossbow, but misses. He is then attacked by Michael. Tanis is initially extremely frightened by the sight of Michael, who is a Lycan-Vampire Hybrid. He agrees to speak to Selene and Michael.

The pair tell him that the Elders Viktor and Amelia are dead, and that Marcus Corvinus has become a Hybrid. Tanis explains to Selene the truth about the war between the Vampires and Lycans, and why Viktor killed her family. He tells her how to find Alexander Corvinus, the original Immortal. He warns Selene that Marcus must not be able to release his brother William, as William is an uncontrollable beast filled with rage. Selene and Michael leave the monastery, while Tanis takes the bodies of his two lovers, and leaves them in the cellar as food for his Lycan body-guards.

But while he is doing this, Marcus arrives, and quizzes him as to where the keys to William's prison are. Tanis initially resists telling him, fearing the results of William being freed. Marcus produces a pair of wings from his back, which he uses to pin Tanis to the table. Tanis tells him that there are two keys, one which belonged to Sonja before her death, and another which is hidden within Viktor's body. Marcus then kills Tanis, despite claiming he always enjoyed his company, and drinks his blood. From Tanis's Blood Memories, Marcus learns where Selene and Michael have gone, and who they intend to meet with.

TriviaEdit

• Although not mentioned explicitly, Tanis's age is in excess of 1,000 years at the time of his death. The novelization of Rise of the Lycans mentions that Sonja is only half Tanis's age, making Tanis already at least 400 years old during the prequel's events.
• Tanis's last name is a reference to actress Kate Beckinsale's (Selene) hairdresser on the set.
• Tanis was created entirely to replace Kraven, who was roundly criticized for being poorly acted. In the prequel's original script, Kraven was given a large role, but he was again removed completely and replaced with Tanis. This occurs in both Evolution and Rise of the Lycans. This explains why Kraven and Tanis have matching personalities.
• Tanis's last name is misspelled as "Tannis" in Rise of the Lycans.

GalleryEdit

Tanis held at knife edge by Sonja.

Tanis in Underworld: Evolution.

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QuotesEdit

Main article: Andreas Tanis/Quotes