Die Hard 5 has announced some big news today, with Spartacus: Blood And Sand actor Jai Courtney confirmed as the new star of the upcoming action sequel.

Don't worry though, Bruce Willis hasn't been condemned to the scrapheap just yet - he'll be back on board as maverick cop John McClane, while Courtney will play his son, Jack.

Courtney reportedly beat out The Hunger Games' Liam Hemsworth to play a character described by the official press release as, "an apple that has not fallen far from the tree."

Indeed, the release goes on to claim that, "Jack may even be more of a hardass than his father." You can see the pair together above, in an official image from the two actors' screen-test together.

The film will see John and Jack relocated to Russia, with the McClane men looking to thwart some kind of global terrorist plot operating out of Moscow. Slightly glibly, the release describes out hero as a "true NYC fish out of water". Hmmm. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Ben Foster denies A Good Day To Die Hard rumours [17th October 2011 08:50:35]

After Paul Walker, Ben Foster is by far our favourite of the A Good Day To Die Hard candidates currently being thrown around the Internet.

So we sat down with Foster this weekend to find out how far along the casting process he actually is.

Here's the full transcript of our conversation.

There are rumours circulating that you may do Die Hard 5? "It's all been mentioned this morning as a rumour, and I've only heard it as a rumour in this room. Working with Bruce again [they did Hostage] would be a gas. I love the man. I think he's great." He's pretty irresistible in that role? "John McClane ? are you kidding me? How many times, how many times?" So you'd be interested in the role? "Working with Bruce is always an exciting prospect." Are you a fan of the franchise in general? "Well, the first one?snowing in Los Angeles! It's Alan Rickman [then does a weird Rickman impression, repeating 3 times a 'Har' sound]. It's a great movie! If it [Die Hard 5] remains nothing but a rumour, I will be in line to see it." So, yeah, pretty solid confirmation Foster hasn't actually been approached to test with Bruce. We'll mark this one up as Internet gossip we definitely want to see come true. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Paul Walker could play John McClane's son in A Good Day To Die Hard [14th October 2011 09:21:36]

It might have the worst title since Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer, but finally we have some good news regarding A Good Day To Die Hard. The always awesome Paul Walker has been named as one of the contenders to play John McClane's son, alongside some more leftfield choices. Ben Foster, Paul Dano, Aaron Paul and Milo Ventimiglia are all said to be meeting with Bruce Willis next week to try out for the part.

That list of actors makes us think that John's relationship with his son is going to be, how shall we put it, 'complicated.' Aaron Paul is best known for playing a drug dealer in Breaking Bad, Paul Dano's character descriptions are normally followed by the word 'weaselly,' Ben Foster's carved out a career playing edgy anti-heroes and Milo Ventimiglia played someone called Rick Rape in Gamer. Source: www.totalfilm.com

John Moore to direct Die Hard 5 [1st September 2011 17:28:22]

The dream is over: Joe Cornish won't be directing Die Hard 5. Instead that job goes to John Moore.

The fifth film in the Die Hard franchise does a Police Academy 7 and sends cop John McClane to Russia.

Cornish (Attack The Block), Nicolas Winding Refn (Valhalla Rising), Justin Lin (Fast Five) and Moore (Max Payne) were all known to be in the running to helm.

Deadline.com reports that Fox also had conversations with Gary Fleder (Runaway Jury), Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin) and Mikael Hafstrom (1408). Moore was the initial favourite for the job after original Die Hard 5 director Noam Murro jumped ship for Warner Bros' 300: Battle Of Artemisia.

Still, Moore only got the gig after meeting with Bruce Willis ? who tends to have a say in who directs Die Hard movies ? and convincing him of his respect for the character of McClane and his ability to do practical stunts rather than rely on CG. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Joe Cornish to direct Die Hard 5? [1st August 2011 18:31:48]

Die Hard 5's rudderless ship may be about to get some new directions, with

Joe Cornish, Nicolas Winding Refn, Justin Lin and John Moore all in the running to helm.

Out of all of them, Cornish is the surprise given that his first feature Attack The Block only opened this weekend in the US (notching up $138K from just eight screens).

His rivals have what could be seen as more reliable credentials: Lin (Fast Five); Refn (Valhalla Rising); and Moore (Max Payne).

However, Lin is expected to helm another Fast And The Furious movie, Refn shoots Only God Forgives this summer in Thailand, while Moore was the initial favourite for the job but reportedly has yet to meet with 20th Century Fox.

The fifth film in the franchise sees cop John McClane in Russia, with Bruce Willis apparently ready to shoot later this year. The original Die Hard 5 director Noam Murro jumped ship after being handed the reigns on Warner Bros' 300: Battle Of Artemisia. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Die Hard 5 gets a director [12th February 2011 08:54:08]

Noam Murro (Smart People) will direct Bruce Willis in Die Hard 5.

Brucie has reportedly been keen to do another Die Hard movie (or two), and Murro has been brought in by 20th Century Fox to direct the next installment in John McClane's adventures.

Smart People is Churro's only previous feature as a director. The indie dramedy starred Dennis Quaid, Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ellen Page as a highly intelligent, but dysfunctional, family unit.

While that movie may not make him sound like the ideal candidate for a high-octane action gig, he has also impressed studio bosses with a recent campaign for a Halo videogame.

Willis is also due to appear in Stephen Frears' Lay The Favourite, alongside Rebecca Hall.

Die Hard 4.0 was something of a disappointment for fans of the series, as it didn't really have that Die Hard 'feel' to it. It'll be interesting to see if Murro can reinvigorate the franchise.

Bruce Willis is also set for a sequel to OAP actioner Red. Source: www.totalfilm.com