Zack Snyder’s Escape from New York Reboot Is a Better Fit for the Director Than You Think

It could have been a sequel or prequel, but one of John Carpenter’s 1980s debuts is now getting a remake. Zack Snyder’s Escape from New York reboot seems promising on paper because of the latter’s strengths that align with dystopian world-building, stylized action, and crafting larger-than-life heroes. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zach Snyder is to write and direct John Carpenter’s Escape from New York (1981). StudioCanal holds the rights to the film’s property, and it will be produced by The Picture Company along with Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. 

John Carpenter will serve as the executive producer.

Plot details of Escape from New York (1981)

The original movie, which was released 45 years ago, was set in the future (then 1997). The film gained an impressive IMDb rating of 7.1 with a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 85%. Kurt Russell played the iconic eye-patch-wearing hero-turned-outlaw named Snake Plissken, who is forcefully assigned the task of rescuing the US president. The president lands on the island-sized Manhattan security prison and the decaying city with sensitive information that could change the world. 

Gangs, the army, and ex-associates set into action while Plissken is trying to complete his mission. He is not an ordinary anti-hero sent to rescue the high official; rather, he is injected with microscopic explosives that could detonate in 22 hours if he does not comply with the orders. 

Other cast members included Lee Van Cleef, Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, Harry Dean Stanton, and Ernest Borgnine. 

Zach Snyder’s take on the reboot

It’s still unclear whether Snyder will put his own spin on the narrative or stay faithful to the original plot while refreshing it with modern visuals and a new ensemble of actors. From the track record of the director, Snyder is fond of using practical effects aplenty. He takes the selection of locations seriously, as he did in Dawn of the Dead (2004).

He likes to make darker stories. He loves world-building, and this is exactly what modern audiences love today. Though the original films focused on the mission, Snyder’s version might be more focused on how society collapsed and how that changes Snake’s motivations, actions, and reputation.

Justice League (2021) and Army of the Dead (2021) demonstrate his ability to infuse larger-scale action sequences mixed with darker political tones. Expect more elaborate set pieces with cinematic epicness that could feel heavier than the 1981 film. The themes of authority, rebellion, and societal decay are to be inevitably layered within the narrative, even if the reboot has expanded story or greater character backstories.

A different ending could be a fresh take from Snyder that the audience might love. A shot-for-shot remake might not meet fans’ expectations, as it would take away the novelty of the reinterpretation, and the audience might be compelled to ask why it was necessary in the first place. 

Who will play Snake Plissken in Zack Snyder’s Escape from New York reboot?

No actor has been cast as Snake Plissken yet. The project is still in early stages of development, with Snyder recently having signed on as the writer and director. There are no frontrunners at the moment as well.

Fans are offering their suggestions on who should be cast as Plissken. Wyatt Russell and Henry Cavill are their top choices so far, but Frank Grillo, who has recently wrapped Man of Tomorrow, did not waste any time commenting on Snyder’s post, saying, “I want in.”

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This seems to be a good pitch, as Grillo has an action background, does his own stunts, and could bring the rugged, mature look of the character. He has hardened enough with similar roles in The Purge: Anarchy (2014), Boss Level (2020), and Brock Rumlow in the Marvel films like Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) and Captain America: Civil War (2016). He is used to playing morally grey characters, which aligns with Snake’s personality and the liking of today’s audiences.