Bruce Willis’ Die Hard Prequel Reportedly in Development: 5 Actors Perfect for Young John McClane
Die Hard is an American action film series that is based on Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever. So far, Die Hard has a total of five movies and all of them are massive box-office successes. Die Hard movies in total have grossed $1.4 billion worldwide, making it one of the most popular film series of all time.
Recently, Daniel Richtman claimed that a new Die Hard movie is in the making by 20th-century Fox. It is rumored to focus on a young John McClane and it is being speculated that the movie might be based on the graphic novel Die Hard: Year One, which follows McClane in New York as a cop in the 1970s.
With this news, fans are over the moon with excitement. A Die Hard prequel movie was conceptualized in 2018 with Len Wiseman set to direct but 20th Century Fox decided to scrap it. Ever since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for any breadcrumb of news that could give them hope. They have already started imagining which actor would be the perfect fit to portray the titular young cop. Here is a list of five actors who would be perfect for portraying young John McClane.
1) Chris Pratt
One of the most popular fan casts for the role of McClane is none other than Chris Pratt. He rose to prominence with the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation and solidified his place in the industry as Peter Quill in the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. He also portrayed Owen Grady in the Jurassic World trilogy. Some of his most notable works include Wanted, Jennifer’s Body, Moneyball, Passengers, Zero Dark Thirty, and Her.
Also Read: Die Hard: Actors Who Almost Played John McClane
Although Die Hard is an action film, it should be noted that the newest installment would be a prequel. John McClane would be a somewhat new cop who is starting to navigate the 70s in New York. It would not be unfair to assume that the character will be prone to a dash of hilarity while trying to figure out his new surroundings alongside some gut-punching action. If that is the case, no one better comes to mind than Chris Pratt, who has perfected the zen balance between comedic timing and power-packed action.
2) Taylor Kitsch
Bruce Willis is irreplaceable because of his magnetic charm and suave. However, if anyone can come close to portraying a young Bruce Willis, aka John McClane, with an equally demanding screen presence, that would be Taylor Kitsch. Like Chris Pratt, he is also an ex-Marvel actor who appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
He is famous for his portrayal of Tim Riggins in the NBC television series Friday Night Lights. His most notable works include Battleship, John Carter, Savages, Lone Survivor, The Grand Seduction, American Assassin, Only The Brave, and 21 Bridges. He also appeared in the second season of True Detectives. This casting would not only be a huge career-defining moment for him but the Die Hard franchise would also get rejuvenated with fresh talent with untapped potential.
3) John Krasinski
Although there is a strong rumor going around that John Krasinski will take the place of the young John McClane, the actor has yet to comment on the matter himself. Although most of his best work lies in the action genre, his first true claim to fame was his role as Jim Halpert in the NBC sitcom The Office. Some of his most notable works include Leatherheads, Promised Land (2012), Aloha, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, A Quiet Place, Jack Ryan, and many more.
He has the ability to go absolutely berserk in an action scene and pump the audience’s veins with high adrenaline flow, as well as the ability to portray emotional scenes with nuance. Given a chance, he would be a perfect fit for the role in Die Hard.
4) Aaron Taylor-Johnson
If looks could kill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson would obliterate half the world’s population. Another Marvel alumni, he famously appeared as Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He has done some great work so far, which includes titles like The Illusionist, Savages, Nowhere Boy, Anna Karenina, Godzilla, Nocturnal Animals, Tenet, and Bullet Train.
Taylor-Johnson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his amazing performance in Nocturnal Animals. He is extremely talented and looks the perfect age to play young John McClane. It would be interesting to see his take on the role.
5) Charlie Hunnam
Charlie Hunnam is a critically acclaimed actor who is best known for his role as Jax Teller in the FX series Sons of Anarchy. His outstanding performance was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor twice. Some of his most well-known works include Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, The Lost City of Z, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Triple Frontier, The Gentlemen, and Last Looks.
Also Read: 5 ‘Hidden Gems’ Quotes from the Movie Die Hard
Many fans have already started casting Hunnam as the young Bruce Willis and given his acting prowess and rich on-screen pedigree, no one better comes to mind who can pull it off.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, so the audience is advised to take any news with a pinch of salt. However, that should not stop one from imagining their favorite heroes in the rumored upcoming movie
