News - Escape From New York Remake
Current Status
Dec, 2011
I've had the privilege to read a new EFNY remake script called Black Light written on spec by David Webb (yes the guy who did the From 1997 To 2013... Snake fan page) that is currently being shopped around at different production houses. To be honest, no one could have cared less than me for another attempt on making a remake of our beloved movie. However, eventually I decided to give it a chance and I liked more than I thought I would. It's different (maybe too different). Please go ahead and read my review of the latest and supposedly final draft.
Spoiler alert!
David has been faithful to the original movie while doing a whole new different twist on it to make a more modern version of it. In his script New York is no longer a prison but instead a maximum "safe" security town. The outlaws aren't inside, but outside. The US only consists of a couple of these maximum security towns and they all have their own president. The president of New York is now the Duke of New York and he wants to be the no. 1 and only president of the US. In this version it is the president of L.A. who is held hostage by the Duke from an attack on the reconstructed twin towers. The Duke has also obtained a weapon from him that can open up the walls, air grid protections and borders in the security towns. Bob Hauk wants to prevent a new civil war so they send in Snake to rescue the president of L.A. and get the weapon back from the Duke. Most of the deleted scenes are back in such as the opening sequence that was cut out of the original movie. This time the bank robbery takes place in New York and it also feature a motorcycle chase involving helicopters. Snake is then departed to Los Angeles in this version. The flight sequence is obviously also longer and more ambitious. There are also nods to the Novel. The Steri-Chamber chapter is added for instance. A termination chamber which Snake has decide to enter has also been added by David. Cabbie is also an old punk and Brain is a female senator in this version with a past related to Snake. The fight with Slag is now also being broadcasted across the US. There's also a very epic ending featuring a high octane subway sequence, Crazies at the JFK Train Station, The Duke following Snake's Black Flight Stealth Plane in a plane, crashing and having a fight with him in the New Las Vegas desert. Snake also gets a house, an identity card, a social security card, a health insurance card and a western union credit card with 2 billion blue dollars on it etc. Rest assured, he doesn't keep the stuff. Instead he ends the movie doing the only thing he should do. Any guess? We also get to see sequences of Snake in Leningrad throughout the story and we also get to see footage from a trial with Snake. There are a lot more alterations and changes, but I could go on and on about it. These are the most poignant changes and alterations.
Overall, I have very ambivalent feelings about it. There is enough references that will keep the average Snake fan happy with nods to Escape From L.A. and They Live too. It is very epic, action packed and has an interesting social commentary in there as well. However, there is some stuff that I don't like. The Duke being behind the Leningrad Ruse for instance. It makes The Duke too much of a traditional bad guy. I'm also not a fan of back stories. It demystifies Snake. I also miss New York as a decaying city being filled with dangerous criminals. I think most fans are gonna have a real hard time swallowing this. This isn't really what fans wants. I also think David squeezed in way too much into the script. A lot of stuff will have to go if it ever gets made. Also, I wouldn't have minded things to be a little more toned down. However, David has done something new and unique about the concept and I really enjoyed reading it for curiosities sake. Anyway, good luck David.
July, 2011
New Line and Warner Bros drops Escape From New York remake. It is now up for grabs. Apparently Jamie Moss was also working on the screenplay and Tom Hardy was another possible candidate to be Snake Plissken.
New Line Dropping 'Escape From New York' Deadline
On Snake Plissken and Escape From New York TG Daily
November, 2010
Deal Central confirms that Jeremy Renner has not been offered the role of Snake Plissken.
Jeremy Renner Will NOT 'Escape From New York' The Wrap
November. 2010
According to Production Weekly Jeremy Renner is in talks to be Snake Plissken and the movie will start filming the first quarter in 2011.
Escape From New York Wants Jeremy Renner as Snake Plissken Movieweb
September, 2010
Fictional Fan Poster By Mr. Rabba
August, 2010
Breck Eisner tells us that he wants to discover this movie through a completely different set of eyes in a different decade. He also realizes that a remake of this kind can be dangerous and explains that he isn't a big fan of EFLA. He also likes the current script but that they are polishing it. He also tells us that they will do the things that Carpenter wanted to do bigger and better and that he wants to do New York more recognizable and identifiable etc.
Breck Eisner Updates Us On Escape From New York Comic Book Movie.com
June, 2010
Breck Eisner tells us that the whole social commentary in Escape From New York is irrelevant now and that it suffered from a really small budget. He also tells us that he have an audience now that doesn't know this movie so well and that all this gave him confidence to tackle this remake etc.
Exclusive: Breck Eisner on The Brood, Escape from New York, and Blood of the Innocent Dread Central
June, 2010
Breck Eisner tells us that he will do a pass on Allan Loeb's script and that he's a huge fan of Escape From New York etc.
Exclusive: Breck Eisner on Escape From New York Commingsoon.net
June, 2010
Breck Eisner tells us that they can't make the movie unless they get a perfect Snake Plissken. He also says Timothy Olyphant is a guy that could pull it off. He also tells us that the prison will be different due to the anxiety of the world and anxiety of our existence post-9/11 in there. He ends with saying that the movie will have a different plot but being emotionally similar to the original movie etc.
Could Timothy Olyphant be the New Snake Plissken - Breck Eisner Talks Remake JoBlo.Com
April, 2010
Breck Eisner is confirmed to direct.
Breck Eisner Making Escape From New York Comingsoon.net
April, 2010
Producer Neil Moritz tells us that they have script and that they are looking for a director. He have a few people in mind to play Snake Plissken but that they hope Gerard Butler will read the new script and consider the role. He also says they are aiming for an R rating for the film etc.
Producer Updates 'Escape From New York' Remake UGO
Updates on Escape from New York Remake Horror-Movies.ca
February, 2010
Allan Loeb tells us that he hopes for a franchise etc.
'Escape From New York' Remake Writer Allan Loeb Sees Franchise Potential MTV Movies Blog
February, 2010
Allan Loeb rewrites the script. Sources tells us that Manhattan will be geographically undesirable, but intact due to budget restraints. This Manhattan was evacuated and turned into a privately run penal colony after the detonation of a crude radioactive dirty bomb on the outskirts of the city. A Private, KRB-like security company controls Manhattan instead of the USPF. Prisoners are also being processed on Ellis Island. New Line has also signed a contract with John Carpenter that Snake must remain the same etc.
Exclusive Details on the Escape From New York Remake: Different Big Apple, Same Eye Patch New York Magazine
The producers are considering casting Quinton Jackson as Snake Plissken.
September, 2009
Jonathan Mostow tells us that he chose to do "Surrogates" instead etc.
Jonathan Mostow Talks About EFNY Remake Fangoria
July, 2009
"The Doctor" over at Ain't It Cool News reviews Jonathan Mostow's EFNY Remake Draft/Script. He Isn't happy about it etc.
Here it is: Jonathan Mostow's Remake Script Review
June, 2009
Producer Neal Moritz is going to produce a remake of Cliffhanger and also a re-boot Escape From New York. The Budget is set to $80 million, and it will be made by Warner Bros, New Line and Studio Canal etc.
Cliffhanger and Escape from New York Remakes in the works The Scorecard Review
June, 2008
Spielberg News a French website is reporting that Josh Brolin is in talks or he is in consideration to play Snake Plissken in a remake of Escape from New York. This is yet to be confirmed, so for this is only a rumor etc.
Rumor: Josh Brolin Escaping From New York? LatinoReviews.com
February, 2008
New Line Cinema is shut down and is declared dead. The studio will be falling in under Time Warner and will become part of Warner Brothers.
October, 2007
Both Brett Ratner and Gerard Butler are off. Gerard due to "creative differences." Jonathan Mostow is replaced to rewrite the script with an option to direct etc.
Butler Escapes 'Escape' Remake Variety
October, 2007
Director Brett Ratner replaces Len Wiseman etc.
UPDATED!! ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK Remake Director Swap!! Who Could Be Worse Than Wiseman?? Oh...Wait... Ain't It Cool News
August, 2007
Director Len Wiseman is considered and confirmed to direct etc.
And The Director Of GEARS OF WAR And The ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK Remake May Be... Ain't It Cool News
July, 2007
Stephanie Sanchez over at IESB reviews Ken Nolan's script here (pdf).
June. 2007
Merrick over at Ain't It Cool News reviews Ken Nolan's script here. He tells us it's surprisingly Escape From New Yorkish etc.
March, 2007
Kurt Russell tells us that he has some mixed feelings about someone taking over a role that he and John Carpenter created. He thinks an American should play him. He also tells us that he is fine with it but that his personal statement was: "Wait until Stuntman Mike hears about this." (Laughing) He would also consider to have a cameo role in the remake only if they give him a SHITLOAD of money.
Kurt Russell talks Escape Remake Horror-Movies.Com
Kurt Russell on Escape From New York Remake Horror-Movies.Com
Remake the Snake? Kurt Russell: I am Snake Plissken!" ew.com By Chris Nashawaty
Kurt Russell's Not Happy About the Planned "Escape from New York" Remake About.com By Rebecca Murray
March, 2007
New Line has won the bidding war for the remake of John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK. In a package put together by the CAA agency, Gerard Butler will take over the Snake Plissken role made famous by Kurt Russell. According to John Carpenter, Neil Moritz & Ken Nolan it will be "almost an origin story." etc.
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK more of a prequel than a remake? So says Carpenter to Suicide Girls!! Ain't It Cool News
March, 2007
Gerard Butler is at the center of a package that CAA began shopping for a remake of John Carpenter's Escape From New York. Neil Moritz is attached to produce, with Black Down Down scribe Ken Nolan penning the screenplay. Several studios are battling for the pic, mostly because the $70 million launch of "300" signaled the arrival of an emerging action star in Butler etc.
New Line Plotting Butler 'Escape' Variety
So Is King Leonidas A Snake? Will Gerard Butler ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK?! Ain't It Cool News
Facts
Production Company: New Line (Declared dead since February 28, 2008), Warner Bros, New Line, Studio Canal
Director: Len Wiseman (off), Brett Ratner (off), Jonathan Mostow (off), Breck Eisner
Screenwriters: Ken Nolan (replaced) Jonathan Mostow (replaced) Allan Loeb, Jamie Moss
Producers: Neal Moritz
Executive Producers: John Carpenter, Ori Marmus, Ron Halpern, Fredrich Sichler
Actors (Snake Plissken): Gerard Butler (off/rumor) Josh Brolin (rumor) Quinton Jones (rumor), Timothy Olyphant (rumor) Jeremy Renner, (rumor) Tom Hardy
Plot: An examination of Snake's origins. Remake/Prequel.
Release date: 2009/2011/2012
Scripts
Ken Nolan's EFNY 2007 Draft/Script 3.05 mB
Script Reviews
Ken Nolan's EFNY 2007 Draft/Script Ain't It Cool News By Merrick
Ken Nolan's EFNY 2007 Draft/Script (pdf) IESB By Stephanie Sanchez
Jonathan Mostow's Revised 2007 Draft/Script Ain't It Cool News By The Doctor, From Merrick
Interviews
John Carpenter SuicideGirls By Daniel Robert Epstein
Kurt Russell talks Escape Remake Horror-Movies.Com
Kurt Russell on Escape From New York Remake Horror-Movies.Com
Remake the Snake? Kurt Russell: I am Snake Plissken!" ew.com By Chris Nashawaty
Kurt Russell's Not Happy About the Planned "Escape from New York" Remake About.com By Rebecca Murray
Misc
Escape From New York Anti-Remake." protest vid (DailyMotion)
Petitions
Stop the 'Escape From New York' Remake