Butler in London Has Fallen – Lionsgate/YouTube
I love the ‘Has Fallen’ franchise. It began a few years back with the ultra-violent, but ultra-fun Olympus Has Fallen, and then continued with the under-praised (IMHO) London Has Fallen, but it looks like things may be taken in an entirely new direction for the third movie in the series, Angel Has Fallen, which is currently in post-production.
In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gerard Butler, who plays the hero of the piece Mike Banning in the movies, says that the new film will go in a new direction. Here’s what he had to say to the outlet when asked about the exciting new project.
We could have just made Tokyo Has Fallen and people would have had a blast, but what else would we have been saying? I’m not just going to turn up; we had to take this in a new direction… It’s the same man in the same position, but it’s a much deeper, darker journey. There’s still huge set pieces and we made sure not to disappoint the fans of the first two, but you’re really inside this character, watching him try to get his sh— together.
Butler has teamed with Shot Caller helmer Ric Roman Waugh for Angel Has Fallen, and according to the same article, they are looking to take inspiration from the likes of The Fugitive, The Bourne Identity, and Taken – a more gritty, grounded approach for he second sequel in the series.
Banning is framed for an assassination attempt on new president Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) in the film, and is forced to go on the the run while trying to prove his innocence. Sounds great. I’m in.
Butler was last seen in the acclaimed The Vanishing, which was released in cinemas an on-demand last month. He also starred in the brilliant Den Of Thieves – you can see that I am a fan of the guy – a few years back to which a sequel is also planned. Yes, ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien will return!
Angel Has Fallen is in the editing phase of production with a release date set for August. Read more about the movie at the end of the link above.
