Die Hard 6 may take place largely in 1979, following a younger John McClane
20th Century Fox has plans for another entry in the Die Hard franchise with Deadline today revealing the studio’s planned approach. Die Hard 6 would tentatively feature the return of Bruce Willis as John McClane, but only to bookend a story set in 1979. According to the outlet, producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura is currently working with director Len Wiseman to develop the project. Wiseman, who helmed 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard, will likely direct Die Hard 6.
Die Hard 6‘s 1979 storyline would be an “origin story” of sorts for McClane, delving into the protagonist’s time as a police officer with the NYPD. McClane’s early years were also the focus of a Boom! Studios comic book series, Die Hard: Year One (pictured above). Published in 2009 and 2010, the first four-issue miniseries was written by Howard Chaykin and took place in the Big Apple during the 1976 bicentennial. Like the film series, Die Hard: Year One had McClane facing off against violent terrorists. It was followed by another four-issue story, set during the 1977 New York blackout.
These new plans for the franchise sound like they’re replacing the version of Die Hard 6 that was rumored last year. According to those still unconfirmed reports, 20th Century Fox was keen on bringing Samuel L. Jackson back to the Die Hard franchise, looking for the Academy Award nominee to reprise his Die Hard with a Vengeance role as Zeus Carver. Of course, Jackson could still return for Die Hard 6 in some capacity.
Bruce Willis is no stranger to projects that also feature younger versions of his character. In fact, Willis has headlined a trio of time travel stories (12 Monkeys, The Kid, and Looper) in which he actually plays opposite other actors in the same role.
Willis most recently reprised the McClane role for 2013’s A Good Day to Die Hard. Although it only grossed $67 million domestically, it turned out an impressive $304 million at the worldwide box office.
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