When it released last year, White House Down joined a rather eclectic group of Hollywood releases. That is, much like Armageddon and Deep Impact, even Ants and Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, it debuted alongside a cinematic doppelgänger. In 2013, that film was Olympus Has Fallen, and today we’ve learned that its planned follow-up, London Has Fallen, has lost its director.
Though he only signed on to direct the sequel a month ago, it’s been confirmed that Fredrik Bond has exited the production, which was to begin filming in six weeks time. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the parting of ways between the filmmaker and Millennium was due to creative differences.
That said, we understand that the split was a very mutual agreement indeed, and while neither party confirmed the exact reason, Bond’s exit may be because of London Has Fallen’s accelerated schedule, with the studio pegging the sequel for a late 2015 release.
Either way, Millennium is reportedly eyeing up replacements as we speak, and hopes to make a formal announcement within the next 72 hours.
If all goes to plan, the camera will begin filming at the end of October for a four week period in England, with Aaron Eckhart, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo and Morgan Freeman set to return. Production will then take a small hiatus until February to accommodate lead Gerald Butler’s schedule, who is currently working on Warner Bros.’ Geostorm.
London Has Fallen will likely get back on course within the next few days. Until then, tell us, who would you like to see replace Fredrik Bond in the director’s chair? Let us know in the comments.