'Olympus Has Fallen' - Gerard Butler to Star, Antoine Faqua to Direct

[Walts Ghost]

Antoine Fuqua in Talks for the Other “Die Hard in the White House” Movie, ‘Olympus Has Fallen’

Maybe it’s got something to do with the current divisive political climate, or maybe election years just bring out the most destructive tendencies in people. More likely, it’s just that weird Hollywood tendency to produce multiple films based on a single idea at the same time. (See also: Linda Lovelace, Snow White.)

Whatever the reason, Hollywood is apparently really into demolishing the White House right now. Just last week, Independence Day helmer Roland Emmerich set himself up to crush 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue again in White House Down, and now Antoine Fuqua is lining up to do the same thing with Olympus Has Fallen. Gerard Butler, who’s also lined up to star in Fuqua’s Hunter Killer, has been attached since last month.

THR writes that Fuqua has received an offer and is now in talks to direct Olympus Has Fallen, an action thriller script from Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt. Like rival project White House Down, Olympus Has Fallen has been described as “Die Hard in the White House.” Butler will play a former Secret Service agent who’s called back into duty when he becomes the only person who can stop the terrorists who’ve taken over the White House. If Fuqua officially signs on, it’ll be his first time working with Butler after two previous tries. The pair have been slated to collaborate on both Afterburn and Hunter Killer, but neither film has gotten off the ground.

The fact that Olympus Has Fallen already has a star on board puts it a bit ahead of White House Down in the race to the big screen. However, Nu Image/Millennium isn’t getting too comfortable and plans to fast-track the project, pushing the start date up from September to June. (As of last week, White House Down was aiming for a fall start.) That means we can expect to hear final word from Fuqua soon, though it’s tough to say what that decision will be. The premise — and star — sound right up Fuqua’s alley, but he’s also weighing several other projects at the moment, including New Line’s Chicagoland and potentially, eventually, the 24 film. In addition, he’s already attached to Storming Las Vegas and Southpaw.

Source

[Walts Ghost]

Aaron Eckhart to Play the President in Thriller OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN

The viral campaign for The Dark Knight Rises has been revving up with newspaper clippings heralding “Harvey Dent Day” in order to honor Aaron Eckhart’s deceased district attorney from The Dark Knight, but it appears the actor is getting back into politics in a big way post-Batman. Variety reports that Eckhart has been tapped to play the President of the United States in director Antoine Fuqua’s thriller Olympus Has Fallen (aka White House Taken). Gerard Butler stars as a Secret Service agent who becomes the country’s only hope when the White House is overrun by terrorists.

The film is in direct competition with Roland Emmerich’s very similarly plotted White House Down, and Eckhart may be taking part in a POTUS-off with Jamie Foxx, who is considering playing the commander-in-chief in Emmerich’s pic. Olympus Has Fallen is moving forward first, with production set to get underway in September. Eckhart will next be seen in The Expatriate, and he recently wrapped the starring role in the Dean Koontz adaptation I, Frankenstein.

Source

[EricJ]

Like rival project White House Down, Olympus Has Fallen has been described as “Die Hard in the White House.”

Although I suspect either a title change, or the two projects will wrestle for domination.

(When I heard the title "Olympus Has Fallen", my first audience reaction was, and I quote, "Please!...NO MORE! No more overstylized Greek-mythogical Clash-imitations! Just MAKE the damn God of War movie already, and put us out of our misery!!!"
For once, I'm glad to be mistaken. )

[Walts Ghost]

Trailer:

Olympus Has Fallen - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube

[Monterey Jack]

The White House blowing up...how very 1996.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The White House blowing up...how very 1996.

Yeah...But you know what, as cheesy as it looks, I'll still probably enjoy it. Sometimes I just want to watch a dumb action movie, and this looks like just the ticket.

I'm still more excited for 'White House Down' with Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum.

[Monkey]

The Director did well with The Replacement Killers and Shooter, even King Arthur was pretty entertaining. The cast is good and the trailer looks entertaining, I'm down.

[Foggy]

I'm probably going to give it a miss. I don't mind big dumb fun, but this just seems bland and uninspired, and simply not worth my time.

[nolfoc]

Trailer looks interesting.. May check this out, not much i want to see in March

[ManUtd]

I like Antoine Fuqua's style of movies and this looks interesting enough, I'm gonna watch it at the theaters.

[MifuneFan]

Michael Bay called, he wants his explosions back.

[Twisted-Alien]

I thought it looked pretty good. Looks like plenty of good action. And heck, Morgan Freeman is in it. I'll pretty much watch anything he's in.

[Snikt]

Gerard Butler found his balls again . Glad to see him getting back to kicking @$$

[thrillmygorilla]

Wow. This looks terrible. And the whole time I'm thinking, Die Hard ripoff.

[Twisted-Alien]

Originally Posted by thrillmygorilla

Wow. This looks terrible. And the whole time I'm thinking, Die Hard ripoff.

And for those of us who haven't seen Die Hard, it looks awesome!

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Twisted-Alien

And for those of us who haven't seen Die Hard, it looks awesome!

Die Hard / Cliffhanger / Under Siege / Airforce One...could be fun, but yes, we've seen all this before.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Twisted-Alien

And for those of us who haven't seen Die Hard, it looks awesome!

All two of you who haven't seen Die Hard

[Show spoiler]Seriously, what are you doing with your life, watch Die Hard!

[Jegærn]

Yes this looks like "Die Hard" but so what? Looks like a REAL good time if you ask me Lots of action! Good actors. Good effects....And Butler is just kick ass awesome!

Yes I have seen movies like this before but I kind of miss those 80/90`s action flicks. Can`t wait for this

[Blu-Dog]

Looks good to me...goofy action, greasy popcorn...can't miss.

[Indy007]

Good. Getting slightly tired of Po faced action films lately.