Ship, the announced sequel to the Gerard Butler-starring Plane, gets a new update from star Mike Colter. Released in 2023 and directed by Jean-François Richet, Plane stars Butler as Brodie Torrance, an airline pilot and former RAF officer who teams up with Colter’s Louis Gaspare to rescue his pᴀssengers after being forced to land in a war zone. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it was announced shortly after the film’s release that a sequel called Ship was in the works. Few updates on the project have emerged since, however.

Now, during a panel at Indiana Comic Con hosted by Collider, Colter shares an update on the status of the Plane sequel. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like there’s been much movement on Ship just yet, with Colter blaming the delay on the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023, which began only months after Ship‘s announcement. According to Colter, who is hopeful for a return as Louis, whether the sequel happens is now up to Butler and his production company, G-BASE. Check out Colter’s comment below:

“The status on that is that it was a thing that happened during the strike. They were supposed to be following through on it [then the strike happened]. There’s things going on. Obviously, Gerard and his company that produce that, they own the rights to it. So that’s a question for them moving it forward, because I got things going on. I’m sure he’s got things going on too, he’s shooting stuff. But I’d love to do the sequel, but it’s kind of in their ball park right now. It’s another thing to pray for.”

What Colter’s Update Means For Ship

Will The Plane Sequel Actually Happen?

Made on an estimated budget of $25 million, Plane grossed a strong $74.5 million. The Butler action movie was also a hit with critics, earning a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, on top of the 94% Popcornmeter score. In her Plane review for ScreenRant, Patrice Witherspoon awards the film six out of 10, praising its momentum, simple premise, and the dynamic between Butler and Colter. She writes that “The script is easy to follow, the stakes are high, and there’s non-stop action to keep viewers entertained.”

It’s no surprise, then, that a sequel was announced. The story was set to follow Louis after he escapes into the jungle, seemingly finding himself on a cargo ship. The sequel would have put Colter’s character front and center, with Butler seemingly returning only behind the scenes to help develop the project. Butler, however, is keeping very busy as an actor and producer, with projects like Night Has Fallen and Greenland: Migration in the works, on top of a planned Den of Thieves 3, meaning it could be some time before he can devote attention to Ship.

Our Take On Ship’s Delay

Would The Movie Work Without Gerard Butler?

New Butler action movies continue to be released at a fairly regular cadence. Not all of them work, but some, like Plane, do strike a chord with audiences. Though Butler was evidently the star of the show in Plane, Colter was a clear standout, and it would be interesting to see what becomes of Louis in Ship.

A big question facing Ship, however, is whether the film can succeed without Butler. Not only is Butler himself an audience draw, but the dynamic between Brodie and Louis in Plane was a key reason for that film’s success. With seemingly little movement on Ship since its announcement, it could be some time before audiences find out.

Source: Collider