Right after the MPAA makes changes to the ratings system to reflect the presentation of smoking in movies, Bruce Willis comes forward to say that making his Iconic Die Hard character a non-smoker was HIS idea.
Willis’ returns as police officer John McClane for a fourth time in the upcoming Live Free Or Die Hard, but made filmmakers write out his character’s love of cigarettes.
The actor says, “It’s just a nasty habit. I didn’t want to feel responsible for any kid smoking to try to look cool because he thought I looked cool doing it.”
It is nice timing for this selfless act to surface as it happened long before the changes to the MPAA ratings (during filming) so Willis cannot be blamed for jumping on the bandwagon. And it happens just in time for it to generate positive news for the cussing overly violent Die Hard series.
But I do like that he has taken a stand against the cigarettes at least. Not that it will change the rating of the movie, but it is something.
With the recent over reaction to the MPAA changes, this is likely to get mocked more than cheered. But if this is his doing then it is something I respect him for.
