After years of delays, withBreck Eisneronce attached to direct andGerard ButlerandJeremy Rennerpreviously eyed to star, 20th Century Fox’sEscape From New Yorkremake is finally moving forward. The studio has brought on filmmakerRobert Rodriguezto direct this highly-anticipated remake, although no production schedule has been given.LuthercreatorNeil Crosscame aboard to write the script back in October 2015.
Deadlinereports thatAndrew RonaandAlex Heinemanare set to produce the remake through their production company known as The Picture Company. 20th Century Fox won the rights to this iconic franchise back in January 2015 in a bidding war, with originalEscape From New YorkdirectorJohn Carpentercoming aboard as an executive producer. No details have been given regarding the new script byNeil Cross, or how different it will be from the original movie, but it is believed that the studio wants to turn this into a franchise like itsPlanet of the Apesseries of films. There was also a recent report that claimed this project will be much different than originally imagined.
The last we heard on thisEscape From New Yorkproject was in December, when a report surfaced that claimed this is actually anEscape From New York prequel, charting the origins of the iconic Snake Plissken. That report claimed that whoever plays Snake Plissken will not wear the iconic eyepatch, and it is believed that this story will tell how he came to wear the eyepatch in the first place. That report also claimed that thisEscape From New Yorkprequel will be the first installment of a new trilogy, which will lead up to the events of the original movie.
In the originalEscape From New York,Kurt Russellstarred as eyepatch-wearing career criminal Snake Plissken, who is tasked with rescuing the president of the United States from within a quarantined section of New York City on the eve of WWIII. Plissken, a former special forces operative convicted of trying to rob the Federal Reserve, has 22 hours to find the President and bring him back from within this walled-off state that has become a maximum security prison. The president, on the other hand, is carrying a tape that holds the key to peace. If Snake fails, he is wired to explode. Back in 2014, whenJoel Silverwas still attached to produce, the producer was trying to push forward a new trilogy that he claimed would be inspired by the Batman Arkham Asylum video game series.
The originalEscape from New Yorkalso spawned the 1997 follow-upEscape from L.A., which featuredKurt Russellreturning as Snake Plissken, which ironically grossed almost the exact same amount as its predecessor.Escape From New Yorkearned just $25.2 million back in 1981, but its 1997 follow-up only earned $25.4 million. The original is still considered to be a cult classic to this day, with a rabid fan base still intact.Robert Rodriguezhasn’t directed a feature since 2014’sSin City: A Dame to Kill For, but he has been keeping busy by forming his own TV network, El Rey, where he has directed episodes of the network’s original shows such asFrom Dusk till Dawn: The Series,MatadorandThe Director’s Chair. He is also attached to directAlita: Battle Angelfor 20th Century Fox, but it remains unclear which project will move forward first.
