A Good Day To Die Hard” sets up
Bruce Willis to reconnect with his long estranged son Jack played by Jai
Courtney where he finally tracks him down in Moscow involved in an undercover
assignment to pin down the masterminds of a potentially disastrous crime.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox |
Willis’ John McClane arrives in Moscow and learns that Jack, far from being a
criminal, is a CIA operative, three years into an undercover mission to protect
a Russian thief-turned-whistleblower, Komarov (Sebastian Koch). Having
grown a conscience, Komarov is determined to testify against a former partner
and thwart his ambitions for higher political office.
The role of Jack McClane went to young Australian actor Jai Courtney, who
co-starred in the 2010 season of the series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” and as
Tom Cruise’s fearsome adversary in “Jack Reacher.” “I auditioned a couple
of times for the role of Jack McClane, and of course wasn’t expecting anything
to come of it,” Jai recalls, “because I knew they were casting a really wide
net. I had just wrapped Jack Reacher in Pittsburgh, and was homebound to
Sydney. Literally, I was walking down the jet way to my connecting flight at
LAX when my agent called and said, don’t leave – they want you to read with
Bruce! I did a test with him a week later, and some time afterwards got the
good news. It’s been a fantastic experience. Bruce is one of those guys I grew
up watching on screen and the Die Hard franchise is so iconic.”
Adds
Willis: “Jai got the character and he just seemed like family – like a
McClane.” And director John Moore notes that, “Jai brings an intelligence
and suaveness to the character. But he’s also a much more physical
presence than we initially envisaged for Jack. But once Jai
auditioned, we said, let’s go with the big guy because he’s right for the
role.”
As
the son of New York’s most famous cop, Courtney’s Jack proves that the apple
doesn’t fall far from the tree. He displays his father’s sense of duty,
courage and willingness to place his life in danger to protect
others. “Jack has been living as a Russian, speaking the language,
and infiltrating different groups to try to get to the bottom of the disastrous
heist,” says Courtney. “He’s shocked when his dad arrives at a crucial moment
and blows his cover. He doesn’t want his help; in fact he wants nothing to do
with him. Jack is determined to prove he can do this on his own terms and that
he’s his own man.”
Under
a hail of gunfire, the McClanes manage a desperate escape, and must regroup to
figure out how to get to rescue Komarov, who is now in the hands of the group
Jack is after. Jack McClane is out of answers, and must turn to John for
help. Says Jai Courtney: “Jack takes a methodical approach to his work,
probably out of a backlash to his father’s knack for winging it and hoping for
the best. But he’s now in a situation where there’s no book to guide him,
he has no answers and is at the breaking point. His dad’s instincts are to
never quit, regardless of the cost, and in this terrible situation Jack sees
that very clearly - maybe for the first time. It gives Jack deeper insight and
respect for John’s values. It’s a turning point.”
“This
is a father-son story in which they are trying to complete a dangerous mission
while also attempting to mend a fractured relationship,” says Wyck Godfrey.
“Jack’s first reaction is, Get out of here, dad, I don’t need your help. But
what he really wants is to hear his father say, you’re doing great, son, I’m
proud of you. And that’s the beauty of this story. We’re playing out a
relationship drama in the midst of a thrilling Die Hard story.”
Adds
executive producer Jason Keller: “John and Jack find themselves off the grid,
in deep trouble, with no help. Jack doesn’t know what to do, and his father
pulls him back and says that we can do this. And the key moment in the film
happens when Jack chooses to swallow his pride and accept John’s help. Now you
have two McClanes working together, which is more than our bad guys ever
bargained for.”
“A
Good Day To Die Hard” is available in 2D digital and 2D Imax format from 20th
Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
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