Kurt Russell’s Cult Classic Sci-Fi Thriller Gets a New Take
Kurt Russell’s iconic ’80s sci-fi thriller, Escape from New York, is officially getting a reimagining. StudioCanal’s Global Marketing and Distribution executive, Hugh Spearing, confirmed the news at CinemaCon on Monday, April 13, revealing that the studio is collaborating with The Picture Company on the project.
The original 1981 film, directed by horror legend John Carpenter and co-written by Carpenter and Nick Castle, starred Kurt Russell as Bob “Snake” Plissken. The movie follows Snake, a former Special Forces officer turned federal prisoner, as he navigates a dystopian future where Manhattan has been transformed into a maximum-security prison. With a 24-hour deadline, Snake must rescue the President of the United States in exchange for a pardon.
Kurt Russell smoking a cigarette and showing attitude as Snake Plissken in Escape From New York.
A Look Back at the Original Film
The original Escape from New York cast included Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley, Adrienne Barbeau, and Harry Dean Stanton. The sci-fi thriller performed well at the box office, earning over $25 million globally against a reported $6 million budget. Its success led to the release of a sequel, Escape from L.A., in 1996, with both Carpenter and Russell returning.
Over the years, there have been various attempts to remake or expand on Escape from New York. Most recently, it was reported in 2022 that an Escape from New York continuation was in the works from directing duo Radio Silence. However, it’s unclear if that project is still on the docket given StudioCanal’s new effort.
What’s Next for the Reimagining?
Currently, it’s unclear which directors, writers, or actors are attached to StudioCanal’s upcoming Escape from New York remake. While Spearing didn’t disclose a potential release year, confirmations at CinemaCon are often related to a studio’s projects slated within the next couple of years.
In addition to the new Escape from New York, StudioCanal revealed that its current slate of films in development includes the highly-anticipated Paddington 4, a remake of Joe Dante’s 1981 horror film The Howling, a new thriller from Sean Byrne titled The Mannequin, and an adaptation of Matt Haig’s 2020 bestselling fantasy novel The Midnight Library.
