Director Leigh Whannell, a former candidate to lead a remake ofEscape from New York, has addressed what the chances are that the project will happen. Originally released in 1981, the sci-fi action film focuses on Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a former Special Forces soldier who must rescue President John Harker (Donald Pleasence) from inmates in Manhattan. The film has become a classic, with plans for a remake later taking shape under Whannell’s leadership in 2019. However, the project has since been shelved, with the director’supcomingWolf Manfilmbeing his primary focus now.
Speaking withComicBookaboutWolf Man, Whannell explained howhe would be open to directing anEscape from New Yorkremake in the future, if the project was ever revitalized. Speaking about how some film projects simply don’t make it past the planning stage, the director explained how many different factors can result in a movie no longer being made. But he’s not closing the door on returning, even though the film isn’t in development for now. Check out what Whannell had to say below:
It’s so funny, with the movie industry, projects can die for various reasons. It can be something as simple as, ‘Oh, we lost the rights,’ it could be something like I’m just not gelling with the producers. I feel like the projects that do come to life are almost accidents. Like, ‘Oh, this one actually happened.’ So I think, for now, Escape from New York, if it came back around, I’d think about it, but for now, it’s not happening.
What Whannell’s Comment Says About An Escape From New York Remake
It Probably Isn’t Going To Happen Anytime Soon
Many challenges have befallen the plannedEscape from New Yorkreboot,which at one point hadScreamdirectors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin attached in 2022. There were also reports the reboot would actually be a sequel, continuing the story of the universe while giving a nod toward the previous two movies. Given that Russell’s Snake is considered one of thebest heroes in Carpenter-directed movies, it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking on the role. And, with the project currently shelved, nobody will be anytime soon.
Why Kurt Russell’s Final Snake Plissken Film Escape From Earth Didn’t Happen
Escape From Earth was supposed to be Kurt Russell’s third Snake Plisskin adventure, but the disappointment of the second movie ruined that plan.
Whannell’s statement does emphasize his interest in the project, though,indicating he’d be willing to take it on should it become viable once again. The director has proven himself a strong candidate thanks to his critically acclaimed remake ofThe Invisible Man, whilefirst reactions toWolf Manare already looking promising. While he’s no longer attached, with Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin also not working on the movie anymore, there’s still a possibilityEscape from New York’s legacy sequelor remake will one day happen.
Our Take On Whannell’s Interest In An Escape From New York Remake
He’d Be The Perfect Director If The Project Was Resurrected
Given how expertly Whannell’s been able to remake Universal horror movies, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for his talents to transfer over to other movies. Since there are plenty of dark elements that anEscape from New Yorkremake could explore, he could fit perfectly with a unique vision, if the project does get revitalized in the future. For now, though, it might be best not to remake the movie until a more succinct idea of what it would look like comes to the table.
Escape from New Yorkreceived a sequel in 1996, titledEscape from L.A.
Escape From New York
Cast
John Carpenter takes on the role of writer, composer, and director in Escape from New York, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film where a large portion of New York City is converted into the biggest prison in the world, with all criminals in the United States sentenced there. When the President is kidnapped and taken abruptly into the heart of the prison, the government will turn to former soldier turned convict Snake Plissken to rescue him within twenty-four hours in exchange for a full pardon of his crimes.
