The title of the new ‘Die Hard’ film will be ‘McClane’.
The sixth movie in the action franchise, which has followed Bruce Willis as wisecracking police detective John McClane, was originally rumoured to be called ‘Die Hard: Year One’, however, the movie’s cleaner title has been chosen to represent the importance of Bruce’s character in the series.
The film which follows a 60-year-old McClane and a younger incarnation of himself in his 20s, comes after the original 1988 film ‘Die Hard’, 1990’s ‘Die Hard 2’, 1995’s ‘Die Hard With a Vengeance’, 2007’s ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ and 2013’s ‘A Good Day to Die Hard’.
Speaking to Empire magazine about the significance of the title, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said: "You can tell our intention by the fact that the title page we handed in says, ‘McCLANE’. We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before. I don’t know how you do ‘Die Hard’ without Bruce. The idea that he’s not very significant in this movie is not accurate at all. We are gonna explore John McClane in his 20s. But just as prominent is the 60-year-old version."
Casting is underway to find a younger McClane and director Len Wiseman admits it is "crucial" to get the right man for the job.
Wiseman previously said: "The right casting for this role is crucial.
"Those bare feet have some very big shoes to fill."
In the last film, McClane and his son Jack (Jai Courtney) had to complete a mission which took them into the heart of a Russian organised crime gang.
Although Willis, 63, always enjoys stepping into the shoes of McClane, he admits every entry in the franchise has been trying to match the excellence of the first film.
He said: "I’m really pleased to continue to be asked back to do other versions and other incarnations of ‘Die Hard’.
"The first one really is [the best] … That’s all there is. Everything else is just trying to be as good as that film."