When you think of action blockbusters that invade cinemas and keep audiences on the edge of your seat, you think of Christopher Nolan, who is expected to release “Tenet” on July 17. And when you think of the person who is next in line and represents the current crop of action blockbusters you think of…Gerard Butler! Okay, maybe not. But over the past several years, Butler has been the man that has taken up the mantle left by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Sylvester Stallone, bringing the macho and witty one-liners to the action genre. And he’s not about to let some stinking COVID-19 pandemic prevent him from saving the day one more time in the film “Greenland.”
READ MORE: ‘Greenland’ Trailer: Gerard Butler Tries To Save His Family From Global Disaster
According to Deadline, “Greenland” has moved from its original release date of June 12 to July 31 to follow in the footsteps of “Tenet” and “Mulan,” both of which are presumably opening in the weeks prior and ushering in the return of the big studio blockbusters after the pandemic shut everything down in March.
For those that don’t know what “Greenland” is, it’s the latest attempt to have Gerard Butler show off his action film chops in a movie where he must race against the clock and save his family from a comet that is flying towards Earth. And while he’s trying to just make sure his family is safe (including his wife, played by Morena Baccarin), Butler has to deal with the scum of humanity. Because if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that people are awful, even in life-threatening circumstances.
“Greenland” reteams Butler with his “Angel Has Fallen” director Ric Roman Waugh. The filmmaker also worked on films such as “Snitch,” “Felon,” and “Shot Caller.”
And though it may seem as if I’m poking fun at Butler and his penchant for macho action films, there’s no denying the success of his film work. Sure, they’re not going to win any Oscars, but films like “Den of Thieves” and the aforementioned “Angel Has Fallen” are still able to turn a bit of a profit and attract those movie-goers that value escapism over art. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
READ MORE: AMC Will Be “Fully Open Globally In July,” Paving The Way For A ‘Tenet’ Release
So, a week ago, it appeared that July was going to be pretty dead for theaters. But with the one-two-three combo of “Tenet,” “Mulan,” and “Greenland,” there’s plenty of blockbusters awaiting brave film fans willing to sit for hours in a confined space next to strangers who are sneezing, coughing, and spreading germs without masks. Fun times.