In October 2015, it was revealed by The Hollywood Reporter that Luther creator Neil Cross (Pacific Rim, Mama) would be penning the script Fox’s Escape From New York reboot.
They were also to the first to mention the studio’s desire to reboot in a similar way that they did with Planet of The Apes, the assumption being multiple films and plenty of hints of the first film being a prequel to the original John Carpenter film.
The varied rumored/linked Snake Plissken hopefuls from multiple incarnations over the years included Gerard Butler (Gamer, 300, Olympus Has Fallen), Jason Statham (Expendables, Cranked), Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road, Inception, Dunkirk, Dark Knight Rises), Dan Stevens (The Guest, Beauty and The Beast), Jon Berthnal (Punisher, Daredevil, The Accountant, Walking Dead), Timothy Olyphant (Justifed) and Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim).
Cross’ existing relationship with Idris Elba via Luther and Pacific Rim, I’d assume he’d eventually make his way into the mix as well. It would also be nice to see Fox hire an actor of color if they’re rebooting from the ground-up. Plus, his role in The Dark Tower and fan demand to land Bond role gives the impression that he’s now in the realm of franchise lead actor.
Not much else has been circulating about the project until new rumored character and plot details of Neil’s recently turned-in script via The Wrap. The details seemingly confirm that the film will take place before the events of the original movie, which the site seems to fail to mention.
Snake’s full name will be Colonel Robert “Snake” Plissken, it’s been stated the film would focus on him as a reliable war hero before a convict (Wrap doesn’t point this out). His handler will be CIA Deputy Executive Director Roberta Hauk and the villain will be intensely charismatic Thomas Newton, the playboy heir to an agrochemical and biotech corporation.
1 in 7 of the world’s population is a refugee, internally displaced or seeking asylum.
For whatever reason New York City is no longer a prison (has tech heavy security and is lovely), which is puzzling The Wrap’s Umberto, but it had been stated previously the film would be an origin tale of Plissken and could be set before Manhattan is walled-off then filled with America’s unwanted.
Apparently, Snake only has eleven hours to complete his mission and a hurricane is heading his way. The most important detail, his mission, is not revealed here.
The continued comparison to the Planet of The Apes franchise has me championing director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Dawn of The Planet of The Apes, War For The Planet of The Apes) to tackle this for 20th Century Fox. I’d assume the studio would want to hire someone they know can do the material justice and we imagine that after War For The Planet of The Apes is completed Reeves might want to take a break from Apes sequels for a film or two.
This isn’t the first incarnation of the remake, so until cameras actually roll on it we can’t assume it’ll be made.
SOURCE: THE WRAP