What Happened to Die Hard 6 and Its Lost Potential?

Ballerina director Len Wiseman has stepped into the action-packed realm of the John Wick universe, yet the shadow of his abandoned venture—Die Hard 6—lingers. Wiseman initially captained Bruce Willis’ return as John McClane in 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard. Appointed in 2015 to helm a sequel titled McClane, Wiseman’s vision was crystal clear until Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019 resulted in the project’s indefinite shelving. The scenario became all the more poignant when Willis retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia.

In a recent conversation with IndieWire post-release of Ballerina, Wiseman shared reflections on what could have been the franchise’s grand finale. Acknowledging the brilliance of the script, he reminisced about the confidence that led him to turn down other opportunities, believing filming was imminent. His comments reveal a deep sense of commitment: “For four years, I was working on what was supposed to be the last John McClane movie. It was such a cool script and such a cool idea. Other movies would pop up, and I’d be like, ‘No, this is going. We’re close.’ There were four years where I thought that movie was happening and then it didn’t.”

Wiseman’s Film Could Have Rejuvenated the Franchise

The original Die Hard is considered a transformative film, propelling Willis from a romantic lead on television to an iconic big-screen action hero. It’s no surprise that his portrayal of the cynical NYPD detective John McClane remains his most recognized role. Unfortunately, many later installments struggled to capture the magic of that initial release.

After the critical hammering of 2013’s A Good Day To Die Hard, which is often flagged as the weakest link in the franchise, Wiseman could have presented a much-needed course correction. His vision called for a return to the franchise’s roots, capturing the tension and immediacy that characterized the first film.

Originally compared to The Godfather Part 2 by producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the premise of McClane proposed a dual timeline, featuring a younger McClane in his rookie years back in the 1970s. This innovative narrative approach promised to reintroduce a more tangible version of McClane, rather than the near-invincible hero audiences saw in later films.

While there are whispers about a potential revival of the Die Hard prequel, any such project seems destined to proceed without Willis. This could undermine its chances of resonating with the franchise’s loyal fanbase.

Regrettably, the ambitious plans for Die Hard 6 never materialized, leaving fans to reflect on what could have been. The franchise now risks concluding on a deeply unsatisfactory note. Despite its rocky journey, there remains an enduring hope that one day, McClane could emerge again, rekindling the spirit of action that made the original a classic.

Source: IndieWire