John McTiernan Wants Back in the Directing Game

For anyone born post-2000, they probably don't have a clue who John McTiernan is.  They have grown up in the world of superhero and comic book movies and - for all intents and purposes - don't understand the craft of a 'true' action movie.

Low and behold, Mr. John McTiernan.

This man directed not only some of the best action films ever made (including Predator, Die Hard, The Hunt for Red October, Last Action Hero, Die Hard with a Venegance, and The Thomas Crown Affair) but also just good, quality films.

Anyone can just blow stuff up (a la Michael Bay), but McTiernan always made sure to focus on the story and characters involved - because he knew without that - there'd be no connection to the action going on.

Anyway, likely the reason you haven't heard McTiernan's name mentioned in a while is because he's actually been in jail for close to the past decade due to his involvement in a wire tapping scandal.

But now, with that under the bridge, the man can get back to doing what he does best: making action movies.

In his first interview since being released from prison, McTiernan states his first film out of the gate - Red Squad - is currently being rewritten as he felt unhappy with its current draft form but is hard at work on getting it right.  It's rumored the film will star Nicolas Cage (on a career comeback?) and Colin Farrell about a team of mercenaries who have gone rouge with their latest mission taking them to Mexico to bring down a drug lord.

McTiernan also states he spent his time in prison writing a sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair, entitled Thomas Crown And The Missing Lioness.  While there has been movement over the years to make a sequel to the Pierce Brosnan starring 1999 caper flick, nothing has sufficed.  Maybe now with McTiernan back, it'll get going.

Honestly, I just hope the guy gets a chance again in Hollywood because he knows how to make a film that not only sells tickets but actually tells a story too (something that's gotten lost in today's filmmaking).

Source:  Empire