Gerard Butler's Upcoming Movie Sounds Like A Die Hard-Style Video Game

The action star's new film "Empire City" blends classic '80s action with video game-inspired gameplay.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:05pm

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Gerard Butler's upcoming movie "Empire City" isn't a video game adaptation, but its description sounds like a thrilling combination of the classic action film "Die Hard" and old-school video game scenarios where the protagonist must fight their way through a landmark building, floor by floor, to rescue hostages. The film also stars Hayley Atwell and is currently in production.

Why it matters

As a child of the '80s, the author is excited by the prospect of a new action movie that blends the high-stakes, remote-dropping thrills of "Die Hard" with the level-by-level gameplay of classic video games. This unique mashup of styles and genres could appeal to fans of both '80s action movies and retro gaming.

The details

"Empire City" follows a New York firefighter and his NYPD wife who must fight and navigate through a landmark building to rescue hostages during a crisis. This premise evokes the classic Bruce Willis film "Die Hard," in which a New York cop must take on a group of thieves in a Los Angeles high-rise. The video game-inspired level-based gameplay also harkens back to the linear, floor-by-floor progression of titles like "Super Mario Bros." and "Metroid." While the setting and character details differ from "Die Hard," the overall combination of high-stakes action and video game-style progression has the author excited.

  • Production on "Empire City" is currently underway.

The players

Gerard Butler

The Scottish actor is known for his roles in action movies like "300," "Olympus Has Fallen," and "Den of Thieves."

Hayley Atwell

The British actress has appeared in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films as Peggy Carter.

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What they’re saying

“As a child of the '80s, Die Hard is one of my all-time favorite movies. It's not just one of the best action movies of all time in my book; it's one of the best, full stop.”

— Hugh Scott, Author

What’s next

Little is known about the plot or release plans for "Empire City" beyond the initial description, so fans will have to wait for more details as production continues.

The takeaway

The blend of classic '80s action movie thrills and video game-inspired gameplay in "Empire City" has the potential to appeal to a wide range of audiences, from fans of Gerard Butler's action films to those nostalgic for the glory days of linear, level-based video games.