In same reality as the Die Hard series

Missed opportunity. Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington? Hell, there's still time they're both still alive.

Millsey, I think I read somewhere that it wasn't just fan-fiction. They did this on purpose back then because #1, Die Hard and Ricochet take place in L.A. and #2, indeed Gail Wallins is the same character in both films. Perhaps the filmmakers thought this would be a way to cross both "universes" except for Ricochet has somewhat been forgotten and Die Hard is a certifiable classic.

They did the same thing with The Rock and Armageddon. Same director (Bay) and production (Bruckheimer)... the president in The Rock is the same actor and same character in Armageddon. Could those two franchises have crossed? Not really... but Ricochet and Die Hard definitely could have. HarlemEagle up above makes a good point... I mean, what the hell, Hollywood is out of ideas anyway.