Former Director Candidate Discusses Possibilities of Escape From New York Remake

Leigh Whannell, known for his work in the horror genre and as a previous frontrunner for the Escape from New York remake, recently shared insights regarding the project’s future. Originally released in 1981, this cult classic features the story of Snake Plissken (played by Kurt Russell), a former Special Forces officer tasked with rescuing President John Harker (Donald Pleasence) from a Manhattan prison populated by dangerous inmates. Although excitement had built over a potential remake under Whannell’s direction back in 2019, the project has since stalled, with the director now concentrating on his upcoming film, The Wolf Man.

In an interview with ComicBook, Whannell expressed an openness to revisiting the Escape from New York concept if it were to be relaunched in the future. He candidly discussed the various hurdles that can cause film projects to falter, emphasizing that many do not progress beyond initial planning stages. Even with the current lack of development, Whannell is not ruling out the possibility of returning to the project someday. Here’s what he had to say:

It’s so funny, with the movie industry, projects can die for various reasons. It can be something as simple as, ‘Oh, we lost the rights,’ it could be something like I’m just not gelling with the producers. I feel like the projects that do come to life are almost accidents. Like, ‘Oh, this one actually happened.’ So I think, for now, Escape from New York, if it came back around, I’d think about it, but for now, it’s not happening.

Assessing Whannell’s Remarks on the Escape from New York Remake

The Future of the Remake Seems Unlikely

The proposed reboot of Escape from New York has encountered numerous challenges along the way, including involvement from Scream directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who were once attached to the project in 2022. Some reports have indicated that the envisioned reboot could take the form of a sequel, expanding upon the original narrative while nodding to its predecessors. Given Kurt Russell’s iconic portrayal of Snake Plissken, finding a suitable replacement for this beloved character poses its own set of challenges, thus making the reboot’s immediate future uncertain.

Despite this, Whannell’s comments highlight his willingness to engage with the project should it gain momentum again. His successful adaptation of The Invisible Man positions him as a strong contender, and early reactions to The Wolf Man seem promising. While current attachments have shifted, the possibility remains that Escape from New York may one day receive a thoughtful legacy sequel or remake.

Whannell as the Ideal Director for the Remake

Whannell’s Vision Could Be Ideal for a Revival

Escape from New York and Escape from L.A.

Whannell has demonstrated a unique ability to reimagine Universal horror classics, which leads to speculation that he could successfully apply his skills to a remake of Escape from New York. Given the film’s dark themes and potential for a fresh narrative perspective, he could undoubtedly craft a standout vision if the project returns to development. Nevertheless, it might be prudent to hold off on revitalizing this iconic film until a well-defined vision has crystallized.

It is worth noting that Escape from New York did receive a sequel in 1996, titled Escape from L.A..

Source: ComicBook

Source & Images