If you missed Gerard Butler's tense survival thriller Plane during its theatrical run, you're about to get a second chance to buckle up. The action-packed film, which surprised audiences and critics alike in 2023, is set to land on Prime Video on June 1, 2026. But while the movie itself is a gripping ride, the story behind its never-made sequel is just as dramatic.
Butler has built a career on gritty action franchises like Has Fallen and Den of Thieves, but Plane was shaping up to be something special. With a modest $25 million budget, the film soared to over $74 million worldwide and earned a Certified Fresh 79% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a 94% audience approval. Critics praised it as a fun, no-frills thriller, with the consensus calling it "a standard action-adventure course" that still delivers a "fun flight" thanks to Butler's commanding presence.
Given that success, a sequel seemed inevitable. In fact, a follow-up tentatively titled Ship was in the works, shifting the setting from air to sea. But according to co-star Mike Colter, the project crashed before it could take off. In an interview with The Direct, Colter revealed that Butler pulled out just two weeks before production was set to begin. "Gerard decided he didn't want to go forward with it," Colter said bluntly. "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."
Butler was attached as a producer rather than a star for the sequel, but his sudden exit left the project in limbo. While he's moved on to other sequels like Greenland 2: Migration and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, as well as the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, fans of Plane will have to settle for the original—which is still a solid action thriller worth revisiting.
For those who love edge-of-your-seat survival stories, Plane joins a strong lineup of thrillers hitting streaming this June. If you're looking for more gripping tales, check out our list of 5 Forgotten '90s Thrillers That Hit Harder Today or dive into Prime Video's 'Cross', a crime thriller that Reacher fans will love.
So mark your calendars: Plane touches down on Prime Video on June 1. Whether you're a Butler fan or just in the mood for a high-altitude adrenaline rush, this one's worth the flight. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more streaming updates.
