The Die Hard franchise is one of the most recognized series in the action genre.  With Bruce Willis as the unlucky police officer John McClane it has become his iconic role when the original released in 1988.  Now 23 years later the fifth sequel is being developed with McClane going to Russia along with his song and clashes against local forces.  With the new change of setting different directors are named to possibly direct the movie.

The Die Hard movies have led McClane into all different kinds of trouble, ranging from terrorists in Airports, Subways, and even the Internet.  But now it seems like instead of staying state side, McClane and his son will be going to Russia.

No one is completely sure why McClane finds trouble in Russia, maybe he is on a vacation, or hired by the United States government?  Just some ideas on why McClane would be abroad, nothing official has been released yet.  The really big question for the series is who will direct the upcoming film?

There is a pretty short list of prospects on who will direct the film.  At first, Noam Murro, the director of Smart People, was slated to direct the film but when he landed the job for 300: Battle of Artemisia he dropped out.  Now, the studios are looking at the Irishman John Moore, the director or Max Payne, Behind Enemy Lines and The Omen.

It seems like it is his to leave or take or studios have a small list of back ups including Joe Cornish (Attack the Block), Justin Lin (Fast Five) and Nicolas Wedning Refn (Drive).

Joe Cornish is in the industry spotlight at the moment because of his direction of critically acclaimed Attack the Block, which tells the story of a group of friends in south London who defend themselves against an alien invasion.  He is also credited for writing The Adventures of Tintin screenplay, slated to release in December.

Justin Lin who is known mostly because of his directing work on the Fast Five, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.  If set to direct, he could give the movie a huge adrenaline rush with his car chases, that he has perfected on since 2006.

Nicolas Wedning Refn has directed the recent movie, Drive, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranson which will release in the States on the 19^th of September but his previous work that is well known is Bronson with Tom Hardy.

With Live Free or Die Hard releasing in 2007, the fifth installment has been long awaited.  Right now, directors and casts are being set to bring McClane back for one more heart-pumping mission.  The release is yet to be decided and but one thing is for sure, McClane will never “be too old for this.”

cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Peter Yannantuono