Ahead of the release of his latest disaster movie London Has Fallen, Gerard Butler has admitted that he feared that the terrorism-centred action flick might strike a raw nerve with British audiences.

At the Los Angeles premiere of the sequel to 2013’s Olympus Has Fallen, which depicted a North Korean-led guerrilla assault on the White House, Butler spoke to Variety about his nagging feeling that the film might somehow give off the feeling of being insensitive.

Gerard ButlerGerard Butler at the L.A. premiere of 'London Has Fallen'

“At the end of the day, it’s a fictional movie. It’s entertainment,” the 46 year old Scottish star reasoned. “It’s about us winning. It’s about what happens when the shit hits the fan, and who stands up to face the challenge. It’s based on heroism and the good guys kicking ass.”

Butler returns as U.S. secret service agent Mike Banning in the follow-up, alongside Radha Mitchell as Leah Banning. She added: “The movie certainly highlights our vulnerability all over the planet — I think we all feel that. If anything, it draws attention to the fact that we really have to find a peace in ourselves and between each other.”

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London Has Fallen imagines one of the world’s most wanted terrorists striking in London during the British prime minister’s funeral, which has seen the world’s most important leaders gather in one place.

Alongside the original’s cast of Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and Angela Bassett returning, the sequel adds Alon Moni Aboutboul, who plays the FBI most-wanted terrorist in the movie. He added to the interview: “Maybe there’s something comforting [about it], because reality is more radical. It doesn’t try to imitate reality, this movie.”

Butler also intimated the possibility of further additions to the movie franchise, whose original was heralded as daft but escapist and fun by most reviews three years ago.

“Don’t rest on your laurels,” he said, speaking about his co-production role in the film. “A lot of sequels churn things up just for the hell of churning them up. We thought, ‘Where can we take these characters and extend ideas that came up in the first one? How can we make it a bigger canvas? How can we take it to new heights?'”

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