Movies

Die Hard 3 was almost VERY different. Here’s why.

BBG News

Among the Die Hard franchise and ’90s movies in general, none can top Die Hard with a Vengeance for me, a die-hard fan. You see, this was my introduction to John McClane on HBO when I was around seven, and ever since then, the unparalleled chemistry between Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson has left an indelible mark on me. The chaotic backdrop of New York City, the nail-biting cat-and-mouse chase, the unexpected turns, the connections to the original storyline – it’s all just spot-on perfection.

For quite some time, I’ve been aware that this wasn’t originally intended as a “Die Hard” film. However, it was only recently that I discovered the reason we got to see this famous version is due to a classic Steven Seagal action movie. Therefore, it seems I owe the credit for it all to him, despite his controversial career transitions. Here’s why…

The Third John McClane Movie Was Originally Going To Use A ‘Die Hard On A Boat’ Concept

The “Die Hard”-style films gained immense popularity following Bruce Willis’ portrayal of John McClane in the 1988 original, and the series itself came close to exploring this concept in the early ’90s. After the release of “Die Hard 2: Die Harder,” 20th Century Fox considered a sequel set not in New York City, but on a boat, effectively creating what could have been “Die Hard on a Boat.

In 1992, it was revealed that an early concept for the third installment of the series involved our gruff, hungover, yet reliable detective trying to rescue a luxury cruise ship full of yuppies from a group of terrorists. This idea stemmed from a spec script called “Troubleshooter,” but let’s delve deeper into that at another time. However, it was the studio’s decision to step away from this concept and instead develop what eventually became the 1995 blockbuster hit, for reasons yet to be fully explained.

But Fox Pivoted Due To The Success Of Steven Seagal’s Under Siege

Despite a script being prepared and refined for Die Hard 3, it seemed like progress was imminent. However, the project came to a halt in 1992 due to the production of another film titled Under Siege, which featured Steven Seagal as its lead star.

In the same LA Times piece, it was determined by the studio and movie makers of both films that their stories, with Under Siege focusing on a U.S. Navy ship seized by terrorists, would have been released too closely together. They aimed to avoid giving the impression that Willis was imitating Seagal’s career trajectory, as this trend continued with other movies modeled after Die Hard (Passenger 57 and Cliffhanger were both released in the months following Under Siege’s success).

It’s understandable why the creators of Die Hard, including Willis and Fox, chose to change up the franchise after the triumph of Under Siege and the prevalence of similar action movie plots at that time. Yet, I can’t hide my desire to hear John McClane utter his iconic phrase while hanging from a cable attached to a ship’s smokestack or using an anchor to defeat a terrorist, as it would be quite thrilling!

After That, Fox Hired John Milius To Write A Script For A Non-Nautical Treatment With A Summer 1994 Release

As a seasoned movie critic, I find myself reflecting on an intriguing ‘what if’ scenario: John Milius, the legendary screenwriter behind masterpieces such as “Jeremiah Johnson,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “Magnum Force,” among others, was once slated to pen a John McClane story for “Die Hard 3.” Given his track record of creating iconic action films like “Red Dawn” and “Conan the Barbarian,” the thought of Milius crafting a tale around Bruce Willis’ unyielding cop is nothing short of a dream collaboration in the realm of action cinema. Alas, it nearly came to fruition.

Based on a Los Angeles Times article, Milius stated “We’re off the boat,” indicating he was approached to create a land-based version of Die Hard in late 1992. The plan was for filming in mid-1993 and a release during the summer blockbuster season of 1994. Some incredible films were released that year, and Die Hard 3 would have been smack dab in the middle of them all. It’s mind-blowing to think about two Bruce Willis action movies, both potential classics, coming out in the same summer!

Fox Eventually Retooled A Script Called Simon Says, Which Was Originally Going To Be A Brandon Lee Movie

In an unexpected turn, I’ve discovered that Fox abandoned the concept by Milius (wishing I knew more about this intriguing project) and instead opted to breathe new life into a script they owned, transforming it into “Vengeance”. It was fascinating for me to learn that the movie initially began as a suspenseful tale titled “Simon Says”, a piece of the puzzle that remains evident in the final cut. What I didn’t realize is that before the unfortunate demise of Brandon Lee on the set of “The Crow”, this film was intended to star him.

According to Comic Book Resource, the concept for “Simon Says” was developed following the success of “Rapid Fire” in 1992. In this version, Lee played NYPD officer Alex Bradshaw, and the character who eventually became Samuel L. Jackson’s Zeus Carver was initially a female. However, these plans were abandoned after Lee’s tragic on-set accidental death in 1993, and the script was left unused until it was transformed into “Die Hard with a Vengeance”.

But The Original Die Hard 3 Idea Wasn’t Completely Lost, As It Was Turned Into Speed 2: Cruise Control

One surprising fact I uncovered during my research is that not only did Seagal contribute to the making of “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” but he also played a significant role in the wild death scene featuring Willem Dafoe. As it turns out, an early draft of the script for “Die Hard 3” from the 1990s was later reworked and became the basis for “Speed 2: Cruise Control.” Although the final storyline deviated from the original and Keanu Reeves wasn’t involved, the concept still made it to the big screen.

Back in 2001, when I chatted with Movieline, John McTiernan – the director behind Keanu Reeves’ original actioner and “Vengeance” – shared an interesting tidbit. You see, much of the content that was prepared for the abandoned third installment ended up in “Speed 2”. Yes, you heard it right! Even the memorable scene where the ship crashed onto the shore, causing chaos, found its way into the movie. So, it turns out, not everything was lost after all.

To put it simply, “Die Hard with a Vengeance” is among my top favorite action films, the one I’ve watched most frequently in the Bruce Willis action series, and a groundbreaking blockbuster. It seems fortunate that Steven Seagal had to enter and cause some chaos.

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2025-04-30 20:09

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