Bruce Willis Had a Hunch That Die Hard 3’s Initial Conclusion Would Be Changed
There’s a widespread belief among casual moviegoers that reshoots indicate a troubled production. Many wonder how filmmakers can embark on such an expensive project without a finalized screenplay and a rock-solid schedule to ensure timely completion for the cast. In reality, the creative process demands a level of flexibility. What may read well on paper can sometimes fail to translate effectively on screen once the cameras start rolling. This necessity for on-set adjustments can lead to substantial rewrites, and if those changes are significant enough, they may even disrupt the overall narrative flow. In such cases, filmmakers may find themselves needing to scrap an entire action sequence, replacing it with something new. Often, the need for a different scene doesn’t become apparent until after test screenings, resulting in actors being called back for reshoots.
As we’ve seen with numerous productions, even successful films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe incorporate reshoots regularly. The reasons for this are varied—often aligned with the larger narrative arcs of the franchise—but reshoots shouldn’t be viewed as a red flag. However, they can pose scheduling headaches for those involved, as was evident for Bruce Willis when reworking the climactic action sequence for “Die Hard with a Vengeance.”
Willis Recognized the Original Ending Wasn’t Right
In a 2007 discussion, Bruce Willis opened up about his foresight regarding “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” specifically its original conclusion, which he deemed unsuitable for the film. He shared, “I knew that the ending we shot originally was not going to work. I’m not claiming to be a genius here, just aware that the ending we had didn’t fit the Die Hard vibe.”
His instincts proved to be correct. The original ending, available online and featured in the movie’s Blu-ray collection, took a notably dark turn that seemed out of place for a “Die Hard” film. Set one year after the events of the film in Belarus, it showcased villain Simon Peter Gruber—played by Jeremy Irons—living luxuriously despite having betrayed his associates. When John McClane, portrayed by Willis, unexpectedly shows up, he’s presumed dead. The tension escalates as McClane confronts Gruber with a Chinese rocket launcher, twisting the scene into a grim game that doesn’t align with the franchise’s lighter tone.
Why was Willis so sure the original ending wouldn’t make the cut? He explained, “When the audience sees ‘One Year Later,’ it leaves them unsatisfied. I even told one of the producers, ‘In half a year, I’ll be filming ’12 Monkeys.’ I’ll have a shaved head and tattoos all over me. Putting a wig back on to look like McClane isn’t going to be easy,’ and he was right.”
“Die Hard with a Vengeance” is undoubtedly a solid film, but its ending, initially set in Canada, falls flat compared to the rest of the movie. Ultimately, whether it was meant to be or not, the film may have always been bound to feel slightly off.
