When it comes to the mid-budget action movie space,Gerard Butlerhas few equals. He stars in the newly-releasedDen of Thieves 2: Pantera, a sequel to his 2018 cult classic action hit, but his work in the genre extends back further than this. In addition to starring in movies likeKandahar(2023) andPlane(2023), Butler plays the lead in the popularHas Fallenfranchise, which now consists of three movies, with a fourth,Night Has Fallen, reportedly on the way.
TheNight Has Fallenrelease datehasn’t yet been set as the film remains in development.
Though it wasOlympus Has Fallenin 2013 that arguably set Butler down his current action path, the early and mid-2000s also featured a number of memorable movies in the genre for the Scottish actor.Reign of Fire(2002) remains a standout action-fantasy movie, and action flicks like300(2006) andRocknRolla(2008) are also Butler highlights.In 2003, Butler appeared opposite Angelina Jolie in a big-budget adventure filmthat may not be considered among his best, but it did feature an abundance of high-octane action sequences.
Gerard Butler Almost Shot Angelina Jolie During Lara Croft 2 Filming
Butler reveals that he almost killed Jolie while filming aLara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Lifeaction scene. Released in 2003 and directed by Jan de Bont, the video game adaptation sequel to 2001’s firstLara Croftmovie follows the titular Tomb Raider as she embarks on a mission to save Pandora’s Box from an evil scientist.Butler plays mercenary Terry Sheridan in the film, working alongside Jolie’s Croft and taking down a number of enemies throughout the course of their globe-trotting adventure.
Every Tomb Raider Movie & TV Show, Ranked Worst To Best
Apart from Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, the game franchise has inspired four other captivating television and movie adaptations.
During a recent interview withPeople, Butler recounts some of his action movie war stories, sharing experiences where things went wrong while filming.Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Lifemakes the list, with the actor revealing that shooting a (presumably) blank-firing gun while suspended from a rope for a scene almost resulted in him seriously injuring Jolie. Check out Butler’s recollection of the moment below:
“I almost shot Angelina Jolie in the face. I was coming down, hanging upside down,I had to fire a gun but I had no control over where this thing went, so I was just firing and I just missed her. I mean, it is insane.”
What Butler’s Near Miss Means For Lara Croft 2
The Tomb Raider Sequel Was A Disappointment
Unfortunately, the Butler and Jolie action sequences weren’t enough to saveLara Croft 2. The film was ultimately a disappointment both critically and commercially, grossing $160 million on a budget of $95 million. OnRotten Tomatoes,the sequel has only a 24% critics' score, with the audience score also lackluster at 44%. Even with some impressive star power on display, the movie ended up falling flat, failing to offer up thrilling action scenes to compensate for its far-fetched story.
20%
47%
24%
44%
52%
55%
$94M
$274M
Butler’s story about nearly shooting Jolie with a blank-firing gun – which can still be lethal – accompanies a host of his other action movie mishaps, speaking to the danger that can come with being on a film set. Accidents can and will happen, but, thankfully,safety precautions have become much more comprehensive over the last few decades, minimizing the risks to cast and crew. Hopefully, Prime Video’s upcomingTomb Raiderreboot TV seriesmanages to avoid any similar dangerous situations.
What’s Next For The Tomb Raider Franchise
Why Another Movie Sequel Fell Apart
2018’sTomb Raiderwas meant to reboot the franchise, ushering in a new era for the video game heroine. Alicia Vikander took on the role of Lara Croft after breakout parts inEx Machina(2014),The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(2015), andJason Bourne(2016). Reviews for this new take on Croft, which hailed from director Roar Uthaug, were a significant improvement over those for Jolie’s two films, but they were still mixed overall, as seen in the chart above.
Croft was most recently featured in the animatedTomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croftseries, which was released on Netflix and earned generally positive reviews.
Despite the tepid response from critics,Tomb Raiderwas a financial success. This led to development on a sequel, with Vikander set to reprise her role after the ending to the first film set up the character’s further adventures. Unfortunately, development took too long, andMGM lost the rights to the character in 2022, withTomb Raider 2then officially cancelled.
Somewhat ironically, Amazon, which now owns MGM, is now making its ownTomb RaiderTV show, withFleabagcreator Phoebe Waller-Bridge shepherding the project. Vikander won’t be returning to the role, however, and reports claim thatGame of ThronesstarSophie Turner has been cast as Lara Croftfor the series. No other casting announcements have arrived and its not yet clear when the show will actually come out, but audiences can be confident thatButlerwon’t be returning after his character’s death inLara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.
