John McTiernan, the iconic director of DIE HARD, PREDATOR, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR remake, and THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, is heading to jail to serve a one year sentence handed down back in 2010. McTiernan was found guilty of perjury and lying to the FBI in connection to the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping scandal. Pellicano, who is serving 15 years himself, was hired by many in Hollywood as a private investigator. McTiernan specifically hired Pellicano to wiretap ROLLERBALL producer Chuck Roven.
McTiernan has been battling the charges for a long time now which has led him to not direct a movie since 2003’s lackluster BASIC with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. Deadline reports that McTiernan and his attorneys are attempting a final appeal, but seeing as this most recent rejection came from the Supreme Court, it is likely he will finally have to serve his time. The saddest part of the news is that if McTiernan had just admitted wrongdoing and gone to prison, he would have been out years ago and could have returned to filmmaking. But, not knowing the details of the case specifically, McTiernan may be innocent of some charges and want a more accurate sentencing.
Either way, if McTiernan begins his sentence this year, we may see a new movie from the master some time in 2014 or 2015. STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, anyone?