Just last week, we were hit with the cataclysmic news that Roland Emmerich was likely to return to one of his favorite cinematic pastimes – blowing the White House the eff up – in the new, amusingly titled film White House Down. Turns out, that wasn’t the only script with a vendetta against 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. bouncing around Hollywood, and Emmerich, scribe Jamie Vanderbilt, and Columbia are just going to have to man up and deal with some similar competition.
THR reports that director Antoine Fuqua currently has an offer to direct Nu Image/Millennium’s Olympus Has Fallen, an action thriller that the outlet is billing as “Die Hard in the White House.” Make this film now. The film’s script was penned by newbie scribes Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt, who sold it to Millennium about a month ago. The film centers on “an unlikely Secret Service agent” (aren’t they always) who is the only man standing in the way of terrorists who have seized the Presidential residence and workspace. White House Down also centers on a White House takeover, but which film will emerge victorious?
At the very least, Olympus has a number of factors that will get it in front of moviegoers first, likely capturing the bulk of audience interest in such a plot. For one, the film already has Gerard Butler attached to play that unlikely agent, while White House Down is without a star. Secondly, Fuqua has a far better pedigree and he can get this film in front of cameras soon – which is what Millennium wants, as they’re aiming to kick off production in June. Emmerich still isn’t signed on to his project and he’s got a very full plate to contend with. And, personally speaking? Olympus Has Fallen is a much cooler title.
Just based on what little knowledge we have, which film would you rather see?
