The Unseen Sequel: Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Commando 2' and the Birth of 'Die Hard'
In the realm of action cinema, few franchises have left as indelible a mark as Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Commando'. The 1985 original was a glorious, adrenaline-fueled masterpiece, with Arnold embodying the role of John Matrix, a one-man army who single-handedly takes on an entire army of baddies. Fast forward to the present, and the legend of 'Commando' lives on, albeit in a different form.
The Unseen Script
Earlier this year, Arnold Schwarzenegger himself hinted at a potential 'Commando 2', revealing that he had been sent a script for a sequel. This script, penned by Steven E. De Souza, was a thrilling prospect for fans, promising more of the intense action and memorable one-liners that made the original so iconic. But what many don't know is that this sequel was actually in the works much earlier than Schwarzenegger's recent revelation.
De Souza's Vision
Steven E. De Souza, the screenwriter behind the original 'Commando', had already begun crafting a follow-up just two years after the film's release. His script, which has been circulating online for years, is a fascinating glimpse into a potential continuation of John Matrix's story. In this sequel, Matrix would have been working as a security consultant, investigating the death of Major General Franklin Kirby. The plot would have seen him delve into a web of double-crosses, corporate secrets, and, of course, more intense action sequences.
De Souza's Vision Unveiled
In an interview with the Bristol Bad Film Club, De Souza confirmed the authenticity of the script and provided some intriguing details about its plot. He explained that the sequel would have seen Arnold's character, after his heroic deeds in the first film, achieving some notoriety and retiring from the army. By the time the sequel takes place, he would have become the owner of a security firm, hired by a big corporation to protect their executives from kidnapping and secure their facilities.
The Twist: Corporate Conspiracy
The twist in De Souza's script comes when Matrix discovers that the corporation he's working for is involved in the illegal arms business. The corporation, it turns out, is just a front. In the climax, Matrix finds himself trapped in the building with Jenny (Alyssa Milano, Arnie's daughter from the first film) and Cindy (Rae Dawn Chong's character, now a lawyer). He must then battle through the meanest, toughest guards and security systems to escape.
Die Hard: A Different Story?
Rumors have long circulated that De Souza's 'Commando 2' script was repurposed to become 'Die Hard', a film he also co-wrote. However, De Souza vehemently denies this, stating that the script was never intended for any other purpose. The timing of the script's development, in 1987, when Schwarzenegger was exploring different genres with films like 'Predator' and 'The Running Man', might have influenced his decision to move away from another action-packed sequel.
A Lost Opportunity?
The question remains: would Schwarzenegger have made 'Commando 2' in 1987? The script's potential for intense action and a unique narrative twist certainly makes it a compelling prospect. However, with Schwarzenegger's growing interest in different film genres, it's possible that he saw 'Commando 2' as a step back into a familiar, yet potentially limiting, role.
Conclusion: A What-If Scenario
The 'Commando 2' script, though never realized, remains a fascinating 'what-if' scenario in the world of action cinema. It showcases the creative potential of a sequel that could have taken the original's iconic action to new heights. As fans, we can only speculate on how different the action genre might have been had this sequel seen the light of day. Perhaps, in a different universe, 'Die Hard' would have been born from 'Commando 2', but in this reality, we're left to wonder and appreciate the legacy of both films.
