Night Has Fallen: Cast, Story & Everything We Know About Olympus Has Fallen 4 (2024)

Night Has Fallen is set to be the fourth film in the Has Fallen series, but updates on the next Gerard Butler action epic have been few and far between. In 2013, Antoine Fuqua's Olympus Has Fallen kicked off the franchise which follows Gerard Butler as security officer Mike Banning, who is tasked with protecting the President of the United States after terrorists attack the White House. Despite it's over-the-top premise, Olympus naturally gave way to a series of sequels throughout the 2010s.

All of the Has Fallen movies have been box office hits, primarily due to the popcorn thrills and Butler's on-screen machismo. The actor has established himself as a viable action star over the years and now, in his 50s, Butler is still perfectly capable of leading a high-profile Hollywood blockbuster action film. However, Night Has Fallen has broken the three-year trend between sequels, and Night Has Fallen updates hint that it'll be even longer until it's released. The franchise is still set to continue, but when Night Has Fallen will arrive isn't anywhere near as clear.

Night Has Fallen Latest News

A Cautious Update From The Producer

In September 2023, the future of the Has Fallen franchise got a cautious update from producer Les Weldon which confirms that the sequel is still on the way. Weldon hinged any future sequels on the success of Night Has Fallen, which seems to suggest that a plan is already in place to continue the franchise if things go well. Weldon said "i f that works as well as the previous three, then anything is on the table". Financially speaking, the Has Fallen series has been something of a cash cow, and if Night Has Fallen continues that trend, more movies will be on the way.

Night Has Fallen Is Confirmed

Another Has Fallen Film Is Coming Soon

Fortunately for fans of the Has Fallen series, Night Has Fallen is officially confirmed even if any hard details still haven't come out regarding the newest action epic. Gerard Butler did give an update while promoting his movie Plane in May 2023, but he merely mentioned that the script was in the works and that development was happening behind-the-scenes.

Night Has Fallen Returning Cast

Gerard Butler Will Reprise His Role

As of August 2024, the only cast member of the previous three Has Fallen movies that has been confirmed to return is Gerard Butler as Mike Banning. Morgan Freeman will likely return as Allan Trumbull — the President of the United States who survives an assassination attempt in the third film and subsequently promotes Banning. Other returns are less certain, and with such a large gap between movies, the ensemble will likely be made up of newcomers.

Gerard Butler's Lawsuit Delayed Night Has Fallen

A Dispute Over Royalties

One thing that certainly held up the production of Night Has Fallen was star Gerard Butler's 2021 lawsuit against production companies Nu Image and Millenium Media. The actor alleged that profits from 2013's Olympus Has Fallen were withheld, thus Butler sued the aforementioned companies to get his cut. Fortunately, Gerard Butler settled his Olympus Has Fallen lawsuit in October 2023, avoiding a trial that was originally scheduled for 2024. With that predicament out of the way, and the Hollywood strikes resolved, Night Has Fallen can finally get underway.

Night Has Fallen Story Details

What Happens Next For Mike Banning?

Based on the events of Angel Has Fallen, Mike Banning would likely face new challenges as the Director of the Secret Service in Night Has Fallen. Meanwhile, he would also have a unique domestic life, at least if his father Clay continues to live at the family home. Outside the basic framework of the franchise, exact story details will remain elusive until a script is finished. However, since action franchises try to outdo themselves with each entry, Night Has Fallen will likely be the biggest movie in the series yet.