The highly anticipated sequel to the 2023 action film Plane has been officially canceled after Gerard Butler decided to withdraw from the project just weeks before filming was set to begin. Mike Colter, who co-starred alongside Butler in the original movie and was set to lead the follow-up, confirmed that the cancellation marks a disappointing end to plans for continuing the franchise.
Gerard Butler’s Withdrawal Leads to Sequel’s End
Plane featured Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance, a commercial pilot who, accompanied by Mike Colter’s character Louis Gaspare, faced peril after a plane crash in the Philippines. While Butler was not slated to star in the sequel titled Ship, he was involved as a producer through his company G-BASE, maintaining a significant influence over the project’s direction. Colter revealed in an interview at Fan Expo Vancouver that Butler decided not to proceed with the film merely two weeks before production, abruptly putting a halt to all work on the sequel.
“It just, last-minute, Gerard [Butler] decided he didn’t want to go forward with it and there wasn’t a lot of discussion about it. He just… two weeks out, he pulled out and we were sort of left trying to figure out what to do. And eventually, that dissolved.”
— Mike Colter, Actor
With Butler’s departure, all development on Ship ceased, leaving the cast and crew uncertain about the future of the story. Despite not being a leading actor in the sequel, Butler’s role as producer meant his involvement was crucial to the film’s progression, and his exit effectively ended the project.
What the Sequel Planned to Explore
Mike Colter expressed that the script was the most appealing aspect of returning for the sequel, which intended to continue right where the previous movie left off. His character, Louis Gaspare, was set to have a major arc involving his escape from the island, exploring further dangers and challenges.
“The script. Basically picking up where we left off, what happened to that character, and how’d he get off the island. That was where we were gonna go with it. So, I was excited about it.”
— Mike Colter, Actor
At the end of Plane, Brodie and his co-pilot successfully escaped the island, while Louis remained behind, confronting mercenaries and fleeing through the jungle with ransom money. Ship was expected to shift focus entirely onto Louis, with Colter taking the lead as the film’s protagonist. The original director, Jean-François Richet, was also slated to return, adding continuity and depth to the story.
A Promising Franchise Cut Short
The first Plane film received largely positive reviews, holding a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and earned $74 million at the box office, securing a $35 million profit according to Deadline. This success laid the groundwork for a potentially profitable franchise. However, the cancellation of the sequel halts those plans, leaving fans and industry insiders frustrated.
In 2025, Mike Colter told Collider that the project’s future depended on production companies, including Butler’s G-BASE. He described the situation as “in their ballpark right now” and something he considered “another thing to pray for,” highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the film’s fate before Butler’s final decision.
Background on Butler’s Career and Possible Reasons for Exit
While Butler’s exact reasons for withdrawing from Plane 2 have not been publicly disclosed, the actor has been busy with several sequels, such as Den of Thieves: Pantera, Greenland 2: Migration, and a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. Although he was not to reprise his role as lead in Ship, his continued involvement as producer might have conflicted with his other commitments or creative directions.
This decision is surprising, given that Ship could have developed into another established action franchise under Butler’s expanding portfolio. The abrupt cancellation illustrates the challenges faced in sustaining major film projects, especially when key contributors withdraw late in the process.
Mike Colter’s Upcoming Projects and Future Prospects
Following the cancellation of the sequel, Mike Colter has moved forward with new ventures. He is set to star in the upcoming series Cupertino, working with Robert and Michelle King, known for their collaboration on Evil. Additionally, Colter is rumored to be returning as Luke Cage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially joining fellow Netflix alumni Charlie Cox and Krysten Ritter in future MCU projects.
The cancellation of Plane 2 leaves a notable gap in both actors’ current trajectories, but their future endeavors might offer new opportunities to revisit or expand their cinematic legacies in other ways.
