In the realm of mid-budget action films, Gerard Butler stands out as a formidable presence. He headlines the newly released “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,”which marks a continuation of his 2018 cult classic. Butler’s action lineage, however, extends back even further, including recent films such as “Kandahar”and “Plane,”as well as his notable role in the “Has Fallen”series. This franchise currently features three films, with a fourth installment, “Night Has Fallen,”reportedly in development, although a release date has yet to be established.
It was “Olympus Has Fallen”in 2013 that initially launched Butler into the upper echelons of action stardom. However, the early to mid-2000s also saw a variety of memorable performances from Butler, with “Reign of Fire”(2002) and iconic films like “300”(2006) and “RocknRolla”(2008) highlighting his filmography. Notably, in 2003, Butler starred alongside Angelina Jolie in a high-energy adventure film that, while not a critical darling, included a wealth of explosive action sequences.
Gerard Butler’s Near-Fatal Incident with Angelina Jolie During Lara Croft 2
A Close Call on the Tomb Raider Sequel
In a shocking revelation, Butler shared that he nearly shot Angelina Jolie while filming a pivotal scene for “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.”Released in 2003 and directed by Jan de Bont, this sequel to the original Lara Croft film follows the titular character on a quest to prevent an evil scientist from obtaining Pandora’s Box. In this film, Butler portrays the character of Terry Sheridan, a mercenary who teams up with Jolie’s Lara Croft on their thrilling adventure.
During a recent interview with People, Butler recounted several harrowing moments from his action movie career, specifically mentioning his experience filming “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.”He revealed that during a scene where he was suspended upside down while firing a blank-firing gun, he narrowly missed injuring Jolie. His startling words capture the gravity of the moment:
“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.”
Implications of Butler’s Near Miss for Lara Croft 2
The Tomb Raider Sequel’s Lackluster Reception
Unfortunately, despite the thrilling on-screen action, the performance of “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life”was disappointing on both critical and commercial fronts. The film grossed approximately $160 million against a production budget of $95 million. On aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a mere 24% critics’ score alongside a modest audience score of 44%. This illustrates that even star power cannot guarantee audience engagement or critical acclaim if the action fails to satisfy amidst a flimsy plot.
|
Tomb Raider Movie Adaptations – Key Figures |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Title |
RT Critics’ Score |
RT Audience Score |
Est. Budget |
Worldwide Box Office |
|
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) |
20% |
47% |
$115M |
$274M |
|
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003) |
24% |
44% |
$95M |
$160M |
|
Tomb Raider (2018) |
52% |
55% |
$94M |
$274M |
Butler’s anecdote about nearly injuring Jolie serves as a reminder of the inherent risks that accompany action film productions. While accidents can occur, advancements in safety protocols over recent decades have significantly reduced dangers for both cast and crew members. Moving forward, audiences can hope that the forthcoming “Tomb Raider”reboot series from Prime Video will maintain a focus on safety and professionalism throughout production.
Future Prospects for the Tomb Raider Franchise
The Disappointment of a Planned Movie Sequel
The 2018 reboot of “Tomb Raider”sought to rejuvenate the franchise, bringing Alicia Vikander on board as Lara Croft. This reboot followed Vikander’s rise to fame with roles in films like “Ex Machina”(2014) and “Jason Bourne”(2016), offering a fresh take on the iconic character. Reviews were notably better than those for the prior Jolie-led films; however, they remained mixed overall, as illustrated in the above table.
Lara Croft recently made her comeback in the Netflix animated series “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft,”which received a positive reception from critics. Despite the mixed reviews, the 2018 film was a financial hit, prompting plans for a sequel where Vikander would return. However, lengthy development processes led to issues, and by 2022, MGM lost the character’s rights, resulting in the cancellation of “Tomb Raider 2.”
In a twist of fate, Amazon, now the owner of MGM, is moving ahead with its own live-action “Tomb Raider”television series. Created by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this new project will feature a different actress in the leading role. Reports suggest that “Game of Thrones”star Sophie Turner has been cast as Lara Croft, although additional casting details remain under wraps, and information regarding the series premiere date is still pending. Importantly, audiences should note that Butler will not reprise his role, since his character met his demise in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.”
Source: People
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