20th Century Studios looks to be taking another stab at the long-planned Escape from New York remake, with the studio tapping filmmaking team Radio Silence – Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett and Chad Villella – to try and drag the project out of development hell after their success relaunching the Scream franchise with this year’s reboot.
The then-Fox owned studio picked up the rights to Escape from New York back in 2015, tapping Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) to direct from a script by Neil Cross (Luther), with original director John Carpenter executive producing. The last we heard on that version was back in 2019 when Leigh Whannell (Upgrade) was brought in to work on the script.
As per Deadline, Carpenter remains on board as EP, while Radio Silence will direct, adding to a CV that includes Ready or Not, Scream and the upcoming Scream 6. Further details are being kept under wraps at present while the search begins for a writer.
Released in 1981, Escape from New York starred Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, a prisoner and ex-soldier who is enlisted by the U.S. government to infiltrate the maximum security prison island of Manhattan to rescue the President’s kidnapped daughter. A box office success, the film became a firm cult classic, with Carpenter and Russell reuniting in 1996 for the sequel Escape from L.A..]
Are you excited about the prospect of an Escape from New York remake from Radio Silence? Who would you like to see cast as Snake Plissken? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Originally published November 21, 2022. Updated December 20, 2022.
