‘Spartacus’ Star Jai Courtney to Play McLane’s Son in New ‘Die Hard’ Flick

After an arduous search for the actor who could play John McClane’s son in the newest installment of the Die Hard franchise, 20th Century Fox has finally settled on Jai Courtney.

Courtney is best known for playing Varro in the Starz series Spartacus: Blood And Sand. In the series, Courtney played a close friend and confidante of Spartacus until they were forced into a battle to the death. Courtney has had a bit of a big screen surge as he will next be seen starring opposite Tom Cruise in Paramount’s One Shot, the Christopher McQuarrie directed adaptation of the Lee Child bestseller. He is also attached to star opposite Aaron Eckhart in I, Frankenstein.

A Good Day To Die Hard, the fifth installment of the Die Hard franchise, puts McClane on unfamiliar ground, taking the hard-ass  New York City cop to the streets of Moscow. The flick introduces McClane’s estranged son Jack (Courtney). The McClane’s butt heads due to their similar personalities. Despite their differences, they must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy. This film positions Courtney to become a recurring character alongside Willis, and possibly take over for Willis as the lead as the sequels continue.

John Moore will direct a film that has been dated for a February 14, 2013 release. Alex Young is producing.

The choice of actor comes as somewhat of a surprise as the studio, Moore and Willis met multiple up and coming young actors, and had to expand the search several times. Courtney wasn’t even one of the rumored actors to fill the role. Most rumors pointed to Hunger Games star, Liam Hemsworth, being the shoe in for the role up until this announcement.