Gerard Butler’s HAS FALLEN Franchise Lands TV Show
By Movieguide® Contributor
Studiocanal revealed it is bringing the HAS FALLEN franchise to TV with an 8-episode series – PARIS HAS FALLEN – starring Gerard Butler.
“PARIS HAS FALLEN has ambition, scale and production values that I haven’t seen in so many series,” said Anne Chérel, EVP of global sales and distribution at Studiocanal.
PARIS HAS FALLEN will build on the previous iterations of the franchise: OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, LONDON HAS FALLEN and ANGEL HAS FALLEN. The previous movies have combined for a total box office gross of $522 million, a major return for an independent franchise.
Another way these movies have stood out is through their overt, positive references to Christianity, along with positive examples of strong patriotism. A portion of Movieguide®’s review of the first movie reads:
OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN is an exciting, action-packed thriller with a red, white and blue heart. The story moves fast enough to keep it interesting and intriguing. Though the bad guy is clichéd and the special effects aren’t along the levels of a movie like THE AVENGERS, the movie is very enjoyable. There are strong Biblical themes of sacrifice, honor, integrity, and loyalty with multiple Christian elements. One character quotes “The wages of sin is death,” and “God Bless America” is emphasized many times. There is also a strong patriotic message of standing for the principles that built America: principles like liberty and justice. Sadly, the movie is marred by plenty of strong foul language and graphic battle violence. OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN is only appropriate for mature audiences.
The upcoming TV series is expected to continue with these positive themes while providing a deeper look into the mainstay characters, such as Butler’s character Mike Banning.
“The eight hours not only allow you to be really ambitious with your story telling and action sequences but also to explore the characters in more depth,” producer Johnny Capps told Variety. “[Writer] Howard [Overman] was keen to reveal character[s] through action, how they would deal with extreme and challenging situations. The eight episodes allowed him to do this and create intense and revealing character revelations within the fast-paced thriller plot.”
“PARIS HAS FALLEN is not just an action series but [is] highly developed in terms of plot and character arcs,” Chérel added. “The idea is to develop a series which can appeal to broader audiences than core action fans.”
Doing so, however, is easier said than done. It’s difficult to maintain the high-intensity action that people expect from the franchise while also maintaining a cohesive plot that progresses in every episode.
“We know that people – or at least not all of them – are going to watch eight hours in a row. So the idea is to have eight episodes that can be perceived as eight action movies,” Chérel explained. “Each episode will feel like a mini film delivering epic action sequences.”
“Maintaining the energy and intensity of an action thriller is a unique and a great challenge to have as program makers,” added Capps. “We were determined to make each episode feel like a mini movie promising epic action sequences and their unique tone and setting.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the HAS FALLEN franchise:
ANGEL HAS FALLEN is another gripping thriller featuring Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, who’s played by Gerard Butler. Butler is perfectly cast as Agent Banning, and he gets wonderful support from a cast of veterans. Once again, Morgan Freeman plays President Trumbull, Danny Huston plays the military contractor, Nick Nolte plays Banning’s irascible father, Piper Perabo plays Banning’s wife, and Jada Pinkett Smith plays the head of the FBI team hunting for Banning. Though new to the series, Director Ric Roman Waugh manages this large cast and all the intense action scenes well.
ANGEL HAS FALLEN has a strong moral, patriotic worldview. The goal is to protect the President from a nefarious, selfish plot to remove him by the head bad guy and his men. Also, during the story, Agent Banning hides out with his estranged father, a Vietnam War vet who abandoned Banning and his mother. Eventually, Banning and his father reconcile. In addition, unlike his parents, Banning and his wife have a strong connection and have an infant daughter.
However, ANGEL HAS FALLEN has many strong obscenities. Also, the action violence contains graphic violence, including point blank shootings and scenes with people being bombed. There’s no reason for all this. The movie is rated R but could have been greatly toned down to achieve a PG-13 rating. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for ANGEL HAS FALLEN.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
