Gerard Butler's "London Has Fallen" release date moved

PanARMENIAN.Net - Gerard Butler's "London Has Fallen" is no longer slated to hit the big screen this year. Gramercy Pictures announced on Friday, June 12 that the movie originally set to be released in the U.S. on October 2 would now arrive on January 22, 2016, AceShowbiz reports.

The film avoids competition with 20th Century Fox's "The Martian", which was recently moved up from November 25, and Sony's "The Walk". It's now pitted against Ariel Vromen's thriller "Criminal", the faith-based mystery "Risen" and the horror flick "The Boy".

"London Has Fallen" comes as a follow-up to 2013's "Olympus Has Fallen" which grossed $161 million worldwide. Directed by Babak Najafi from a script by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, Christian Gudegast, it starts after the British Prime Minister passes away and his funeral then becomes a target of a terrorist organization to destroy some of the world's most powerful leaders.

Butler is back as Secret Service agent Mike Banning in the sequel. Other returning cast members include Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and Charlotte Riley.