'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.

[kristoffer]

Might be ok. I loved Shooter but the CG effects for this looks terrible.

[Dazed+Confused]

Looks pretty good for a fun action film. I'll probably check it out.

[Punishment1o1]

Originally Posted by Dazed+Confused

Looks pretty good for a fun action film. I'll probably check it out.

I was just about to say the same thing. Looks like a good turn-off-your-brain movie. Glad to see Gerard Butler back to making action movies. His little venture into Romantic Comedies needs to be forgotten.

[HD Man]

I think I will give this movie a chance once I saw Morgan Freeman as the Speaker of the House who becomes acting President. With Morgan, it can't be that bad, can it? Does sound like Die Hard 6 though. Should have John McCane teaming up with Jack Bauer to protect the White House.

[goeagles5039]

This movie looks awesome. Shooter is one of my favorite movies so since it is the same director this might be good too.

[50strat54]

Following the Taken pattern:

first film was the best one
second film sucked
third film a comeback and very good but not as good as the first one

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Following the Taken pattern:

first film was the best one
second film sucked
third film a comeback and very good but not as good as the first one

I don't get the overt hate for the second one. It was quite fun actually, though it is indeed the least of the 3.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by jess1581

I don't get the overt hate for the second one. It was quite fun actually, though it is indeed the least of the 3.

It wears its xenophobic themes on its sleeve. I liked it enough, but it was too much in that regard. There's a reason the original screenwriters were not asked to come back for the third one. They only got a "story by" credit and three new screenwriters adapted that.

I rank them: 1, 3, 2.

[unberechenbar]

I haven't watched London yet despite having seen both 1 and 3. Are there any plans for more movies in the series?

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

I haven't watched London yet despite having seen both 1 and 3. Are there any plans for more movies in the series?

Night Has Fallen is the fourth film coming out some time this year or next.

[GeneD5]

Originally Posted by jess1581

Night Has Fallen is the fourth film coming out some time this year or next.

Don’t you with me. I haven’t heard of a 4th! For real?!

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by GeneD5

Don’t you with me. I haven’t heard of a 4th! For real?!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/screenr...tory-cast/amp/

[Gizz]

I enjoyed the first two in the series still have not seen the third one I have seen some of it and was not the keen on it.

[drush9999]

I like all 3 in the series so far, some badass action in all of them.