'London Has Fallen' - Gerard Butler Returns as Mike Banning

[Walts Ghost]

Gerard Butler Back in 'Olympus Has Fallen' Sequel 'London Has Fallen'

Though Gerard Butler may not be back for glory in 300: Rise of an Empire, he will head into action sequel territory in a bit of a surprising follow-up. ScreenDaily has word from the American Film Market that Nu Image will be shopping around London Has Fallen, a sequel to this year's action thriller Olympus Has Fallen (just one of two films in 2013 where the White House being attacked served as the primary focus). Butler will also produce through his G-Base banner, and co-stars Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman will reprise their roles from the first film. And believe it or not, Focus Features will release the film since it's a FilmDistrict original, and all their titles fall under Focus starting next year. More below!

Shooting is expected to begin in May of 2014 with a story that follows a plot to strike London during the funeral of the British Prime Minister. This time it's up to Butler (now head of the secret service), along with the President of the United States (Eckhart), and an MI6 agent to stop the terrorist threat. Angela Bassett and Radha Mitchell will also be back in the sequel with a script from the first film's writers Katrin Benedikt and Creighton Rothenberger. This seems like a wholly unnecessary sequel, especially since the film only pulled in $161 million total on a budget of $70 million. But maybe moving the location across the pond will get international audiences more interested. Here's hoping they go for the gold and change the title to London Bridge Has Fallen Down. No? I'll go wait in the car.

Source

[chris_sc77]

I dunno. seems very unnecessary

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

I dunno. seems very unnecessary

Most movies aren't. Still haven't bothered to see the first.

[Jasonic]

Would this really bring in the international audience? I'm sure the last thing the English crowd would be interested in is a movie where an American hero comes in and saves their asses.

[Jumpman]

Really? ReallY?! A sequel to this?

[Kevin Holly]

Yeaahhhhhhh buddy!!!!!!!!!!!

[remake]

Any ideas on what part 3 will be called?

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

Would this really bring in the international audience? I'm sure the last thing the English crowd would be interested in is a movie where an American hero comes in and saves their asses.

they should be used to it since WWII

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Are you freaking kidding me?!

[Walts Ghost]

It sounds like the movie will take place during the funeral of the Prime Minister:

Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, and Aaron Eckhart Returning for OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN Sequel LONDON HAS FALLEN

This year’s battle of the White House actioners did not play out as most expected. Director Roland Emmerich’s Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx-fronted White House Down was supposed to be a massive summer hit, but instead the film only managed to gross $73 million domestically. March’s Olympus Has Fallen, however, was a surprise success, taking in $161 million worldwide against a significantly smaller budget than Emmerich’s pic. Now it’s the Gerard Butler film that has franchise potential, as the newly restructured Focus Features (which recently absorbed FilmDistrict) is moving forward with an Olympus Has Fallen sequel called London Has Fallen. Hit the jump for more, including which actors will be back.

ScreenDaily reports that Millennium Films is producing and financing London Has Fallen, with Focus Features onboard to distribute the film in the U.S. Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, and Radha Mitchell will reprise their roles from the first film, with the story now revolving around a plot to strike London during the funeral of the British Prime Minister. It is unlikely that Antoine Fuqua will return to direct given that a May 2014 production start date for London Has Fallen is being eyed. Fuqua is currently busy with post-production on the Denzel Washington thriller The Equalizer, which opens next September.

While White House Down outgrossed Olympus Has Fallen in the global marketplace (it took in $204 million), the Sony pic carried much larger expectations given its pedigree and $150 million budget. Audiences instead sparked to the graphically violent Olympus Has Fallen (always with the knife-into-head move), and it’ll be interesting to see if the success can be repeated with London Has Fallen. Katrin Benedikt and Creighton Rothenberger will return to pen the screenplay, and producers are currently out to directors.

Source

[jayturner514]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

Would this really bring in the international audience? I'm sure the last thing the English crowd would be interested in is a movie where an American hero comes in and saves their asses.

Originally Posted by wormraper

they should be used to it since WWII

Umm...Butler was born in Paisley, just outside of Glasgow, UK

[Col. Zombie]

Since OHF was so terribly awful, I'm guessing I probably won't go see this, but maybe (keyword, maybe) wait for a rental...maybe.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by jayturner514

Umm...Butler was born in Paisley, just outside of Glasgow, UK

So what? I'm talking about the movie, in which he plays an American, in a movie that is about as straight up American patriotism as it gets.

[bowlingbilly10]

Originally Posted by Col. Zombie

Since OHF was so terribly awful, I'm guessing I probably won't go see this, but maybe (keyword, maybe) wait for a rental...maybe.

How is Olympus has fallen terribly awful?! Please explain. I thought it was awesome and badass!! Gerald butler was awesome!

[Scottie]

Give me a break. OHF was one of the worst movies of the year. Why on earth would they make a sequel?

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Give me a break. OHF was one of the worst movies of the year. Why on earth would they make a sequel?

it was better than 90% of the big blockbusters this summer... easily better than man of sh!t and ST into dumbness. it at least new what it was and just had fun. same with WHD

[bowlingbilly10]

Originally Posted by wormraper

it was better than 90% of the big blockbusters this summer... easily better than man of sh!t and ST into dumbness. it at least new what it was and just had fun. same with WHD

I liked Star Trek into darkness and White House down. Sue me.

[HotRats]

Originally Posted by wormraper

they should be used to it since WWII

Rumour has it that there were one or two Russians involved as well.



This does not sound good. British Prime Ministers do not automatically have State Funerals, usually they are long retired and they are laid to rest in private ceremonies according to their families' wishes, far away from London. The government did inflict a State Funeral in all but name when Thatcher died but it was not well received by the majority of the population. A State Funeral for an incumbent would require him to be beloved by the British public, something which would stretch fiction to the very limits.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by wormraper

it was better than 90% of the big blockbusters this summer... easily better than man of sh!t and ST into dumbness. it at least new what it was and just had fun. same with WHD

White House Down was entertaining, yes.

I don't see anything fun or enjoyable about CGI being overkilled in the most unrealistic ways possible. Not only was I laughing at how unbelievably corny it was, but I was constantly finding myself face palming at why anyone would allow it to be made.

[coolrivers]

Very welcomed news! Went in to Olympus with low expectations and came out suprised by how much I enjoyed it. Butler was badass he made Channing Tatum look like a little *****. The visual fx were really weak though. Hopefully they'll fix that in the sequel.