How do you inject pep into a stale action movie series? Send it to Japan. It worked fo... It happened to Wolverine.
Word comes via WhatCulture that the Die Hard franchise might well use this tactic for its sixth outing. But, as Die Hardest script writer Ben Trebilcook explains, sending John McClane to Japan doesn't require as much of a narrative leap as you may fear.
In order to get everyone's favourite retired cop out east, Trebilcook has legitimately arranged an anniversary knees up: "McClane is invited to Tokyo by the Nakatomi Corporation to be commended for his bravery and efforts in saving 36 lives, celebrating this on the 30th anniversary of the Naktatomi Hostage Crisis," he told WhatCulture. But, the writer insists, this isn't going to be some American-flavoured cheese splashed over a Jackie Chan film.
"My story, being set in Japan, obviously has Nakatomi playing an extremely significant role; in a way that... well, it’s John McClane in Japan and if you've seen any Japanese movies or at least know anything about their culture at all, you know it would have a lot of potential to be nuts. It’s not Ichi The Killer, but it is crazy and as real as you can get in these realms. It’s violent, but not over the top nor unnecessarily Loony Tune like Olympus."
We were gaining hope that this could be a return to the original grit the series has swapped for ridiculous set pieces in recent instalments - but then Trebilcook revealed his trump card and shattered such hopes: "You want a nugget, don’t you? I’m pretty sure it’s out there. A few Japanese fans on Twitter put two and two together when I uploaded a picture of a Katana (Samurai Sword) with some kanji reading ‘Zeus’. Yes, I’ve written Zeus Carver in for Samuel L Jackson."
Quite how Die Hard: With a Vengeance's Zeus can return for this sixth (and hopefully, final) Die Hard is beyond us - but Trebilcook is a die hard Die Hard fan, so we're sure he's got it covered. Further details on the project is scant, but A Good Day to Die Hard producer Larry Webster is said to be pushing the Die Hardest script toward becoming a firm prospect.
(Via: WhatCulture)
(Images: Rex)
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