The ‘Die Hard’ Prequel ‘McClane’ Will Probably Be Rated-R [Exclusive]
/Film has been following the development ofMcClane, formerly titledDie Hard: Year Oneclosely. Originally, rumor had it that Bruce Willis would only appear in the beginning and end, to pass the torch to the younger McClane in flashbacks. In 2016, weeks after posting the titleDie Hard: Year Oneon social media, director Len Wisemantold /Filmthat Willis would be in the whole movie. This year, Wiseman told us that a younger Holly McClaneis in the script, with a present day reunion between the older characters possibly in the cards.
ProducerLorenzo Di Bonaventurawas especially surprised Wiseman had talked about Holly when we spoke with him about theTransformersspin-offBumblebee. Di Bonaventura wanted to keep the Holly details close to the vest. However, he would discuss another aspect that has been a sticking point forDie Hardfans.
Wiseman directed the only PG-13Die Hardmovie,Live Free or Die Hard, where McClane’s iconic catchphrase had to be muffled by a gunshot. AlthoughLive Free or Die Hardwas a hit, fans felt it wasn’t right to make the franchise family-friendly. Di Bonaventura won’t make that mistake again. He wantsMcClaneto be rated R like the rest of the series.
“I hope so,” Di Bonaventura told /Film. “Look, I’m not in charge of that. Would I prefer it? Absolutely.”
There is a lot more to making a good movie than a rating. 2013’sA Good Day to Die Hardwas rated R, butDie Hardfans were also unsatisfied by that film. Even though McClane could drop F-bombs again, he didn’tfeellike John McClane, with all of the cavalier destruction of civilian vehicles in Russia, and his seemingly superheroic powers. He was far from the vulnerable everyman of the original films. But it’s promising that the filmmakers involved withMcClanevalue the original tone as a place to start.
The premise forMcClaneis that a present day case makes 60-year-old John McClane (Willis) reflect on his 20-something rookie days. Holly will factor into those rookie days, as well as some otherDie Hardfavorites.
“Part of whatMcClaneis is to get to know the mythology before the movies started,” Di Bonaventura said. “So that’s where we’re going to meet characters that we may know from before.”
Just don’t say John McClane had a high midichlorion count, okay?
We’ll bring you the full interview with Di Bonaventura beforeBumblebeeopens on December 21.
