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Joel Silver Taking on New 'Escape from New York' Remake Attempt
by Ethan Anderton
March 18, 2013
Though director Breck Eisner (The Crazies) and New Line Cinema were attempting to remake John Carpenter's Escape from New York a few years ago, with names like Gerard Butler, Jeremy Renner and more lined up to play Snake Plissken, that project died a couple years ago with the company let the option on the property die out. Now a remake is back in the cards, but this time it's Studio Canal, the company behind Unknown with Liam Neeson (and his forthcoming Non-Stop) teaming with super producer Joel Silver (The Matrix, Lethal Weapon) and his Silver Pictures banner for the project starting from scratch.
The original 1981 film was set in the future (then 1997) where New York City has become a maximum security prison in a post-apocalyptic world. When the president's place crashed into Manhattan, a hard-ass, convicted bank robber named Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is sent in to rescue him with a full pardon awaiting him if he's successful. Just to keep him in check, Plissken is fitted with a device that will kill him if he tries to escape. It made for some good B-movie action fun that's become a sort of cult classic.
Deadline says the plan for Silver's take is to turn the property into a franchise trilogy beginning with an origin story in the same vein of Rise of the Planet of the Apes that effectively serves as a sort of franchise reboot, but also leads up to the familiar movie we all know. However, in this case I believe remaking Escape from New York will be part of the trilogy whereas Rise of the Planet of the Apes is just part of a new franchise that leads up to the original Planet of the Apes. But aside from an origin story and remaking Escape from New York, what would a third film do? Could they also remake Escape from LA? That seems like a bad idea. Either way, the hunt for a writer is underway, so stay tuned for more updates.
15 Comments
4
"Joel Silver taking on angry Escape From NY fans"
Brandon V. Fletcher on Mar 18, 2013
5
John Carpenter on music or I'm out.
avconsumer2 on Mar 18, 2013
6
YeSSSS!!! and Kurt Russell cameo
Carpenter on Mar 18, 2013
7
Y si hacemos algo nuevo??
HerCar on Mar 18, 2013
10
They kind of remade this already with Guy Pearce. They should just make two more of those movies. I know that it wasn't exactly an Escape from NY remake but it sure felt like one! On the other hand it could be cool.
Crazy Legs on Mar 18, 2013
11
The original touched a little on how bad New York was at the time, certain parts of NY looked a bit like some areas in the movie, now NY isn't like that. Not really sure why it needs a remake, there's plenty other stories to tell.
Carpola on Mar 19, 2013
12
Well they could change the city then to say Detroit or perhaps move it out of the US and do someplace like Rio or Joburg
The ? on Mar 19, 2013
13
Detroit should just be one big film set for apocalypse films, it's sad what has happened there. I'd like to see escape from Joburg, that would be pretty heavy.
Carpola on Mar 19, 2013
14
Please NO
Tester on Mar 19, 2013
15
Dear John Carpenter: Please stop this abomination from happening by bringing back SIr Russell for a brand new Escape film. An old, grizzled Snake is what the people want, and only you and Kurt can do it properly. Plus, you need to make up for The Ward. Thank you.
grimjob on Mar 19, 2013
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