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Len Wiseman Confirmed Directing Escape from New York Remake

by Alex Billington
August 15, 2007
Source: Variety

In early August, a rumor hit the internet stating that Live Free or Die Hard director Len Wiseman would be directing two more gigantic upcoming movies. Today one of those rumors is confirmed: it's true that Wiseman is directing the Escape from New York remake with Gerard Butler. In Hollywood fashion, the new replaces the old: Underworld and Live Free or Die Hard's Wiseman takes over for the legendary John Carpenter.

Gerard Butler is portraying Snake Plissken, the convict and war hero who's sent into a futuristic Manhattan - which has been turned into a giant maximum security prison - to rescue the president after his plane is knocked down by terrorists. The original 1981 movie starred Kurt Russell and was set in 1998.

I'm not sure I appreciated Wiseman's directing in Live Free or Die Hard enough to say he's the perfect choice for this. And I know there are plenty others out there who are still arguing that a remake of Escape from New York is outrageous to begin with. Either way, let's hope for the best and hope for Gerard Butler's excellence to satisfy where Wiseman cannot.

As for the rumor, IESB.net claimed that the deal was for both films: Escape from New York and Gears of War. So far one half of it is true, let's hope the other half is, too.

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Alex Garcia

Waaa!!! Gerard Butler as Snake Plissken??? I actually, really like that, which suprises me, because I'm a diehard Kurt Russell as Snake fan. This carries over with my love for the Snakes from the Metal Gear Solid games. In MGS2, Snake went as Snake Plissken, beautiful. Now, Leonidas is gonna be Snake, that's awesome. I'm glad to see Gerard is becoming a hollywood action hero now, I've had enough of Jason Statham and Vin Deisel, and we need a Schwarzenegger for the present-day. I wonder how much Butler will tone down his accent? This is fantastic, I loved the original, escape from LA not so much. I wonder who's gonna play The Duke, hmmm. Ving Rhames maybe? I can't wait to see the trailer for this! As for Gears of War, wow, already a movie, a little soon is it not? I was hoping for a year or two before I saw this, who will be playing Marcus? Anyway, thanks, Gerard as Snake, I think I can be happy knowing he'll be taking the torch from Kurt.
Alex Garcia

I just checked the remake and this was Kurt Russell's reaction to hearing Gerard was gonna be Snake, "I will say that when I was told who was going to play Snake Plissken, my initial reaction was "Oh, man!" [Russell winces]. I'm guessing this was a compliment to Gerard although the wince confused me. But I'm sure Kurt is happy with the choice, and I'm sure he'll be happy with Gerard's take on Snake. I also read this could be a prequel to Escape, not a remake, possible.....