Gerard Butler film London Has Fallen SLAMMED as 'insensitive' while promoting capital’s destruction days before 7/7 bombings anniversary

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/gerard-butler-film-london-fallen-5985310

Gerard Butler film London Has Fallen SLAMMED as 'insensitive' while promoting capital’s destruction days before 7/7 bombings anniversary

London Has Fallen sees the capital blown up in Lionsgate’s sequel to Olympus Has Fallen

Lionsgate's new film London Has Fallen has been slammed following the release of today's trailer.

Twitter users and a leading organisation set up to remember the victims of the 7/7 bombings, branded the film's promotion ahead of the 10 year anniversary as 'insensitive'.

The film, which is the sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, stars P.S I Love You actor Gerard Butler and sees complete destruction to the UNited Kingdom's capital city.

Butler returns as Mike Banning in the film that is scheduled for early 2016 but the release of today's trailer, promoting the film just days before the 10 year anniversary of the London attacks has not gone unnoticed.

One user posted: "I think maybe a week off the 10th anniversary of 7/7 may not be the time to release the London Has Fallen trailer..."

Another said: "Anyone finding the promotion of #LondonHasFallen a toooouuuuucchhhh insensitive with the 7/7 10th anniversary coming up?"

The London Tube and bus bombings killed 52 people and injured 700.

The number 30 bus was directly outside BMA House on the north east corner of Tavistock Square when it exploded on 7/7 and The Tavistock Square Memorial Trust was set up following the 7/7 attacks.

Chair of The Tavistock Square Memorial Trust, Philip Nelson, said: "This is not the first time that Hollywood has been insensitive.

"If the story is about terrorism then this is extremely insensitive. People have also recently died of a terrorist attack in Tunisia.

"I have seen an image of Big Ben with the clock face blown out, that's also insensitive."

"[Our Trust] has had lots of help from America so I just think that these are the wrong images to portray."

Philip added: "Is the summer the best time to be promoting this film anyway?"

A short description of the film reads: "In London for the Prime Minister's funeral, Mike Banning discovers a plot to assassinate all the attending world leaders."

Lionsgate have been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, the British death toll from the Tunisia attack has risen again to 27 and will rise further still, David Cameron has confirmed.

The PM gave the sombre update today during Prime Minister's Questions as he described how the first eight victims' bodies are being flown home.

http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/02/london-77-bombings-memorial-trust-slams-gerard-butler-film-london-has-fallen-as-insensitive-5276078/


London 7/7 bombings memorial trust slams Gerard Butler film London Has Fallen as ‘insensitive’
Duncan Lindsay for Metro.co.ukThursday 2 Jul 2015 9:40 am

It isn’t unusual for blockbuster movies to go on a promotional spree before their release – but the recent advertising of terrorist attack based flick London Has Fallen has left a bad taste with some.

A trailer for the film has been unveiled featuring explosions across the capital and the tagline ‘London will fall’ just days before the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 attacks which shook the world.

And people have been left feeling uneasy over the timing of the promotion, with many taking to social media to voice their disapproval.

London Has Fallen trailer slammed for release so close to 7/7 London bombings anniversary
(Picture: YouTube)

The Chair of Tavistock Memorial Trust, which was set up after the devastating attacks killed 52 people and injured 700 in London, also voiced his concerns to The Mirror.

Philip Nelson said: ‘This is not the first time that Hollywood has been insensitive. If the story is about terrorism then this is extremely insensitive. People have also recently died of a terrorist attack in Tunisia. I have seen an image of Big Ben with the clock face blown out, that’s also insensitive.

‘[Our Trust] has had lots of help from America so I just think that these are the wrong images to portray.’
london has fallen 1
(Picture: YouTube)

The movie, which stars Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman, follows a terrorist plot to assassinate the world leaders at the funeral of a British Prime Minister. It is a sequel to the very divisive Olympus Has Fallen.

Production company Lionsgate have been contacted by Metro.co.uk for comment.
london has fallen 2
(Picture: YouTube)

London Has Fallen is scheduled for release in January 2016.