When it comes to the mid-budget action movie space, Gerard Butler
has few equals. He stars in the newly-released Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, a sequel to his 2018 cult classic action hit, but his work in the genre extends back further than this. In addition to starring in movies like Kandahar (2023) and Plane (2023), Butler plays the lead in the popular Has Fallen franchise, which now consists of three movies, with a fourth, Night Has Fallen, reportedly on the way.

Though it was Olympus Has Fallen in 2013 that arguably set Butler down his current action path, the early and mid-2000s also featured a number of memorable movies in the genre for the Scottish actor. Reign of Fire (2002) remains a standout action-fantasy movie, and action flicks like 300 (2006) and RocknRolla (2008) are also Butler highlights. In 2003, Butler appeared opposite Angelina Jolie in a big-budget adventure film that may not be considered among his best, but it did feature an abundance of high-octane action sequences.

Gerard Butler Almost SH๏τ Angelina Jolie During Lara Croft 2 Filming

Butler Had A Close Call On The Tomb Raider Sequel

Butler reveals that he almost killed Jolie while filming a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life action scene. Released in 2003 and directed by Jan de Bont, the video game adaptation sequel to 2001’s first Lara Croft movie follows the тιтular Tomb Raider as she embarks on a mission to save Pandora’s Box from an evil scientist. Butler plays mercenary Terry Sheridan in the film, working alongside Jolie’s Croft and taking down a number of enemies throughout the course of their globe-trotting adventure.

During a recent interview with People, Butler recounts some of his action movie war stories, sharing experiences where things went wrong while filming. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life makes the list, with the actor revealing that shooting a (presumably) blank-firing gun while suspended from a rope for a scene almost resulted in him seriously injuring Jolie. Check out Butler’s recollection of the moment below:

“I almost sH๏τ Angelina Jolie in the face. I was coming down, hanging upside down, I had to fire a gun but I had no control over where this thing went, so I was just firing and I just missed her. I mean, it is insane.”

What Butler’s Near Miss Means For Lara Croft 2

The Tomb Raider Sequel Was A Disappointment

Unfortunately, the Butler and Jolie action sequences weren’t enough to save Lara Croft 2. The film was ultimately a disappointment both critically and commercially, grossing $160 million on a budget of $95 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, the sequel has only a 24% critics’ score, with the audience score also lackluster at 44%. Even with some impressive star power on display, the movie ended up falling flat, failing to offer up thrilling action scenes to compensate for its far-fetched story.

Butler’s story about nearly shooting Jolie with a blank-firing gun – which can still be lethal – accompanies a host of his other action movie mishaps, speaking to the danger that can come with being on a film set. Accidents can and will happen, but, thankfully, safety precautions have become much more comprehensive over the last few decades, minimizing the risks to cast and crew. Hopefully, Prime Video’s upcoming Tomb Raider reboot TV series manages to avoid any similar dangerous situations.

What’s Next For The Tomb Raider Franchise

Why Another Movie Sequel Fell Apart

2018’s Tomb Raider was meant to reboot the franchise, ushering in a new era for the video game heroine. Alicia Vikander took on the role of Lara Croft after breakout parts in Ex Machina (2014), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015), and Jason Bourne (2016). Reviews for this new take on Croft, which hailed from director Roar Uthaug, were a significant improvement over those for Jolie’s two films, but they were still mixed overall, as seen in the chart above.

Despite the tepid response from critics, Tomb Raider was a financial success. This led to development on a sequel, with Vikander set to reprise her role after the ending to the first film set up the character’s further adventures. Unfortunately, development took too long, and MGM lost the rights to the character in 2022, with Tomb Raider 2 then officially cancelled.

Somewhat ironically, Amazon, which now owns MGM, is now making its own Tomb Raider TV show, with Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge shepherding the project. Vikander won’t be returning to the role, however, and reports claim that Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner has been cast as Lara Croft for the series. No other casting announcements have arrived and its not yet clear when the show will actually come out, but audiences can be confident that Butler won’t be returning after his character’s death in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.

Source: People