PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   John Carpenter is a horror icon, but not every film he’s made is a slasher—whether set on Halloween night or in the frozen Arctic. Among his most underappreciated works is Escape from New York, the dystopian action thriller starring Kurt Russell that features an ambitious premise: in the not-too-distant future, Manhattan Island is converted into a massive maximum-security prison. Things run (relatively) smoothly until Air Force One crashes, stranding the President in what’s undoubtedly the nation’s most dangerous spot. Enter Snake (Russell), who’s offered a pardon in exchange for rescuing the President from New York—an escape mission that wraps up with political intrigue.

Nearly half a century later, this classic tale is getting a major revamp. But can it be updated while still honoring the original?

At CinemaCon, StudioCanal announced that a reboot of Escape from New York is in development, though no further details were shared. This isn’t the first time talk of a remake has circulated, however. Rumors about an Escape from New York redo date back to 2007, when New Line Cinema bought the rights. Over the years, directors Len Wiseman, Brett Ratner, Robert Rodriguez, and the directing duo Radio Silence have all been linked to the project.

Gerard Butler was initially in talks to star, but no other version has progressed to the casting stage. And don’t count on Kurt Russell’s son Wyatt to play the next Snake— in a 2021 Esquire interview, he explicitly said taking on Snake in a reboot would be “career suicide 101,” adding, “That’s like the textbook example of what not to do.”

But his opposition isn’t just about him stepping into his father’s role—he thinks the character is simply irreplicable. “I don’t know if anyone else can be Snake Plissken,” he said. “Good luck to whoever tries; I sincerely wish you the best. I just don’t see how it’s possible.”

That’s the ultimate question for this new project: Without John Carpenter and Kurt Russell, can a remake even work? What else is there to explore? Since the original was written after the Watergate scandal, there might be room to refresh some political satire, but Escape from New York feels pretty timeless. A remake could cut out dated references like the glider landing on the World Trade Center, but the film’s heart and soul can’t be improved.

Escape From New York is currently streaming for free on Amazon Prime Video.