Gerard Butler is stepping down from a remake of the 1991 surfer heist film "Point Break," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 44-year-old "300" actor was slated to follow in Patrick Swayze's footsteps as surfing bank robber Bodhi in the new film. Butler was set to star opposite "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" actor Luke Bracey, who would play the intrepid FBI agent Johnny Utah, originally made famous by actor Keanu Reeves.
An unidentified source told the publication that creative differences, along with a scheduling conflict, resulted in Butler's decision to forfeit the role. Production is reportedly scheduled to begin at the end of June. Shooting will last several months and will include international locales.
The Scottish star is scheduled to be in London for the fall to begin shooting "London Has Fallen," the sequel to "Olympus Has Fallen," co-starring Aaron Eckhart, Dylan McDermott and Morgan Freeman.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, recasting will take place "in the coming weeks" to find another actor for the Bodhi role. Ericson Core will direct the movie, scripted by Kurt Wimmer. The original "Point Break" was directed by Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow.
The remake has been in the works since 2011. Producer Andrew Kosove said it will follow a similar plot to the orginal film, but will incorporate other extreme sports besides surfing.
"We've got to make it fresh," he said. "[The remake] has got elements of the original and it's not just surfing, it's other kinds of extreme sports, but surfing is very, very prominent in the story."
