Even for the president of a movie universe, having two separate attacks on your life is pretty special. Just ask Aaron Eckhart's President Benjamin Asher, who has survived two horrific attempts on his life and office in both Olympus Has Fallen, and its follow-up London Has Fallen. With the recently announced Angel Has Fallen, one would have assumed that President Asher would have been back for the ride as well, if only to lend his friend/protector Mike Banning a helping hand. Sadly, Banning's going to have to go it alone, or at least without his presidential bestie, as Eckhart doesn't think he's coming back.
Collider had a chance to sit down with the actor, as he's promoting his new film, Bleed For This. With his role as trainer Kevin Rooney in the impressive looking Miles Teller boxing vehicle, Eckhart is back on our screens and ready to rumble. Though, as expected, talks turned towards the recently announced third outing in the Banning saga. So where does Aaron Eckhart see President Banning during the events of Angel Has Fallen? The actor said:
The president is retired. He's golfing and he's amassing his library right now.
While it may not seem like a lot to us fans of the franchise that are looking forward to Angel Has Fallen, considering how much hell President Asher went through in the first two films, it's no surprise that he's not along for a third ride. Not only is he probably out of office by now, but even if he wasn't, it's not like the man is looking to break his record for "most devastating day at the office." Though, on the more reality based side of things, the fact that the film is focusing on Mike Banning as the potential target this time out pretty much eliminates the need to put the president through any more stress. Especially since the last outing was pretty brutal.
Just because Aaron Eckhart won't be back in the White House any time soon doesn't mean you won't be able to see him in action. You can next see Eckart in Bleed For This, which punches its way into theaters this Friday; as well as in the horror offering Incarnate, which opens on December 2nd. Angel Has Fallen is scheduled for a 2017 production start, with a release date unannounced, but probably landing in 2018.
