Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart are setting out to save civilization again, as principal photography on their sequel, ‘London Has Fallen,’ has begun on location in the film’s titular city. The former actor, who is also producing the follow-up, is reprising his role as Secret service agent Mike Banning. The later is once again portraying the President of the United States, Benjamin Asher, in the sequel.
Other cast members who are returning to the follow-up to last year’s worldwide smash hit action film, ‘Olympus Has Fallen,’ include Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, as Vice President Trumbull; Oscar nominee Angela Bassett, as Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs; and Academy Award winner Melissa Leo as Defense Secretary Ruth McMillan. ‘Snabba Cash Il’ filmmaker Babak Najafi is taking over the directorial duties for the series’ second installment from Antoine Fuqua, who helmed the original movie. ‘London Has Fallen’s screenplay was penned by Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt, who co-wrote the first movie together, as well as Christian Gudegast and Chad St. John.
‘London Has Fallen’s production company, Millennium Films, and its distributor, Focus Features, will release the sequel on October 2nd, 2015. The companies have released the following synopsis for the follow-up:
The story begins in London, where the British Prime Minister has passed away under mysterious circumstances. His funeral is a must-attend event for leaders of the western world. However, what starts out as the most protected event on Earth turns into a deadly plot to kill the world’s most powerful leaders, devastate every known landmark in the British capital, and unleash a terrifying vision of the future. Only three people have any hope of stopping it: the President of the United States, his formidable Secret Service head (Butler), and an English MI-6 agent who rightly trusts no one.
Reprising their roles in support are Academy Award nominee Robert Forster as General Edward Clegg, Sean O’Bryan as NSA Deputy Director Ray Monroe, and Radha Mitchell as Leah Banning. Joining the returning cast members are Academy Award nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Alon Aboutboul (‘The Dark Knight Rises’), Charlotte Riley, and Waleed Zuaiter (from the Academy Award nominated film ‘Omar’).
Written by: Karen Benardello