20 Things You Didn't Know About Die Hard 2

17. The Fictional Country "Val Verde" Is Also Featured In Commando

Die Hard 2 Bruce Willis
20th Century Fox

The film's biggest subplot revolves around the liberation of General Ramon Esperanza (Franco Nero), the dictator of a fictional Latin-American country called Val Verde, who is being extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges.

If the name Val Verde rings a bell, that's because it was also featured in another film written by Steven E. de Souza - the 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring cult classic Commando.

De Souza has also floated the theory that the original Predator film - which, like Commando and Die Hard 2, was produced by Joel Silver - could've taken place in Val Verde, despite 2010's sequel Predators confirming it actually went down in the Guatemalan jungle.

The name Val Verde translates to "Green Valley," and was employed by de Souza to avoid causing upset or diplomatic issues with any real nation.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.