‘Die Hard: Year One’ Retitled ‘McClane’; Movie is Both a Prequel and a Sequel
Die Hard: Year One is now being made under a different name: McClane, named after the franchise’s protagonist. The sixth movie in the franchise will feature a story that has a younger actor potray John McClane’s early exploits as a cop alongside cuts to the “present” with Bruce Willis. (NOTE: The image above is a still from Looper with Joseph Gordon-Levitt portraying a younger version of Bruce Willis’s character; he has not been cast as a younger John McClane, and the image used is only to demonstrate a concept.)
Empire Magazine features a small update on the project. Talking with producer Lorenzo diBonaventura, he revealed that the movie will feature roughly an even amount of time spent between a younger John McClane in the NYPD and his older self:
“You can tell our intention by the fact that the title page we handed in says McClane: We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before. I don’t know how you do Die Hard without Bruce. The idea that he’s not very significant in this movie is not accurate at all. We are gonna explore John McClane in his twenties. But just as prominent is the 60-year-old version.”
Prior rumors, along with the original title, suggested that Willis’s involvement in the sequel would be limited (even if he’d still be there) and the focus would be primarily on the younger actor. However, it now appears that he’ll play as big a part as whomever will be playing his younger counterpart. Willis has stated that he doesn’t think he’ll be able to make these kinds of movies forever, so if this is the last Die Hard, then here’s hoping they go out with a bang.
McClane is currently in development at 20th Century Fox. Len Wiseman, who previously directed Live Free or Die Hard, will direct a film with a script by Chad and Carey Hayes (The Conjuring).
Grant Davis is a freelance writer who has covered entertainment news for more than seven years. His articles have frequently appeared in Star Wars News Net as well as as other entertainment-related websites. As someone who grew up on Star Wars and comic book movies, he’s completely thrilled with the current era of genre entertainment.
