Gerard Butler's Fear of Accidentally Harming Morgan Freeman on Set
The action star opens up about his anxiety during dangerous underwater scenes with the legendary actor, admitting to a pattern of on-set mishaps with fellow performers.
Morgan Freeman's extensive Hollywood journey has brought him alongside countless performers, establishing him as both an inspiration to many and a revered figure among those who grew up watching his movies. While dramatic performances initially put Freeman on the map, he's also carved out a notable presence in high-octane thrillers, including his unexpected role as Speaker of the House Allan Trumball in 2013's Olympus Has Fallen.
The White House Action Movie Battle of 2013
That year saw an unusual Hollywood coincidence with two "Die Hard meets the White House" concepts hitting theaters. While Roland Emmerich's White House Down boasted a bigger budget and more A-list firepower, Olympus Has Fallen managed to surprise audiences and critics alike, ultimately launching its own successful franchise. The series continued with Freeman's character ascending to the presidency in the third installment, where he brings back Gerard Butler's character Banning as his security chief.
Underwater Danger and Butler's Confession
Angel Has Fallen opens with a heart-pounding sequence featuring a drone assault during a private fishing excursion in Williamsburg. The scene requires Banning to pull President Trumball underwater in a lake for protection. Despite the polished final product, Butler admitted to Mirror his genuine anxiety about Freeman's safety during filming.
"He dives off a boat, then I have to push him underwater, and we run in and out of cars," Butler explained. "I was going, 'please, don't kill Morgan'. I almost killed Hilary Swank on PS I Love You. I'm very capable of killing other actors; not deliberately, just because I'm an idiot."
A Pattern of On-Set Incidents
Butler's reference to his romantic comedy PS I Love You reveals a concerning trend of accidental mishaps with co-stars. His candid admission about nearly harming Swank during that production shows a self-awareness about his tendency toward unintentional on-set dangers. Fortunately, neither incident seemed to impact the final quality of either project, with Angel Has Fallen achieving respectable box office numbers despite working with a smaller budget and marketing push compared to its predecessors.
Freeman's commanding presence remains a cornerstone of the Has Fallen franchise's unexpected success. While the storylines don't break new ground in the crowded field of Die Hard-inspired action films, the sincerity and gravitas that Freeman brings to his presidential role elevates the material. His extensive experience portraying authority figures in films like Lean on Me and Invictus made him a natural fit for the compassionate commander-in-chief role.
Though the international spinoff Paris Has Fallen has already premiered overseas, details about a potential fourth main franchise entry remain scarce. However, if Butler does return as Banning, Freeman's participation would seem essential to maintain the series' established dynamic.