New Line Cinema has won the bidding war for the Escape from New York remake starring Gerard Butler (300) which we told you about a couple days back.
Butler will play Snake Plissken, the one-eyed convict who must rescue the President of the United States from an inescapable maximum security prison formerly known as Manhattan. The film was set in a dystopian then-future 1997. Kurt Russell played the role in the original movie.
Black Hawk Down screenwriter Ken Nolan is attached to write the screenplay. John Carpenter will server as one of the executive producers. No director is attached but I would assume that producer Neal Moritz would probably bring in someone he’s worked with before. Let’s hope it’s not Rob Cohen (xXx). What about Constantine director Francis Lawrence? Too bad Michael Bay is too busy with other projects.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Say it aint so, Mr. Sciretta, say it aint so.
No offense, but Gerard Butler couldn’t hold Kurt Russell’s jockstrap even if he wanted to (and who wants to hold a used jockstrap in their hands, one that, er, isn’t theirs?).
That said, I take small consolation in the fact that they haven’t gone and remade The Fog yet. Wait, what, they have? Ok, scratch that. I’ll take small consolation that they haven’t gone and remade Prince of Darkness yet.
Bet you thought I’d say The Thing, right?
March 16th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Are you crazy ? Gerard Butler can do anything , obviosly you haven’t seen any of his movies ….. I’m sorry , but Kurk Russel couldn’t hold Gerards jock strap , or fill it ! He is a great actor , and extremely gorgeous , and the next “Big thing ” to hit hollywood … just wait ! and i can’t wait to see it !!!!!!!!!!!!
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I agree. Butler can sing, dance, and act rings around the wooden Russell. He ain’t bad on the eyes, either. There must be a reason dozens of well-known romance authors are writing books with this actor as inspiration. Check out BloodWind at Amazon.com by Boyett-Compo and you’ll see what I mean!
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Hey Rick , Thanks so much for the info …. I will do that !
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
L H, Rick, both of you are wrong to say crap about Kurt Russell. The man has made more than a movies that will stand the test of time. I doubt Gerard Butler will ever in his life time do the same. And yes I have seen the sweet movie 300. Awesome flick. But not a classic, and it will not be remembered with as much love and awe as Russell’s films.
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:00 pm
By the way, I’m praying that this film will not get made. Its a travesty! A nightmare even!
Its like remaking the original Star Wars! Whats the point? Its been done before!! I watch Escape from New York practically every week!
There are so many new scripts floating around out there in Hollywood, why remake what has been done already? The reason is that Hollywood has no balls. They don’t have what it takes to climb out on a limb, face to the wind and do something that hasn’t been done before.
They act like showing more sex is pushing the envelope. But they don’t have the creative guts to make a real step out into the unknown to create that sence of wonder.
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
You sound a bit obsessed !
March 23rd, 2007 at 9:11 pm
My love is film. So my response is nothing short of intense. Its like someone going to add a few brush strokes to an old master’s painting, JUST because they admire his work so much they want to add their own two cents.
March 24th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Nice site. You are doing a great service to the web
April 13th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
i don’t know why people think that Gerard Butler is so great. will chicks do
anyways. any guy that thinks that he is. is you know the “g” word. i mean come on
has anybody seen Dracula 2000? that movie sucks!!!!! so bad it’s not even funny
it was 99 mins. of my life i will never get back. and to put him in a remake of
one of the best movies ever made is wrong!!!!!!!! and it should not be remade
in the first place. and way is john carpenter letting them do it? i have lost all
respect for him.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Isn’t it a bit too soon to remake Escape from New York? Or maybe I am getting old…
April 24th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
First of all , Matt , to pick one bad film …. is not fair , and the film was bad not the actor , there was not much he could do with that but what he had to work with and he did a pretty good job I think , I think he was a great Dracula , they should of done more with Dracula and less camp ….. The film would have been much better . But that was that writer’s fault , not the actor’s ! Second , I just don’t understand why you are so obsessed with the remake of this film , they remake 100’s of films and they usually turn out really good … big deal , it’s a movie .. personally , I can’t wait , but I’m a girl , obsessed with Gerard ! just like many others that will make this movie a big hit ……. ha !
May 30th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Hold up, Hold up, not only is Kurt Russel a complete badass in the original, but Snake Plissken
so hardcore that the entire Metal Gear Solid chjaracter cast is based on Carpenters films.
Plissken himself was the inspiration for Solid Snake. Now while Butler is not bad, Carpenter said it
himself, “The one thing Plissken undoubtlety is american.” Michael Bay is a complete jerk. Knowing
people in the industry, who have worked with him claim he is rude, egotistical, and not only that
but he hasn’t made a good film since “Bad Boys”. Somebody like Michael Mann, Tony Scott, or even
Carpenter himself would be better. Let’s just hope the plot isn’t changed to heavily.
June 10th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Gerard can do a great American accent …. No problem !
July 5th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Blasphemy! Kurt Russell owns Snake!
Is Hollywood so devoid of any new ideas that it has to ruin yet another classic?
I don’t give a damn who Butler is or what he’s done! Yeah 300 Kicked Ass and he was Great in it!
But these remakes suck and most of em have sucked if not all of them! They tend to throw the
stories out of context and destroy the original vision. If this sounds obssessed, wait until they do
it to a flick you really like.
This one will come out it will suck and many of us old schoolers will just shake our heads.
If Carpenter wants a check how about writing the prequel and using Kurt again.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:50 am
How about this ….. Don’t go !!! Stay home and pretend it’s not happening so it doesn’t ruin your movie life !
August 14th, 2007 at 7:27 am
how can you ever say”to bad micheal bay is doing other things” why would you want that idiot directing such brilliance as “escape from new york”
you twat!!!!
August 14th, 2007 at 10:31 am
It amazes me how much everyone is taking this movie so personal , but I really do think that Butler is manly enough to take on the part ! I guess we will have to wait and see when the movie comes out who is right , I think the people that have such a strong opinion about it will never change their mind even if the movie blew there mind and Butler did an outstandind performance , they would still trash him , just because some people can’t admit they are wrong . I kind of understand in one way , because I would never want to see the Godfather remade ! I don’t think that could ever be done .
August 19th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I’m a HUGE EFNY and Kurt Russell fan. That said though, *any* new Snake Plissken is better than *no* new Snake Plissken.
I’m totally looking forward to the movie. I’ll just have to picture the correct Snake in the part while I’m watching.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Well I am a Huge Gerard Butler Fan , and I think He will do a grea job , and you won’t have to picture anybody else !
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:19 am
Listen guys im glad we are finally getting some remakes of the classics hollywood has gone to he## in a hand basket the last few years. Maybe the reason for the remakes is that everyone is getting tired of the computer animated matrix crap lense effects and oscar performances and just want to be entertained again and have fun at the movies. By the way Kurt Russell is the only snake thats all we need is another sappy forigner
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:57 am
Sappy Forigner ? Your comment is ignorant just like that white hood you wear over your head !
August 24th, 2007 at 6:01 am
Oh im sorry forgot if you dont accept everyone in there job even though they suck at it your a racist.Grow up and stop yelling racism everytime you disagree with someone elses opinion.By the way the white hood joke is about 30years out of date get a clue
August 29th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Hey Im old enough (39) to love kurt russell, hes hot and has been great in a lot of movies; but also to know that Gerard Butler is also an ass kicker and would make a great Snake. I cant wait to see the remake it will be really cool. By the way any one who has seen 300 would know that Gerard Butler can play a great tough guy. He’s also great to look at. Which is important to us almost 40 chicks. Smile.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:45 am
you know what Linda , I totally agree with you , but I am so out of this rediculous conversation of fighting over Kirt Russell or Gerard Butler , the point is , GB is making the movie , and if these other people can’t deal with it , tough ! Don’t go see it ! I’m sure it won’t hurt the movie if they don’t go . So I don’t care about this , it makes no difference , he’s making the movie and thats it . Too bad if anybody doesn’t like it . Personally , I can’t wait !!!
September 6th, 2007 at 11:27 am
So I am a lil too young to be completely offended by a remake of efny … I saw the original and it rocked, but what would be the point of a remake if russel acted in it haha? that would be wierd. personally i think derard butler is the next great actor in hollywoo, and i see him acting in a ton more kick ass movies. 300 was ok to me, he held it together without him it woulda been a flop. i am looking forward to the remake, tho i don’t expect it to be better than the original. i agree that hollywood has run out of ideas, then again i am glad they arn’t just putting out crappy action movie one after the other like the 80’s
October 5th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
PARDON ME WHILE I RAIN ON THIS ENTIRE PARADE.
1. The original Escape From New York is a classic in the same way that The Warriors is a class. It’s cheesey, wtih low fi effects and over the top dialogue. John Carpenter made one TRULY good movie–THE THING. The one thing EFNY really had going for it was that at the time it was made, New York was dirtier, way more dangerous and you could imagine that one day it would be a prison.
2. Now Manhattan is like a gated community for the rich. It’s getting whitier and richer every day. The idea that it would suddenly turn around and become a prison it going to take some seriously creative writing or it’ll just look stupid and out of date—kind of like making a U.S. versus the Red Beast USSR in 2007.
3. Blackhawk Down was a damn fine film so perhaps he’ll do something with what is a pretty cool concept.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
I think this film will be a great remake , I know it was kirk’s movie , but it’s tme to move on , to bigger and better … You know , that always doesn’t have to applay to female actors . and I know , once everyone sees Gerard , they will all be happy and even Kirk will be happy that someone did him proud ! Mark my words !
October 17th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I was thinking of the remake and I think that the generation now will attribute the film to the present actor. Almost like the song remakes. Real film fans well know the difference of who the one and only Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell). Sometimes the remakes get the younger generation to watch the older films and cult classics and bring light to real film. One thing i would like to see in the new film is the cigarette that would light on its own(from the commentary) that would be cool.
October 26th, 2007 at 4:50 am
Please don’t let Micheal Bay direct this. It would end up being another one of his CGI heavy, soulless films. I was in high school when this film came out and is one of my all time favorites.
I don’t have a problem with them remaking it although it seems that hollywood goes to the well for scripts far too often these days.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:52 am
Look at all the furore over Daniel Craig when it emerged he was the new Bond…did’nt he pull it out of the hat with a triumphant ‘f*ck you all!’ to his haters? I’m sure that given the right direction and enough voice coaching, Gerard Butler will get Snake down. Hell why not get Russel in as inspiration?
Hubcap made the most relevent comment on here. Manhattan just won’t work. It’s not the grimy crime ridden hell hole that it was in the early 80’s. But that’s never stopped hollywood before…I think that whoever is brought in to helm this project has an appreciation for what made the original so entertaining, and use their common sense before making a CGI-laden popcorn for teenies fest.
All I can say…Who the hell is going to replace Donald Pleasance?
‘Duke is A Number one!’
*rant over*
December 13th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I read the project was cancelled and Gerard Backed out too !!!!!
January 18th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Wow…why remake a perfect film? To make it better? No. It can’t be any better. There will never be another “Escape from New York.” Sure, they may release another movie with that title that rips off the story and the characters…but it will only be a cheap imitation.
Gerard Butler is a good actor. He also isn’t (gasp) Kurt Russel. What’s the problem? Simple. Snake Plissken was given life by Kurt Russel. Butler will either copy Russel…and if so why? Or he’ll come up with something different…which won’t be Snake. It’ll be a “new” version of Snake.
Why bother? We’ve seen Snake. Snake is good. Do something…wait for it…ORIGINAL!
I know. Crazy thought.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hello !!!! Gerard Butler is NOT doing the movie !!!!!
February 17th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
All I can say is they better not PG-13 this bitch up. I want to see blood getting in Snake’s good eye. And they should just remake it with kurt russel, why is he ruled out? The oldness will just make him more badass since they have to completely change the time period of the movie anyway. Anywho don’t dog on King Leonidas, everyone got chills from his persian raping badassness in 300. And why do girls like him so much? was it the 300 beard? Fuck it i’m growing one.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:06 am
thank god this was canceled. wasn’t the sequel bad enough? why don’t they do a sequel to a carpenter movie that would actually make sense, like “they live”?!?!?!
March 4th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
ok this is what i have to say remaking this movie is a big waste of time and money that could be spent making a new movie,off a line that deserves only 1 main char and 1 actor and that is kurt russell.
if anything they should make a movie showing him being hunted after shutting down the world.starring teh one and only true snake plisskin,
kurt russell.
just the fact that this remake is being done is a slap in the face to kurt russell and i think thats why he said he is not gonna make a cameo in it.
and to think about it it would not be that hard to wrte a new movie taking place after escape from LA,like i said all you have to do is make it to wher ehe is being hunted by whats left of teh us goverment after he shuts down the world.
it would give us a chance to see snake in an element we have all wanted to see him in,and that is being snake plisskin in the outside world.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
you stupid sons of bitches cant you come up with somthing new. escape from new york is a classic. you assholes are just to fucking lazy to create a new idea you just have to leach off a great actor like kurt russell. donald pleasence is turning in his grave hearing about this. this planed remake will just suckass.and the actor to play snake plisken is some cheesey actor whos only movie is a half animated krappy two dollar piece of shit. ill take personel joy knowing each of you bastards will rott in hell for this shitload youre going to release on the world next year. this movie was a classic in 1981 and its still a classic now in 2008. you could take some shitty movie and remake it and make it good like scarface. but no you have to be lazy and take a good movie and ruin it. nice jobs you fat overpaid pieces of shit fuck you. and ill never pay for one of piles of shit you call a movie again. fuck off
May 8th, 2008 at 9:31 am
ok…so I completely agree with everyone on here that says it’s a terrible idea, I’m a bit late on this but I’m wondering if L H has played any of the MGS games….I don’t care if Butler can pull off an “american” accent, Kurt Russel is just the man, and an all around makes a great/badass american hero….that’s almost as retarded as Jean Claude Van Damme playing Guile in Street Fighter….Butler has a decent face for it, but come on, he has an accent and he should use it for those type of roles….
they really do need to come up with original stories…I’m getting really sick and tired of the shitty remakes and mashing together x_X
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Firstly I know I’m late here but I have enjoyed reading this. You know stuff like this flies round Hollywood all the time, possible remakes and pending ideas. This clearly has created some sort of an uproar. If you happen to love movies considered cult classics you’ll know as many of you have said this WAS a bad idea. There’s only one Snake, Butler is a Spartan not a cult hero (yet), nor would he be from playing Snake. Someone needs to write an original movie for Butler to then prove us wrong, then maybe we’ll look back in 15 years and say “wow how great was he?” or let some bitch (LH) slag him off caus there’s a new popular square jaw punk on the scene. Just to sign off ‘casey self’… your a cunt!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 am
Wow !!! How classy are you Clit …… It says , Debate Intelligently ! No hate speech … There was absolutely no excuse for you to use that kind of language with me or call me such a horrific name , what is wrong with you? are you related to Kurt Russell ? Or are you such a huge fan that you just go around calling people dirty names that don’t agree with everything you think ? First of all , this website was put up in 2007 , your a bit late , second of all , THEY CANCELLED THE MOVIE ! They all backed out ! Whats the deal , get a clue , your calling someone you don’t even know a CUNT , over a movie that is not even going to happen .. Thank you for making my morning , I hope you are proud of yourself for knowing such intelligent language . Your mommy taught you well ! She needs to wash your mouth out with soap ! And if I want to like GB , I will ! You have no business getting into my business , and don’t bother replying to this , I have taken myself off this stupid site . I could give a shit about it !!!