Jean Reno: Aged Action Hero in ‘The Butler’ – ‘Downton Abbey’ Meets ‘Die Hard’

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The trend of action heroes in their mature years persists, with Jean Reno, renowned for his role in Léon: The Professional and a genre stalwart, being the most recent addition to this expanding list. In the footsteps of Liam Neeson from Taken and Jeff Bridges from The Old Man, Reno will spearhead the forthcoming revenge thriller, The Butler. This film features Reno, a French-Spanish actor, as a man with a turbulent past who has dedicated his life to service. However, his peaceful existence is short-lived, and he is compelled to utilize his unique abilities once more when both his life and the lives of the family he now protects are endangered. This plot bears little resemblance to 2013’s The Butler starring Forest Whitaker…

The upcoming film titled “The Butler” is ready to be helmed by Tom Edmunds, who previously directed “Dead in a Week: Or Your Money Back.” Craig McInnes has penned the script. As per Variety, “The Butler” will blend intense action sequences with a family drama that unfolds both upstairs and downstairs. No additional cast members have been disclosed at this point. The film is set to be showcased at the European Film Market during Berlinale 2025, with principal photography scheduled to start in Ireland around early summer 2025. You can find the synopsis for “The Butler” provided below.

In “The Butler,” the character Reno portrays a former World War I combatant who once lived a violent life but now serves as a peaceful family butler. However, when gangsters demand payment of an overdue debt, his peaceful existence is shattered, compelling him to grapple with his past in an exhilarating confrontation.

‘The Butler’ Is ‘Downton Abbey’ Meets ‘Die Hard‘

As a movie enthusiast, I’d love to share some thoughts on “The Butler”. The director, Tom Edmunds, has given an intriguing summary of the film by describing it as a fusion of two iconic titles – “Downton Abbey” and “Die Hard”. Picture a grand historical estate (like Downton Abbey) under siege (similar to Die Hard), and you’ve got a glimpse into this unique revenge action thriller.

In my perspective, I’m helping shape something extraordinary – a captivating blend of period drama and action-thriller, reminiscent of both ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Die Hard.’ The enigmatic Jean Reno graces our production with an unmatched presence, seamlessly merging his legendary action persona with a touch of elegance and empathy that perfectly embodies this character.

The creators behind this project are Christopher Tuffin, Kevin DeWalt, Ari Novak, and Kevin Townsend. Notably, Christopher Tuffin – famed for producing the 2023 surprise action hit Sound of Freedom – has expressed admiration for Reno and his iconic action hero status.

Jean Reno’s contributions are crucial to the revenge thriller genre; working with him on this project is truly a privilege.

In his golden years, the character portrayed by the actor (who is 76) will continue to fight villains in “The Butler”. However, Jean Reno is no stranger to this genre, having made a name for himself in movies like “Mission: Impossible”, “Ronin” with Robert De Niro, and “22 Bullets”. His most iconic role remains that of the enigmatic “cleaner” from the 1994 film “Léon: The Professional”, where he starred alongside a young Natalie Portman as Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl who teams up with the title character, a hitman, to master his lethal skills and seek retribution for her family’s murder. Action enthusiasts everywhere are excited about Jean Reno returning to the screen for another revenge-driven adventure in “The Butler”.

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2025-02-07 16:32