News > Cancelled Projects > John Carpenter's Escape From Earth




Status:
No signs of production. There was a false rumor in 2006 saying that director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell were preparing a third movie. Apparently Carpenter had completed a screenplay eight years ago and Russell was demanding to do it before signing on a three picture deal with Paramount.


Carpenter about the plot: "Escape From Earth is an idea we had several years ago, but we never managed to go any further. The story would take place after the events of Escape From L.A., which saw Snake take energy away from the world to teach a lesson to humanity. The second sequel would have seen Snake moving into this new world, which had naturally fallen into war and chaos as a result of his actions. With the Armageddon on the horizon, Snake's goal would have been to leave the planet before the end came." - John Carpenter, Everyeye Cinema, 2019 [Note: Unconfirmed Source]

Carpenter about the plot: "Escape From Earth was kind of Snake Plissken in a space capsule, flying interstellar. So there'd be a lot of special effects in it. Which I never care about too much. But that's what it would look like." - John Carpenter, John Carpenter Talks Ahead-Of-Its-Time 'Escape From L.A.' And 'The Thing' Sequel, Fandom, Feb 22, 2022


Carpenter about revisiting the Escape universe: "
Maybe. There are always new stories, but I wouldn't consider doing anything without Kurt [Russell]. And I don't think he wants to play old Snake. I don't have any problem with old Snake - it'd be a lot of fun." - John Carpenter, A Conversation With John Carpenter, Edmont Journal, Apr 26, 2013

Russell about revisiting the character:
"Could I do it again?" asks Russell, shaking his head. "No.". Carpenter interjects: "He could do Old Snake." Russell sighs. "I never wanted to do Snake old." "Why not?" asks Carpenter. "If you're going to do him," expands Russell, "do him young. He's one of those guys." - Kurt Russell, John Carpenter And Kurt Russell Reunited - Exclusive: On The Thing, Snake And More, Empire Online, May 26, 2013

Facts:
There was some talks about doing a third part of the Escape series called Escape From Earth if Escape From L.A. did well at the box office. Unfortunately Escape From L.A. failed at the box office and the possibility of another movie in the Escape series was not brought up again until the planned Escape TV series was announced. If it would become popular Escape From Earth would be seriously reconsidered and John Carpenter, Kurt Russell and producer Debra Hill would again reunite. The TV series was however cancelled.

Articles:
Is Snake Plissken Leaving This Planet With Carpenter? [Bloody Disgusting/2006] [N/A]
'Escape From Earth' Rumor False, Carpenter On 'Grind House' [Bloody Disgusting/2006] [N/A]


Escape TV Series




Status:
Cancelled.

Facts:
Production Company: Tribune Entertainment
Episodes: 100
Producers: Howard Chaykin [Co-Executive Producer], John Carpenter, Debra Hill & Kurt Russell [Co-Producers]

Plot:
Set before Escape From New York in the 21st century decimated by man-made catastrophes and surrounded by hardened criminals. But instead of being a notorious outlaw Snake Plissken would have a more permanent job working for the President as a roving agent for the United Nations, visiting surviving cities around the world and helping to bring normalcy to the devastated populace. But ultimately he must stay alive to defeat his nemesis, Police Commissioner Bob Hauk.


Interviews:
Howard Chaykin
[Co-Executive Producer] [Exclusive Interview]

Articles:
Snake Plissken Escapes To TV [Ain't It Cool News/Jul 14/2000] By El Cosmico


Snake Plissken's Escape




Status:
Cancelled. Campaign design was complete,
storyline was approved by John Carpenter, Kurt Russell and Debra Hill and a playable pre-production demo was created.

Facts:
Production Company: Namco Hometek Inc [
Namco's office in San Jose by the Dead to Rights development team]
Video Game Developers: Andre Emerson, Mike Kenned
Voices: Kurt Russell [and motion capture]
Release Date: Fall of 2005
Stories:
Snake Plissken's past, present and future would be explored through new and original stories. Over the series, fans would be able to play through adventures that explore events in Snake's life, such as how Snake lost his eye, what happened in Kansas and Cleveland, Battle of Leningrad, etc.
Genre: Adventure
Perspective [s]: Third person
Gameplay: Intense gunplay, hand-to-hand/melee weapon battles, signature Snake "gadgets", world-based puzzles, colorful bosses and unique stealth elements.
Game Setting: Post-apocalyptic urban environments, with lots of colorful and dangerous characters.
Availability: PC, GC, Xbox

Videos



Snake Plissken's Escape - Video game pre-production milestone video [3:32]

Description: This video shows a functional Snake Plissken game built in 2004 by the remaining Dead to Rights 2 staff. Campaign design was complete, storyline was approved by Carpenter, Russell, and Hill, and concept was well underway. The game would have included full participation by all three, including a completed cyber-scanned version of Kurt. This game was going to rock.



Storyboards and Characters [1:28]

Description: A sequence of key events storyboarded for the campaign mode of the unproduced Snake Plissken's Escape video game, by Namco. These boards were illustrated by Comic Book legend Chris Warner.



Concept Art Gallery [1:28]

Description: A compilation of Environmental concept art developed for the campaign of Snake Plissken's Escape, developed for Namco in 2004 before cancellation. Contributing artists included Francisco Ruiz Velasco [Hellboy 2, Pacific Rim] and Tim Tao [Dead to Rights]



Snake Namco Game Demo [4:20]

Description: This is video that Namco made for the never released Snake Plissken videogame, This was based on a PS2 build that used a lot of assets from the game Dead to Rights. Kurt Russell was supposed to do the voiceover and possible motion capture and John Carpenter was considering composing original music for the game as well. The video was taken from a VHS tape so it's not exactly HD.


Interviews:
Mike Kennedy [Video Game Developer] [Exclusive Interview]
Snake Plissken's Escape Game Interview [HomeLan Fed] [N/A]

Links:
Namco World
Snake Plissken's Escape [Official Site] [N/A]

Articles:
No 'Escape' From Snake Plissken [Movie Poop Shoot/2002]
The Latest On Snake Plissken [Ain't It Cool News/Feb 05/2003] By Jimmy James
John Carpenter's Snake Plissken Goes Interactive [
Game Zone/Jul 30/2003] By Jdkmedia
Snake Attack: 'Escape From New York' Hero Back With A Vengeance [The Seattle Times/Dec 16/2003] By Mark Rahner
WARNING: This Gameplay Material From The Abortive 'Snake Plissken's Escape' Could Give You A Whopping Case Of Geekly Blue Balls!! [Now With Working Talkbacks] [Ain't It Cool News/Sep 27/2013] By Merrick
Behold!! Concept Art From The Unmade But Official Snake Plissken Anime Series!! + More Gameplay And Packaging Design From SNAKE PLISSKEN'S FIRST ESCAPE!! [Ain't It Cool News/Oct 01/2013] By Merrick



The Snake Plissken Chronicles [Working Title]




Status:
Cancelled. Screenplay, concept art and a 30-second teaser trailer
was created.

Facts:
Production Company: Production IG
Director: Mamoru Oshii [Replaced],
Mitsuro Hongo
Screenwriters: Corey Mitchel & William Wilson [John Carpenter & Debra Hill were also involved]
Producers: John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Kurt Russell
Composer: John Carpenter [Rumor]
Voices: Kurt Russell, John Carpenter [Rumor]
Release Date: Summer of 2005
Plot: Set seven years after the events in Escape From L.A. Snake Plissken is forced by an evil casino owner in New Las Vegas to assassinate the President, who currently resides in Lynchburg, Virginia and gets entangled in a battle between the rebels and the President's fascist regime.

Trivia: A 30-second teaser trailer was originally planned to be on the Escape From New York Special Edition DVD.
Trivia: Was to be the first-ever true collaboration between a Japanese production company and an American company on an anime film.

Concept Art




Characters



Scenes



Teaser Trailer

Interviews:
Corey Mitchel [Screenwriter] [Den of Geeks/Sep 04/2017] By Padraig Cotter

Links:

Production I.G

Articles:
Snake Plissken Escapes To Animé [E! Online/Jul 31/2002] By Josh Grossberg
No 'Escape' From Snake Plissken [Movie Poop Shoot/2002]
The Latest On Snake Plissken [Ain't It Cool News/Feb 05/2003] By Jimmy James

Snake Attack: 'Escape From New York' Hero Back With A Vengeance [The Seattle Times/Dec 16/2003
] By Mark Rahner
THINGs To Come [Fangoria] [N/A]
WARNING: This Gameplay Material From The Abortive 'Snake Plissken's Escape' Could Give You A Whopping Case Of Geekly Blue Balls!! [Now With Working Talkbacks] [Ain't It Cool News/Sep 27/2013] By Merrick
Behold!! Concept Art From The Unmade But Official Snake Plissken Anime Series!! + More Gameplay And Packaging Design From SNAKE PLISSKEN'S FIRST ESCAPE!! [Ain't It Cool News/Oct 01/2013] By Merrick



Novels




Status:
Cancelled.

Facts:
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Stories: How Snake lost his eye? What happened in the Battle of Cleveland or at the Battle of Leningrad? What is New Las Vegas? Etc.

Articles:
No 'Escape' From Snake Plissken [Movie Poop Shoot/2002]
The Latest On Snake Plissken [Ain't It Cool News/Feb 05/2003] By Jimmy James