As the abundance of remakes, reboots, and legacy sequels have illustrated, nostalgia can be a powerful tool in the entertainment industry. As such, studios are always on the lookout for the next classic property they can bring back, ideally integrating a modern twist to appeal to fans new and old. Over the last several years, many famous 1980s IPs have been revived to varying degrees of success, and Hollywood is showing no signs of slowing down. A new iteration of one of the most iconic action films of that era is officially now in the works, though some fans will probably be wondering how the filmmakers are going to pull it off.
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During its presentation at CinemaCon this week, StudioCanal announced an Escape From New York reboot is in the works. Additional details, such as the creative team, cast, and production timeline were not shared at the panel, perhaps indicating that the project is in the earliest stages of development.
Can Escape From New York Work Without Kurt Russell?
The original Escape From New York, directed by John Carpenter, starred Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, a former war hero who’s tasked with rescuing the president from a dystopian Manhattan that now operates as a prison. The film received positive reviews and earned $50 million at the box office against a $6 million production budget. Today, Escape From New York is considered a cult classic, with much praise being given to Carpenter’s distinct vision and Russell’s performance. The actor crafted one of the decade’s most famous action stars, winning audiences over with his hard-edged personality. Russell’s shadow looms large over this reboot.
It remains to be seen what approach StudioCanal takes with the new Escape From New York, but odds are, it will be a fresh start for the franchise with a new cast. Russell is still active, but now at 75 years old, he can’t be the leading man of an action film. StudioCanal is likely envisioning this reboot as the beginning of a new series; the original Escape From New York spawned the follow-up Escape From L.A. If this is the direction the studio is going in, it means finding a new actor to play Snake, which won’t be an easy task. Russell is so synonymous with the role that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else playing the gruff action hero.
However, there was a time when people would have said the same thing about Sean Connery and James Bond. There’s certainly precedent for recasting certain characters and having it work well (numerous actors have played Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman as well). The trick will be finding someone who can convey the spirit of Snake while still putting their own spin on the part. Anything else would run the risk of coming across as an imitation of Russell’s performance, which would derail the reboot before audiences even get a chance to see it. Casting will be one of the most important aspects to get right — and don’t expect Russell’s son Wyatt Russell to take up the mantle.
Of course, it’ll also be interesting to see if the Escape From New York reboot comes to fruition at all. This is something that’s been bandied about for years, cycling through multiple filmmakers without anything to show for it. In the past, the likes of Radio Silence, Leigh Whannell, and more have been attached. Since StudioCanal made this announcement publicly at a major industry convention, they seem committed to making an Escape From New York reboot happen this time, but until the cameras start rolling, there’s no guarantee of anything happening.
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