Not surprisingly, Escape from New York has been in consideration for a reboot for ages. A critical and financial hit, there’s been talk about rebooting the film since 2007, when Gerard Butler was rumored to replace Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken. After that, other names came up in connection with the role, including Jeremy Renner and even Jason Statham - but, obviously, it didn't work out.
The Wrap now reports that 20th Century Fox has finally found a writer for the Escape from New York reboot, with rumors pointing towards Charlie Hunnam as Russell’s replacement. If you want to know more, check it out below – but there are big spoilers!
Surprisingly, the website says that New York isn't a maximum security prison in the reboot. Instead, it’s a bit of a utopia, run by an AI, and all the wealthy people live there (while the rest of the world is in chaos). Furthermore, The Wrap says that in this version of the film, we’ll learn Plissken’s real name. According to their sources, it’s Colonel Robert "Snake" Plissken.
The action will be set against the background of an impending superstorm (called Ellery). Plissken has 11 hours to complete his mission (as opposed to 22 hours in the original). Even more, the Wrap says that there is a fail safe for everything; in this case, it’s called the Fat Boy (really, it couldn't be more obvious).
Check out all the details about the Escape from New York reboot, via The Wrap:
- Snake Plissken's real name.
Plissken in the previous two "Escape" films didn't have a name, but now he does: He's Colonel Robert "Snake" Plissken.
- Our bad guy won't be the Duke of New York.
Instead, he's the lean, intensely charismatic Thomas Newton, the playboy heir to an agrochemical and biotech corporation. Five years ago, he decided to donate his entire fortune. Sounds like a good guy, right? He's not.
- The role originated by Lee Van Cleef will now be played by a woman.
The film will introduce us to CIA Deputy Executive Director Roberta Hauk.
- New York City isn't a maximum security prison.
Weird, right? Because New York being a prison was kind of crucial to the whole "escape from New York" concept. In the reboot, New York is breathtakingly lovely. Manhattan is the island we know, but with more towering glass structures and a high, undulating glass wall. The sky is alive with drones as serene as bees, and artificial intelligence controls all in the form of an ethnically ambiguous, cheery young woman called April. A small staff of technicians and researchers known as "Seers" monitor all.
- The remake doesn't start in New York City.
The original "Escape" film deleted the opening scene that showed how Snake Plissken was apprehended. The new version won't. It's set in another major city, one not in the United States.
- The film imagines a world in chaos.
Globally, one in every seventy five human begins is now either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum.
- A hurricane is coming.
It's called Superstorm Ellery.
- April's security won't be as good as everyone hoped.
That will make the whole city vulnerable.
- Snake has only eleven hours to complete his mission.
In the original film, he had 22 hours. Plissken's mission is to bring in Newton alive.
- Newton has a fail safe.
It's a mysterious device called Fat Boy "” an ominous, dull metal sphere about the size of a car, in a nest of conduits and cabling.
The Wrap also says that the studio wants to restart the franchise, as it did with Planet of the Apes.
What do you think? Will the studio succeed?
