Shedding Light On the New ‘Die Hard’ Film

John McClane.  Die Hard.

Must more be said? Yes? Okay then. With the announcement of a new Die Hard film on the horizon – named Year One – consider us all ears for news when we hear some good stuff. Some interesting notes on this project is that it’s supposed to involve flashbacks and flashforwards, and have a young John McClane play opposite the McClane we know now. Despite the fence that is apparently splitting the fanbase on the notion of a new Die Hard film, Bruce Willis has lent his support to the project and the man in it’s drivers seat. Director Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard) spoke with Collider staff and had some encouraging words to say regarding Year One and Willis’ place in the movie.

For Year One, it’s important to Wiseman to bring the backstory of McClane that we have only gotten a glimpse of so far…

…That character comes in with so much baggage, emotionally, and experience. He’s already divorced, he’s bitter, his Captain hates him and doesn’t want him back. So, what created that guy?

We’ve never seen the actual love story. We know its demise, but we’ve never seen what it was like when he met Holly, or when he was a beat cop in ‘78 in New York when there was no chance of him making detective. It’s always been something I’ve been thinking about, and now we’re doing it. And it ties in.

He also (for the moment at least) quelled skeptic murmurs that Willis’ involvement will just be cameo fodder for the masses…

 …I wasn’t going to do it without Bruce. I’m also not going to do it with Bruce being a cameo bookend gimmick. It’s really working into the plot, with the ‘70s having ramifications on present-day Bruce.

So there you have it from Year One director Len Wiseman himself: the goal is to tell a backstory of John McClane and make sure Willis’ inclusion in the film isn’t wasted. We’re liking what we’re hearing so far. For the total rundown, be sure to check out Collider’s report here!