Stop me if you've heard this before. Two movies, both on the exact same subject, get green lit around the same time and have to race to beat the other into theaters. In some cases, like with the two competing Linda Lovelace flicks, one has a clear advantage and one likely won't make much noise. Or more recently with Mirror Mirror vs. Snow White and the Huntsman, both will come out and appeal to two very different audiences. We're seeing something similar play out between two movies that are being described as Die Hard if it was set in the White House.
With Gerard Butler signing on just a couple of weeks ago, Antoine Fuqua is now set to direct Olympus Has Fallen, about a down 'n out Secret Service agent called into sudden duty when terrorists ransack the White House. The search for a director had to be stepped up after Columbia Pictures acquired White House Down, which is essentially the same flick, only with a script by James Vanderbilt and Roland Emmerich circling the director's chair. Didn't Emmerich already blow up the White House in Independence Day? Anyone want to take bets whether he'll do it again?
Olympus features a script by a pair of newcomers, but still has the advantage with Butler already in tow. He and Fuqua worked together on Hunter Killer, which is due out on December 21st. In order to ensure that they beat White House down to the punch, production is expected to be moved up from September to as early as June. [THR]
