Warning: Major spoilers for Paris Has Fallen below!Paris Has Fallenis a spinoff of theHas Fallenfranchise, and the show made a smart choice by setting itself apart from the Gerard Butler saga. In 2013’sWhite House DownvsOlympus Has Fallenbox-office battle, the latter emerged victorious; of course, it also had the benefit of being released months ahead of its rival. Butler’s Secret Service agent Mike Banning returned for the entireHas Fallenmovie trilogy, butParis Has Fallentakes the series in a very different direction by moving to television.
The spinoff still has all the action and one-liners, but it’s able to spend more time developing the protagonists too.Paris Has Fallenfeels more like24than the movie series that spawned it, with its cast constantly racing against the clock while getting into periodic gunfights and car chases. It even avoids theHas Fallenmovie staple of destroying landmarks, whileParis Has Fallen’scharactersare far more vulnerable than Butler’s human tank, Banning.
Paris Has Fallen Ending Explained
Paris Has Fallen season 1’s finale sees the fate of the entire city in the balance, but do Vincent and Zara stop Pearce’s plan in time?
Paris Has Fallen Was Smart To Have No References To The Movie Trilogy
The Has Fallen offshoot has zero easter eggs for fans to catch
Paris Has Fallenmight be an official spinoff of the films, but in a shock move, it includes no reference to them whatsoever. It doesn’t mention major characters like Presidents Asher (Aaron Eckhart) or Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), or the wave of terrorist attacks that hit the British capital inLondon Has Fallen. There’s such little connective tissue a case could made the TV series takes place in its own separate world from the Butler films. This is an unusual approach, butParis Has Fallenwas right to do this.
2013
50%
2016
28%
2019
38%
2024
86%
The story it’s telling has little to do with the movies, so any references would have felt crowbarred in for the sake of it. TheHas Fallenmovies tell very American stories, but as the title of the spinoff indicates, things have gotten far more European. The action is more scaled back and grounded, and the stakes aren’t quite as apocalyptic.This helpsParis Has Fallenestablish its own identity within the property- but without feeling like a cheaper version of its big-screen predecessors.
… the spinoff is better for resisting the temptation to include awkward callbacks to theHas Fallenfilms.
It’s difficult to think of a moment the show could have organically referenced the movies, outside a surprise phone call with Freeman’s President Trumbull. Even that would have felt like distracting fan service, and the spinoff is better for resisting the temptation to include awkward callbacks.
Gerard Butler’s Rumored Paris Has Fallen Cameo Didn’t Happen
Butler is still attached to the fourth movie, Night Has Fallen
TheHas Fallenfilms all arrived three years apart from one another, but Butler hasn’t returned to the series since 2019.Butler is still attached toParis Has Fallenas producer, but while there were reports he might cameo as Banning, that didn’t come to pass. Again, there are no real references to the films to be found, and it would be tough to devise a way for him to have appeared regardless.
While Banning is established to have some ties to MI6 during the events ofLondon Has Fallen, and the show’s co-protagonist is MI6 operative Zara (Ritu Arya), it still would have made little sense for them to contact BanningPerhaps there was a plan for Banning to appear that didn’t work out due to Butler’s busy schedule, or maybe producers wanted to leave all their options open for a potential fourth film. The next planned movie is dubbedNight Has Fallen, though little has been said of the sequel in many years.
Gerard Butler has two upcoming sequels on his slate:Den of Thieves 2: PanteraandGreenland: Migration.
Paris Has Fallen Season 2 Could Still Tie Into The Movies
The next chapter of the Has Fallen series could tie the movies and show together
Right or wrong,Paris Has Fallendecided to stand on its own feet without leaning on the Butler movies. While a second season hasn’t been greenlit,the finale suggests the villainous DCX Capital will be moving to Africa nextto cause more chaos. This could establish the show as more of a globe-hopping affair, though another season could still link into the films. Butler is unlikely to play a major role, butseason two could still have guest appearances by the likes of Eckhart as former President Asheror even reveal that DCX had a hand in the attacks shown in movies.
While the films and the show share DNA, it’s also possible for newcomers to enjoy Paris Has Fallen as its own beast.
There are ways to crossover between the two entities that don’t have to be cringe-worthy, but for now, it feels like the spinoff is on its own trajectory.Paris Has Fallenproved to be a pulpy and enjoyable action thriller in its own right, and future seasons could easily continue in the same vein. With the theatrical side of the property seemingly having stalled, the transition to television was a wise one. While the films and the show share DNA, it’s also possible for newcomers to enjoyParis Has Fallenas its own beast.
Paris Has Fallen
Cast
Paris Has Fallen follows a protection officer and an MI6 operative as they join forces in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Suspecting a mole, they race against time to uncover a larger conspiracy that threatens the safety of Paris.
Olympus Has Fallen
Olympus Has Fallen an action thriller film and is the first in the franchise. The film follows former army ranger/special service agent Mike Banning who lost his position after the death of the President’s wife. When a North Korean terrorist group attacks the White House, Banning must tune back into his old skill set to save the president and the country from nuclear devastation.
