Those of you who are sick of the constant remakes at your multiplexes will certainly welcome this story: Deadline reports that the long-planned remake of 1981’s Escape From New York — the classic John Carpenter sci-fi movie (which took place in the then-future year of 1997!) starring Kurt Russell as the ultra-badass soldier-turned-criminal Snake Plissken — has been canceled by New Line and Warner Bros. by letting their rights expire. This doesn’t mean that the remake won’t happen, but it does mean that we’ll be a long way away from seeing it if it does.
Various reports linked Gerard Butler, Jeremy Renner, and Josh Brolin to the Plissken role in the remake, with a number of writers passing the script around like a plate of Chex Mix. Carpenter and Russell had different reactions to the remake, with Carpenter (likely counting the millions he’d receive) saying in 2007 “Snake is one of my fondest creations. Kurt Russell did an incredible job, and it would be fun to see someone else try.” Russell, meanwhile, complained about the possible casting of Butler to Entertainment Weekly, complaining ” I do think that character was quintessentially one thing. And that is, American,” before adding, “Fuck that! I am Snake Plissken! It’s like Sean Connery always watching someone else do their version of Bond” when asked if he’d consider doing a cameo in the remake.
Got to hand it to Russell — he is Snake Plissken. But let’s be fully honest, Kurt: even if you are Snake Plissken, the sequel Escape From L.A. might be one of the worst sequels of all time (and the awful mid-90s CGI doesn’t help!)
Were you looking forward to the Escape From New York remake? Or does this news make you happy? Let us know in the comments below!
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