Escape From New York returns, and John Carpenter is set to produce

By Rick Marshall January 14, 2015

escape new york returns john carpenter set produce from kurt russell — Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s been over 30 years since director John Carpenter introduced audiences to Kurt Russell’s eye-patched antihero Snake Plissken in Escape From New York, and now the character is set to return to the screen in a remake of the gritty 1981 action classic.

Deadline reports that 20th Century Fox has won the rights to remake the film, which was co-written, co-scored, and directed by Carpenter. While rumors regarding a remake of the film have circulated for years, this is the first version of the project to have Carpenter involved. The filmmaker will serve as an executive producer on the remake.

The original film cast Russell as a tough guy forced to enter the island of Manhattan, which has been turned into an isolated maximum-security prison where anarchy reigns. Tasked with bringing home the U.S. President after Air Force One crashes inside the island, Plissken is implanted with a miniature device that will kill him after 22 hours if he fails his mission.

The film spawned a 1996 sequel directed by Carpenter, Escape From L.A., but the follow-up failed to generate the sort of adoration that the original inspired.

While the film doesn’t have a director (or star) at this point, Alex Heineman (Non-Stop) and Andrew Rona (Equilibrium) are also attached as producers.

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