Willis Calls "Die Hard" Prequel "A Very Good Idea"

[CBR News]

The "Die Hard" lead answered questions about John McClane's origin story, calling it a good but "tricky" idea.


Full article here.

[Daryl]

It might be a very good idea- for his bank account!

[Cyke]

Ugh, the whole point of the first movie was that it was about an average joe cop who was wayyy in over his head, and had to rely on his wits, training, and improvisation to stop an elite force. It *is* an origin story. Having McClane do something like that when he first starts his career removes that everyman aspect.

[JBatmanFan05]

A very bad idea. No origin needed, agreed. Average cop, married. Die Hard should be as formulaic as James Bond....terrorists take over something different and in-over-his-head McClane stops them against all odds.

[David Walton]

Having John McClane go up against similarly overwhelming odds before the first film undermines the narrative. The concept is that he's never been in that situation before up to that point, hence him being reluctant to shoot the first terrorist he encounters.

The only way this works is by going against the Die Hard formula, and making it more of a noir crime story than a terroristic threat.

I was enthused about the idea of Die Hard 6 when they were talking about a trip the Nakatomi Headquarters in Japan...

[JBatmanFan05]

The value of a franchise's name is ruining Hollywood. So many increasingly ridiculous ideas done in the name of continuing these "big name" franchises.

Never in my life did I imagine that Die Hard would end up like the Friday the 13th series or Hellraiser or Halloween or some other ran-too-long franchise of increasingly lame lesser films.

[ChrisIII]

Having John McClane go up against similarly overwhelming odds before the first film undermines the narrative. The concept is that he's never been in that situation before up to that point, hence him being reluctant to shoot the first terrorist he encounters.

The only way this works is by going against the Die Hard formula, and making it more of a noir crime story than a terroristic threat.

I was enthused about the idea of Die Hard 6 when they were talking about a trip the Nakatomi Headquarters in Japan...

Funny thing is, the first Die Hard is based on a detective noir novel-another novel in the series was adapted as the Frank Sinatra film the Detective. Die Hard pretty much just changed the name and age of the character, and details of the plot-but it's pretty similar. Die Hard 2 was also adapted from a novel (although with a different cop).

I've heard rumors that the movie might deal with both a young and old McClane, perhaps similar to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in that fashion.

[Kirby101]

I know they would just like to do another Die Hard with this. But if they did a gritty, more realistic cop movie, showing McClane to be a street savy cop would work. I doubt they would do it, but that is the only way to keep Die Hard what it is.

[Immortal Weapon]

I rather have a Die Hard movie with Jai Courtney

[TomServofan]

I know they would just like to do another Die Hard with this. But if they did a gritty, more realistic cop movie, showing McClane to be a street savy cop would work. I doubt they would do it, but that is the only way to keep Die Hard what it is.

Your just gonna get deminishing returns until the bottom falls off.

I support new franchises like John Wick.

[Jokerz79]

Your just gonna get deminishing returns until the bottom falls off.

I support new franchises like John Wick.

I only partially liked Live Free and Die Hard and hated the last film but doesn't Die Hard fit your criteria for continuing a franchise since it's based off a book?

[Buried Alien]

I can see only one way this could work, and even then, it would be deeply flawed: the adventures of young John McClane as a soldier in the Vietnam War during the 1960s/1970s. He's young, inexperienced, and naive, and we see only glimpses of the tough cop he will eventually become. Of course, even if they could pull it off, how would such a film be different from PLATOON, FULL METAL JACKET, and other similar Vietnam War films?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Cyke]

You know, now that I think about it, I wouldn't mind a John McClane prequel, just as long as it's nothing like any other Die Hard movie. McClane at the Police Academy just trying to graduate? McClane's first case as a detective trying to solve a murder in classic film noir? McClane constantly having to write speeding tickets to the same guy over and over again? Sure. But having a prequel where young McClane has to stop an elite team of highly coordinated terrorists and thieves set before Nakatomi Plaza is a disaster.

[Gaastra]

Funny thing is, the first Die Hard is based on a detective noir novel-another novel in the series was adapted as the Frank Sinatra film the Detective. Die Hard pretty much just changed the name and age of the character, and details of the plot-but it's pretty similar. Die Hard 2 was also adapted from a novel (although with a different cop).

They asked frank to come back for die hard and he passed due to his age but thanks to a deal from making the first one got profits from all the die hard films! (smart guy!)


Also note that after frank passed they were going to turn it into commando 2! But Arnold was tied to another film (running man? Not sure) and they went back to making it a follow up to the detective.

[Hypestyle]

so would they cast a Willis look alike for young John?

I'm thinking the CGI to "de-age" willis would be expensive if that's the route they go.

I never saw the recent movie with his adult son. how did that movie end up?