This story also comes from Moviehole (what don't they cover?).
John McClane is returning…. he’ll just be a little more animated than usual (if that’s possible).
Twentieth Century Fox is rewinding the clock on the “Die Hard” series inking a deal with BOOM to release a prequel comic. The first issue hits stands in August.
Here’s the synopsis for “Die Hard : Year One”, courtesy Comics Continuum :
“Every great action hero got started somewhere: Batman Began. Bond had his Casino Royale. And for John McClane, more than a decade before the first DIE HARD movie, he’s just another rookie cop, an East Coast guy working on earning his badge in New York City during 1976’s Bicentennial celebration. Too bad for John McClane, nothing’s ever that easy.”
Sounds good. And I really like the idea. I’m not a big comics-fan (I know, I know… what am I doing running a geek portal?!), but this is one I’d probably pick up… or plead the distributor to send me a review copy of (probably more the case; cheapskate I am).
Funnily enough, I recently spoke to a writer whose been pitching Fox a “Die Hard” TV series – one which, like the comic, fixes on McClane pre-Nakatomzi Plaza. But instead of travelling back as far as 1976, it’s actually set the twelve months before the events of the first film.
I’ve read some outlines for what would be the first season, and browsed the character breakdowns, and it’s actually quite cool. I’d watch the show. All they’d need is a great young McClane (if Benjamin McKenzie weren’t busy with “Southland” he’d be terrific; and we know he looks good in a wife-beater).
Still, I don’t know where the TV series (which I believe was titled ‘McClane’ at one stage) is at, or whether or not it’s even been picked up, just saying it’s a nifty idea. Maybe the comic will help push it along? Wouldn’t surprise me if it pops up on Fox’s radar in the near future… if it hasn’t already.