Warning: Spoilers for Paris Has Fallen below!IfParis Has Fallen’ssecond season wants to tie back into the movie series, then it should bring back newly minted action hero Aaron Eckhart as President Asher. The threeHas Fallenmovieshave grossed over $520 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo), but in a bold move, the TV spinoff has virtually zero connection to them. It has no cameos or references and instead focuses on new protagonists trying to stop terror attacks in Paris.While a cameo for Gerard Butler’s Banning was rumored when it was announced, the star doesn’t actually appearin the show.
Paris Has Fallen’sendingleaves the door open for another series - and suggests the story will be moving to Africa. The show has received an impressive 88% onRotten Tomatoestoo, and appears to have been a streaming hit across the world. The next season should lean into its franchise links and bring in a familiar face or two. Butler is the obvious pick, but Aaron Eckhart’s Asher is a better candidate. Not only would this reveal what became of the former President, but it would let the actor flex his action muscles too.
Paris Has Fallen Took The Right Approach By Expanding The Franchise Without Gerald Butler
Paris Has Fallen is the first spinoff of the hit Gerard Butler movie series, and it was right to movie the franchise away from Mike Banning.
Paris Has Fallen Season 2 Should Bring Back Aaron Eckhart’s President Asher
The former President hasn’t been seen since London Has Fallen
It’s unknown ifParis Has Fallenwill receive another series, though it appears one of the show’s leads Vincent (Tewfik Jallab) has retired. That means Ritu Arya’s Zara will need a new partner next time if she intends to chase after DCX Capital. This is the organization that bankrolled the terrorist acts of Pearce (Sean Harris), with the intent of making money out of the chaos. DCX are planning a new operation in Africa, and it wouldn’t be a shock if they had a hand in the events of 2016’sLondon Has Falleneither.
This could be a natural entry point forParis Has Fallen’snext season to involve Eckhart’s Asher, who narrowly survived the events of that day. In addition to multiple world leaders being assassinated, Asher himself was kidnapped and nearly executed, so if DCX had any involvement, he would want to know about it.Butler’s Banning did the bulk of the action in the movies, but Asher still managed to kill a few terrorists, so he’s fully capable of getting in on the actiontoo.
Filmmaker Mathieu Kassovitz (La Haine) was originally cast as Vincent inParis Has Fallen, but dropped out in 2023 due to creative differences.
Why Aaron Eckhart Didn’t Appear In Angel Has Fallen
The actor moved on when the third Has Fallen arrived
Perhaps not wanting to escape another assassination attempt,Eckhart ruled himself out ofAngel Has Fallenbefore it even entered production. Instead, the job went to Asher’s former Vice President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), with Banning himself being framed for an attempt on his life. In a 2016 interview withCollider, Eckhart stated “The President is retired. He’s golfing and he’s amassing his library right now, so… [salutes].”
… Aaron Eckhart hasn’t appeared in many sequels, so he likely wanted to move on from the Has Fallen series
Cut to three years later, andAngel Has Fallenreveals Trumbull has taken over Asher’s office. The third entry felt like a soft reboot that doesn’t bring back many characters from the previous films - and doesn’t even mention Asher by name. In general, Eckhart hasn’t appeared in many sequels, so he likely wanted to move on from theHas Fallenseries; this makes sense, considering Butler’s Banning got to have most of the fun anyway.
Aaron Eckhart Has Reinvented Himself As An Action Hero Since London Has Fallen
Paris Has Fallen could get Asher in on the action
Eckhart built his career off acclaimed turns in movies likeIn the Company of MenorThe Dark Knight, but in the last decade or so, he’s reinvented himself as an action star. 2024 was a particularly prolific year, with Eckhart fronting action thrillers like Renny Harlin’sThe Bricklayer,Chief of StationandClassified.All three films featured Eckhart punching, driving and shooting his way out of trouble, and giving depth to screenplays that were often lacking in them.
2013
50%
2016
28%
2019
38%
2024
86%
Given Gerard Butler’s ever busy movie schedule, the chances of Banning becoming a main character inParis Has Fallen’snext series are very low. However,Eckhart would be a natural replacement, both with his connections to the movies and his burgeoning action career. The show can also fill in the gaps and reveal what became of Asher after he left office, which is somethingAngel Has Fallenwasn’t interested in exploring.
… the producers behind Paris Has Fallen would be wise to at least gauge Eckhart’s interest in returning to the franchise.
Within theHas Fallenuniverse, it would be odd to see a former President chasing after terrorists - but the franchise has always been a little heightened anyway. Many of Eckhart’s upcoming projects likeDeep Waterare in the action genre, so the producers behindParis Has Fallenwould be wise to at least gauge his interest in returning. Now that he doesn’t have to wait for Gerard Butler’s Banning to save him, maybe Eckhart could be tempted back for a more physical role.
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.
