Mike Banning isn’t finished with Gerald Butler

Some of the greatest movie franchises are trilogies. Lord of the Rings, the original Star Wars releases, and Back to the Future. When a trilogy just won’t cut it or a film franchise develops a cult following, Hollywood green lights another movie. Rambo and The Fast and The Furious franchise are perfect examples.

Now, you can add Gerard Bulter’s Mike Banning to the list. Recently, Millennium announced the fourth installment in the Fallen series Night Has Fallen.

The Series So Far

The franchise began in 2013 with Olympus Has Fallen. Mike Banning (Butler), a disgraced Secret Service Agent, thwarts a North Korean attack on the White House and the attempted assassination of the President of The United States.

In 2016, Butler reprising his role as Banning in London Has Fallen. This time, Banning and the President faced terrorists bent on revenge for a drone strike years before while attending a state funeral in London.

The most recent installment hit theaters in 2019. In Angel Has Fallen, Butler once again reprised the role of Mike Banning. Banning evaded law enforcement after being framed for an assassination attempt on the President. He eventually clears his name and becomes Director of the Secret Service at the end of the film.

The Future Of The Franchise

With no release date set, the next installment will film in various locations across Europe. With 2020 and the lockdowns in Europe limiting Hollywood’s ability to film, chances are production won’t start until 2021.

After the announcement of Night Has Fallen, the studio confirmed two more movies are in development. There are talks of a potential TV spin-off as well. This move by Millennium makes financial sense the series grossed roughly $521 million since 2013.

Where Will The Story Take Banning?

Questions remain about how this new installment will further the story of the aging Mike Banning. Many have compared Butler’s character to Matt Damon’s Bourne. While there are some similarities, the storylines are vastly different. One focuses on espionage, the other on protecting the President. It will be interesting to see how the studio handles the new installment and if they take a page out of the globe-trotting Bourne’s playbook.

In the end, will Butler hand the mantel over to a young fresh action star? Time will tell, but it is unlikely. Butler, while not an American, is about an All-American action hero as you can get. His star appeal is undeniable as he trends well with both men and women.

Ultimately Night Has Fallen will have to tackle a tough production schedule, fight a pandemic, and deal with an aging action hero. But, if anyone can do it, it will be Mike Banning’s, Gerald Butler.

Five Perfect Winter Reads

Are you ready for winter? These five books will transport you to the middle of a snowstorm, so have your hot chocolate ready before you turn the first page.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

This classic children’s tale is set in a winter wonderland, where the Pevensie children must battle the White Witch and bring spring back to Narnia. Packed full of sleigh rides, snow-covered woods and frozen waterfalls, this book masterfully evokes the harsh beauty of winter with every page. Sit back, snack on some Turkish delight, and travel back to childhood.

A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R. R. Martin

“Winter is coming.” Has any other modern fantasy series produced a more iconic phrase? Although these epic fantasy novels visit the sun-drenched gardens of Dorne and the blistering hot Red Waste, the Northern sections of Westeros dominate the pages. Whether you’re following along with the young Starks as they huddle by the fire in Winterfell, cheering for the Night’s Watch as they defend the solid ice of the Wall or holding your breath as Jon Snow encounters Wildlings in the freezing cold of the uncharted lands beyond the Wall, you’re never far from a long night of dark, unrelenting cold.

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

Are grimdark fantasy novels not for you? Do you long for some Christmas cheer to read as you sip hot cocoa beneath a pile of blankets? Try humorist David Sedaris’s collection of holiday-themed short stories, including his beloved, career-launching account of working as a Macy’s elf for one long Christmas season.

The Long Winter by Laurall Ingalls Wilder

Return to a simpler time with the sixth book in the Little House on the Prairie series. The Ingalls family must survive a harsh winter in North Dakota with the help of their neighbors. This realistic story showcases the importance of community and is packed with heart-warming moments like Laura and her sisters learning to make maple syrup candy, settlers sharing food with each other and a much-anticipated Christmas morning in May when the snow finally melts.

The Shining by Stephen King

Winter can be wonderful, but it can also be cruel and isolating. In this horror novel, a suffocating snowfall that traps the Torrance family in an isolated hotel, opening the door for malevolent spirits to torment Jack, Wendy and Danny. With each passing day, Jack grows more insane, and Wendy and Danny have no way to escape. Make sure to read this novel by a bright, crackling fire, or the wind that howls through the pages of this book may echo too loudly in your skull.

Whether you’re looking for a winter-themed read to cool yourself down during a sweltering summer day or a snow-centered adventure to get you through a long day huddled beneath blankets, these five books to read in the cold will take you on a magical journey.