The Die Hard Prequel Movie Is Not Happening, At Least Not Yet

Years ago it was announced that a Die Hard prequel movie that focused on a young John McClane was in the works with the title McClane. That film is not going ahead.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told Polygon simply, "Yeah, no, it's not happening."

"But what was really interesting was we actually came up with an idea to do it. It was a project that wasn't Die Hard that then, eventually, shifted over to Die Hard," he elaborated.

As the producer said years ago, McClane would have featured two timelines, not unlike The Godfather: Part II. "What was interesting about our idea was it allowed you the ability to meet the young John McClane and use Bruce," he said. "So it was really interesting in that way. So you sort of got to see both versions of him. A bit [like The Godfather Part II]."

McClane stalled out after Disney's acquisition of Fox, the owner of the Die Hard movie series. di Bonaventura said of the future for Die Hard in general, "I don't know what their plans are."

Len Wiseman, who directed 2007's Live Free or Die Hard, was attached to directed McClane before it fell apart. While we may not get to see Bruce Willis in a new Die Hard film anytime soon, he reprised the John McClane character for a battery commercial in 2020. A John McClane character was also released for Call of Duty: Warzone as part of its '80s event this year.

1988's Die Hard was followed by Die Hard 2 (1990) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). The series then took a break before returning in 2007 with Live Free or Die Hard and again in 2013 with A Good Day to Die Hard.