The main reason theDie Hardfranchise is such an iconic piece of action cinema is because of Bruce Willis' John McClane, and even though it’s risky, there’s a way thatDie Hard 6could happen without its biggest star. Theinfinitely quotable everyman cop John McClanefirst appeared onscreen in 1988 with the release of the firstDie Hard. Full of witty one-liners, adrenaline-fueled ’80s action sequences, and a deliciously villainous turn for Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, the movie was an instant classic, earning over $128 million at the worldwide box office against a $28 million budget.
Its success invariably led to more sequels, withDie Hard 2releasing only two years later in 1990.Die Hard with a Vengeancefollowed and became the highest-grossing movie of 1995, earning over $366 million, while 2007’sLive Free or Die Hardbecame earned the most of any movie in the franchise, raking in over $388 million.A Good Day to Die Hard(2013) was the fifthmovie in theDie Hardfranchise, and it’s by far considered the worst, sitting at a paltry 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. This led many to question ifDie Hard 6would ever happen.
Why Bruce Willis Isn’t Returning To Die Hard
He Retired From Acting Due To Health Reason
Bruce Willis isn’t returning for a potentialDie Hard 6film because he has retired from acting.In 2022,Willis’ family announced the actor had been diagnosed with aphasia, and that he would be retiring from acting.Aphasia is a brain impairment that damages the area of the brain responsible for speech and language comprehension. At the time of his retirement in 2022, Willis had completed 11 films waiting to be released.
Every Bruce Willis Action Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
Bruce Willis has enjoyed a prolific career in the action genre since bursting onto the scene with Die Hard, but which of his action movies ranks best?
In 2023, Willis’ family announced that his condition had worsened and that he was now suffering from Frontotemporal dementia.The condition makes language comprehension more difficult and alters a person’s personality (viaNBC News).
Willis' health issues had been rumored before the actor officially retired. At the start of the 2020s, Willis acted in many low-budget independent films, several from the production company, Emmet/Furla Oasis. He notably starred inOut of Death,where crew members were concerned about Willis’ memory problems as he often had to be fed his lines through an earpiece. Willis appeared confused on set; he allegedly didn’t know what he was doing on set. (ViaLos Angeles Times).
Most of these Willis films were released direct-to-video and critically panned. In 2021, the people behind the Golden Raspberry Awards introduced a “Worst Bruce Willis Performance” category in “honor” of the actor’s performances in eight released that year. However, in 2022,the Razzie Awards officially retracted the Bruce Willis award, as they felt it was inappropriate to give such an “award” to someone whose performance was affected by a medical condition.
How Die Hard 6/McClane Will Work Without Him
Footage Of Willis' McClane From The Other Die Hard Films Could Be Added
First off,Die Hard 6is likely not happening, based on industry updates. However, a hypothetical sixth movie could still work without Willis’ John McClane. Willis had expressed interest in retiring the character in the sixth film (viaThainidan News). But the character cannot be properly retired if a sixthDie Hardfilm doesn’t happen.
A major update regardingDie Hard6’s status came back in 2018. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the man behindG.I. Joeand theTransformersseries, submitted a treatment forDie Hard 6titledMcClane, which usedThe Godfather Part IIas a template. Like the iconicGodfathersequel,McClanewould focus on the younger versions of John McClane and his wife Holly, intermixed with their present-day counterparts.
However, the production was put on hiatus after the Disney/Fox merger in 2019, andin 2021, it was officially confirmed thatDie Hard 6was “not happening” because the attached director, Len Wiseman, who helmedLive Free or Die Hard, was pulled awaytodirectFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina, which is releasing in spring 2025.
This is unfortunate, asMcClanecould undoubtedly work if it adheres to theGodfather IIformula. However, Willis would likely still have to be in the film in some way, even if he’s only featured in flashbacks or flashforwards.The filmmakers could even re-use footage of Willis from the other fiveDie Hardfilmsto make sure McClane’s presence — and Willis' legacy — is felt throughout.
How The New Die Hard Can Honor Bruce Willis (& Still Carry On Without Him)
Samuel L. Jackson’s Zeus Could Be The New Face Of The Die Hard Franchise
Prequel or not,McClanewon’t be the same as the otherDie Hardfilms without legendary actor Bruce Willis. Even if his character is not seen in the present or killed off, no one else can play John McClane like Willis, as it’s the character that has defined his career.He’s even the only actor featured in all five of theDie Hardfilms, so his presence will surely be missed if he’s not in the sixth film.Die Hard 6could only really work if it doesn’t feature Willis' present-day McClane at all.
The obvious candidate would be Samuel L. Jackson’s Zeus Carver, who served as John McClane’s reluctant partner inDie Hard with a Vengeance.
One way to do this would be to scrap theMcClaneangle altogether and have another character from theDie Harduniverse be the face of the franchise. The obvious candidate would be Samuel L. Jackson’s Zeus Carver, who served as John McClane’s reluctant partner inDie Hard with a Vengeance. Jackson knows how to center a franchise, as seen in his work as Nick Fury in the MCU, soDie Hardwould be in good hands.Jackson and Willis have also collaborated on five moviestogether, so the Zeus star would know exactly how to honor Willis' legacy while keeping theDie Hardfranchise fresh.
Die Hard
The Die Hard franchise, which began as a series of books in the 1960s, is an action-adventure series that chronicles the harrowing exploits of NYPD Detective John McClane. Renowned for its action-packed sequences and intricate plots, the series showcases McClane’s battles against various adversaries, especially the infamous Hans Gruber, during high-stakes crises.
