Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin has recalled a significant creative disagreement with Bruce Willis during the filming of the sequel. On his podcast, Harlin revealed that Willis wanted to abandon John McClane's signature humour and sardonic wit, preferring to play the character "straight." Harlin disagreed strongly, arguing that McClane's appeal to audiences was fundamentally rooted in his sarcastic personality as a blue-collar cop who made quips whilst facing danger.

Initially, Willis refused to budge on the decision, leaving Harlin feeling powerless. To resolve the impasse, the director enlisted producer Joel Silver for support, and the three held a lengthy discussion about how to proceed. The article does not specify the ultimate outcome of their negotiations or how the conflict was finally resolved.