Gerard Butler to do Escape from New York Remake
March 13, 2007
Gerard Butler to Escape From New York?
Another John Carpenter classic film is being remade. Just announced Escape from New York is being written by Ken Nolan but no director helming yet. This remake is the sixth of Carpenter's features made into remakes over the last few years. Gerard Butler, who's a hot property right now in Hollywood from the hit 300, is in negotiations for the role of Snake Plissken, who was originally played by Kurt Russell. The original Carpenter film was set in Manhattan in the future (1997) after the whole Manhattan Island has been turned into a maximum security prison. When the President of the United States crash lands on the island, his rescue is put in the hands of Snake, a prisoner who is offered freedom if his mission is successful. Thanks Cinematical
Gerard Butler's Escape Remake
March 13, 2007
Gerard Butler to Yell his Way through Escape from New York Remake, Possibly Sever Limbs and Heads
The guy who once played The Phantom of the Opera, who's stars in the unanticipated box-office plunder 300, is now getting some extra work. He's now been attached to the remake of John Carpenter's 1981 Bystopian scifi classic Escape from New York, Variety says. Several studios are reportedly circling this movie, probably because of the $70M launch of 300 which probably indicates that Butler's star is on the rise. A deal is expected to be made this week. Butler, who would play anti-hero Snake Plissken, a convict who must head into the inescapable maximum-security prison formerly known as Manhattan to liberate the missing US Pesident. Kurt Russell originally played Plissken, in the original and the sequel Escape from L.A.. Screenwriter Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) is scribing and Neal Moritz will be producing. Thanks Dose.ca
Butler gets 'Escapes'?
March 13, 2007
Butler Escapes from New York?
Variety reports, Gerard Butler is "at the center of a package that CAA began shopping Monday" for the remake of the 1981 sci-fi action film Escape from New York that originally starred Kurt Russell as the one and only Snake Plissken. Butler has been looking for a hit in Hollywood for years and this past weekend, he finally got one, Zack Snyder's 300. So, it appears that he maybe appearing in another potentially big genre film. It seems obviously, Butler would take on that role of one of the great antiheroes of the movie, Plissken. Variety also reports that "several studios" are fighting over this film, largely due to the Butler's new star power. Neal Moritz will be producing and scribe Ken Nolan is writing the script. Thanks IGN
Escape from New York with Gerard Butler
March 13, 2007
Escape from New York Remake Coming with Gerard Butler
As First Showing said, wow, this came out of left field. The remake of John Carpenter's 1981 Escape from New York is already in pre-production with Neal Moritz attached as producer and Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) as screenwriter. Also Gerard Butler tops that list of names, he's not confirmed but interest as Variety states but he's going to take on the coveted role of Snake Plissken, who Kurt Russell starred back in 1981. So, to recap the film, Snake is a one-eyed confict who must head into the 'inescapable' maximum security prison formerly known as "Manhattan" to find and liberate the US President. It'll be interesting to hear what Kurt Russell's feedback will be on this and to see what he thinks of Butler filling that role or even if the movie is fit for a remake at all. The questions will probably come up as the press junket for Grindhouse are up in just a few weeks. Thanks First Showing
New Line gets 'Escape'
March 15, 2007
New Line plotting Butler 'Escape'
New Line has won the bidding war for the remake of Escape From New York with Gerard Butler 300 attached to star and Neal Moritz producing through his Original Films banner. Three days after CAA began shopping the package in the wake of Butler's emergence as a rising star due to 300's opening weekend, Minimajor closed the deal Thursday. Screenwriter Ken Nolan is attached to pen the script, Original's Ori Marmur, Ron Halpern and Canal Plus's Frederick Sichler will be Executive Producing. Canal Plus, which holds the remake rights of Escape. Butler would portray Snake Plissken, the convict and war hero who's sent into a futuristic New York City giant maximum security prison to rescue the President of the US after his plane is knocked down by terrorists (original was set in 1997). Kurt Russell had originally played Plisskin and reprised the role again in Carpenter's 1996 sequel Escape from Los Angeles. Moritz also produced on films Click, The Fast and the Furious, I Am Legend and Maid of Honor. Thanks Variety
New Lines has Escape
March 16, 2007
New Line cuffs 'Escape' redo
New Line Cinema now has the rights to the new Escape From New York remake from John Carpenter's cult classic movie with actor Gerard Butler attached as lead. New Line had been circling this project when it first heard about it two weeks ago. When it announced, several studios were trying to capture it and the bidding was aggressive because Gerard Butler's 300 $70M opening. Scribe Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down)will write the script and Neal Moritz (Original Film) will produce. This feature will combine an origin story for Plissken and be merged with the story of the 1981 movie. The original film was set in the futuristic 1997, where Manhattan is a giant maximum-security prison and when the US President's plane crashes onto the island. Plissken who was incarcerated for robbing a federal reserve bank is coerced into a rescue mission. Moritz and his Original Film company became involved while he was working with StudioCanal on another project. StudioCanal who has co-rights to Escape will control the European territories rights. StudioCanal vice-chairman Frederic Scichler said, "'Escape from New York' is iconic. It's a privilege to be a partner in this rebirth of Snake Plissken with John Carpenter, Neal Moritz and New Line. And to have Gerard Butler to revisit Snake is fantastic." Carpenter, who also a co-rights holder will also be an executive producer for this new remake, had commented, "Snake is one of my fondest creations. Kurt Russell did an incredible job, and it would be fun to see someone else try." Carpenter remains suprised that Escape holds a place in the minds of moviegoers as does the character of Plissken. Sichler and Ron Halpern, senior vp international production and remake development at Canal Plus, will be executive producers as will Original prod. exec Ori Marmur. This movie had made a lasting impression on a generations of males and was followed by a sequel 16 years later, Escape from L.A., and as a comicbook miniseries in 2003. Butler and Nolan are repped by CAA. Thanks Hollywood Reporter
New Line lands 'Escape'
March 16, 2007
New Line to Escape with Butler
Earlier this week, as previously reported, the remake of Escape from New York was being shopped around to studios this week and New Line Cinema won the bidding war. Producing this remake is Neal Moritz and stars Gerard Butler as Snake Plissken, a former military man turned mercenary and criminal who is called upon to save the US president's life after his plane goes down in Manhattan - which has been turned into a maximum security prison in the not too distant future. Screenwriter, Ken Nolan is scripting this film. This feature is reportedly a combination of a Plissken origin (only hinted at in the original) with the plot of the original Carpenter film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the bidding on this project was aggressive because of Butler's 300 $70M opening weekend. Carpenter said this about about the remake, "Snake is one of my fondest creations, Kurt Russell did an incredible job [as the original Snake], and it would be fun to see somone else try. ... I just thought it was a futuristic action movie when I did it the first time. It was a script that I used to fulfill a contract. Kurt was primarily known as a child actor, and I thought it might be interesting to see him in a role like that." Thanks IGN
Virtual World Press Conference on '300'
March 16, 2007
Minds Behind '300' Reveal Real News About 'Sin City 2,' 'Watchmen' In Virtual World
Okay, before I go into this articles happenings, gotta admit it's one of the funnier ones I've read in a long time. Heh. Anywho, Larry Carroll from MTV News participated in the virtual world "Second Life" junket for media, fans and cast members and crew for 300. During the course of this discussion, talk about Escape from New York was brought up, here is what Gerard Butler had to say. BTW, check out the link, there some real interesting info in the article. Thanks MTV News
Meanwhile, conversation turned to the "Escape From New York" remake that will have the suddenly hot Butler taking over Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken role. "We have Ken Nolan, who wrote 'Black Hawk Down' and is writing the script," the Scottish actor said. "I think there's a chance to make something really cool and different and exciting. We don't have a director, but I'm excited about the idea of it. When you mention it to people [they get excited]; it could be something pretty out there."
Suicide Girls interviews John Carpenter
March 20, 2007
Suicide Girls: Interview - John Carpenter
John Carpenter has a chat with Daniel Robert Epstein from Suicide Girls.com. They discuss various topics like, video games, basketball, Prolife, his older films and current remakes of them. One which was discussed in this interview was Escape from New York and Gerard Butler. Here's the excerpt from the interview. Thanks Suicide Girls
DRE:I spoke with Will O'Neil who wrote one of those Snake Plissken comic books a few years ago. He had said that you, Kurt [Russell] and [producer] Debra Hill owned the character of Snake. Is that true?
John:Yes, but we share it with Canal Plus. It’s a long story, but the movie was originally made for a company called Avco Embassy. Avco Embassy was sold to Dino De Laurentiis. Dino De Laurentiis sold his share to Canal Plus.
DRE:So in this remake they’re talking about...
John:I don’t know that it’s a remake. I think it’s a lot about Snake before he gets to New York.
DRE:But it just made me think that maybe the remake rights might be different than the rights to the character Snake Plissken because none of the articles mentioned you guys being involved with the project. Are you guys going to be credited producers?
John:Executive producer.
DRE:Do you have any desire to be more involved?
John:My main involvement is I read the scripts and make sure the character is the same character that we wrote originally. I think that would be cool. My other main involvement in this project is to extend my hand and have a check placed in it.
DRE:It’s always nice when you don’t have to do anything, right?
John:You’re right. After 30 odd years of being in the fucking business, it’s nice to not have to do anything and get paid. That’s what I’ve been trying to do all my life.
DRE:Then the past few years must have been pretty good for you.
John:Not bad. Not bad.
DRE:Obviously Snake was a character that was perfect for the time he was in, so do you think Snake will lose the faux mullet?
John:I don’t know what to do about that. That’s not my decision. Snake is a character who was born out of the 1970’s when New York was having real problems. He came out of a post-Vietnam era and he was an anti-authoritarian. He was a really unique type of character back then. He’ll probably be reinvented for his time. But we’ll see. I don’t know if he will be mullet-less or with the mullet.
DRE:Have you ever seen any of Gerard Butler’s previous movies?
John:Yes, I like his work.
DRE:I think you’ll be very impressed after you see 300.
John:I can’t wait to see 300. It sounds really exciting. It looks great.
Kurt Russell Interviewed by EW
March 20, 2007
Remake the Snake?
When Variety reported last week of the 1981's John Carpenter classic Escape from New York was in the works with Scottish actor Gerard Butler 300 as the new Snake, many weren't enthused about the idea, not even Kurt Russell. For movie geeks, Kurt Russell's eyepatch-wearing badass Snake Plissken is the epitomy of cool. So, Entertainment Weekly had a chance to sitdown with Kurt to interview him about his upcoming role in Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodrigeuz's Grindhouse and Russell sounds off on Hollywoods shameless addictions to remakes and why they seem to be picking on his old ones in particular plus why Snake Plissken absolutely has to be played by an American actor. Here's a few excerpts from the interview. Thanks EW
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Over the past couple of months, Variety has reported that Hollywood is remaking The Thing and now Escape From New York. What's your take on that?
KURT RUSSELL: [Laughs] They're remaking everything I've ever done.
Some people are really attached to those movies.
Yeah, I think that's what happens to people as they get older, they get territorial and proprietary about these things. However, I will say that when I was told who was going to play Snake Plissken, my initial reaction was ''Oh, man!'' [Russell winces]. I do think that character was quintessentially one thing. And that is, American.
But messing with Snake Plissken is a whole different level of heresy...
People come up to me and say, ''You played Snake Plissken.'' I didn't play Snake Plissken, I created him! Goldie [Hawn] and I were talking the other day about this, and I said, ''Man, this is weird, isn't it?'' And she said, ''When they were going to do a remake of Private Benjamin, I thought, 'I didn't play Private Benjamin, I created that role!''' I did Wyatt Earp — there's only been 50 of those. But I'll tell you what, I'll put my Wyatt Earp up against anybody's. I'll put my MacCready [his character in The Thing] up against anybody's.
What if they asked you to do a cameo in the new Escape from New York, or play the Ernest Borgnine role?
F--- that! I am Snake Plissken! It's like Sean Connery always watching someone else do their version of Bond. I think one of the things, for instance, about Escape From New York that appealed to me was that it wasn't a special effects extravaganza. It's a quiet, dark world and it revolved around watching the behavior of this one guy. He's a fascinating character. In fact, he's the most complex character I've ever played.
Escape a Prequel?
March 21, 2007
Escape From the Prequel?
Director John Carpenter may not be making many movies these days but his cult classic films are being remade by Hollywood. The first of the remakes was Assault on Precinct 13 and now Rob Zombie is currently doing the remake of Carpenter's Halloween. New Line Cinema is developing a new version of Escape from New York with Gerard Butler as the one eyed badass Snake Plissken. At SuicideGirls.com, Carpenter spoke about Escape, which he suspects it'll be more prequel than a redo. He said, "I don't know that it's a remake. I think it's a lot about Snake before he gets to New York,". He goes on to say, "My main involvement is I read the scripts and make sure the character is the same character that we wrote originally. I think that would be cool. My other main involvement in this project is to extend my hand and have a check placed in it." John isn't sure how much Snake will be changed for this newer version, especially when it comes to Snake's 80's trademark hairstyle. He added, "He was a really unique type of character back then. He'll probably be reinvented for his time. But we'll see. I don't know if he will be mullet-less or with the mullet." Carpenter will serve as executive producer on this feature. Thanks IGN
Remake gets Blasted
March 22, 2007
Kurt Blasts Escape Remake
The New Line Cinema remake of Escape from New York with Gerard Butler cast as Snake Plissken hasn't been met with universal approval from the original film fans and Kurt Russell. Entertainment Weekly who spoke with Russell, reportedly fumed about the remake and especially the casting of Scottish actor who'll succeed him as Plissken. Russell said to EW, "I will say that when I was told who was going to play Snake Plissken, my initial reaction was 'Oh, man!' [Russell winces]. I do think that character was quintessentially one thing. And that is, American,". He is also adamantly against the idea of making a cameo or playing any other role in this upcoming feature. He stated, "(Expletive) that! I am Snake Plissken! It's like Sean Connery always watching someone else do their version of Bond. I think one of the things, for instance, about Escape From New York that appealed to me was that it wasn't a special effects extravaganza. It's a quiet, dark world and it revolved around watching the behavior of this one guy. He's a fascinating character. In fact, he's the most complex character I've ever played." ... "People come up to me and say, 'You played Snake Plissken.' I didn't play Snake Plissken, I created him!", so for Russell, anti-hero Plissken wasn't just any other role. Thanks IGN
Escape's Early Years?
March 23, 2007
Snake Plissken: The Early Years
Neal Moritz confirms that the recent speculation from Executive Producer John Carpenter, that New Line Cinema's retelling of Escape from New York maybe more than a prequel than a flat out remake. In the latest Entertainment Weekly, a brief interview with Neal Moritz, said that the new Escape will recount "how Snake became Snake," and adding that the story to be scripted by Ken Nolan will be "almost an origin story." Well, there we go, instead of a Hollywood remake, it's getting the treatment of a restart of a series, ala Batman Begins and Casino Royale. So, IGN does some speculating, actually it seems quite interesting. BTW, seems like they've also discussed how to reboot the series before, check it out. Thanks IGN
Will that mean audiences will see Snake's military service, how he lost his eye and became an outlaw? Can fans expect to see Snake, Brain and Fresno Bob raising hell together? Ironically, IGN offered up it's own suggestions on how to reboot the Escape From New York franchise back in January -- weeks before the news broke -- and we said it should focus on Snake's back-story.
Kurt Russell eases up on recast of 'Escape'
March 26, 2007
Escape's Russell Softens On Butler
Kurt Russell is interviewed by Scifi Wire for the promotion of his upcoming feature Grindhouse. There was also talk about the upcoming Escape remake, and during the last week, Kurt had made some comments to Entertainment Weekly about Gerard Butler's reprising the role of Snake Plissken. So during this interview, Russell was philosophical about the remake. "A long time ago, John and I had a lot of fun making a movie. It was a John Carpenter creation, the Snake Plissken character, and how it's played was my creation. Russell who played Plissken in the original Escape from New York backed off his harsh criticism of Gerard Butler and in his comments to SCI FI Wire he said this, "Oh, I don't know, I was just kidding around," and also added, "Listen, I've had a long career, I'm only happy to have had it. Good luck to everybody, and, yeah, see if you can keep up, cool." New Line Cinema will be doing the remake of John Carpenter's 1981 original Escape From New York with 300 star Butler attached, Neal Moritz will be producing through his Original Films banner and Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) is attached to write the script. Grindhouse, in which Russell plays a killer stuntman, opens April 6th. Thanks Scifi Wire
Russell talks about 'Escape' Remake
April 7, 2007
Kurt Russell's Not Happy About the Planned "Escape from New York" Remake
During the press junkets around for Grindhouse, the inevitable questions of the upcoming remake/sequel/prequel of Escape from New York came up. Russell, who has already expressed his displeasure of the announcement of Gerard Butler 300 taking on the role of Snake Plissken, had once again reiterated his position on the subject. So during the course of this interesting interview, he goes on to state that he hasn't spoke to John Carpenter, who's a good friend of his about the upcoming Remake cause he just heard about it. Some of his other movies for Disney, Stargate and Backdraft were remade or done for television. He feels strongly over the character of Snake Plissken and even jokes around about his Grindhouse character, "Wait until Stuntman Mike hears about this. It's really going to set him off" (laughing). And when he was asked about making an appearance? He said, "F**k no,"... "That would be ridiculous. That would be like Sean Connery doing something in Roger Moore's 007. It would be like, 'What? Please.' No. 'Go off on your own. Good luck'". He continues on to say, "Here's the thing. I know this, any time that you're going to do something that someone else created, an iconic character that they make figurines of, they have to accept that they're taking that role on. That's a given. I created that. I'll never not have created that. That's just the way it is." The article continues to go on and compare Grindhouse and Escape from New York have similar elements. Russell also has fond memories of working on the set with Carpenter and makes some very nice comments about John. Russell also stated his opinion of remakes, that he signs up for movies but doesn't like doing sequels. Though he did for Escape from L.A. and did for a number of reasons. He said, "Mainly, I wanted to work for John one more time and I wanted to play Snake again, but I don't do sequels. I haven't done them. I signed up for movies that, if they were going to do more of them, I thought that it was okay. I would've done them and would in the future, but sequels for the most part for me have always been uninteresting and I think that you make a movie as that experience. An audience should feel as if they were having that experience...." He does comment more on about doing remakes on his other movies, check out the link to see what Kurt had to say. Thanks About.com
Studio Canal back on the map
May 18, 2007
Starry pics put Studio Canal back on map
While at Cannes, Studio Canal is remaking it's self to become a European major, not only to ramp up it's investments in new films (approx $200M annually) and it's distribution beyond France's borders. This article from Variety goes on about Studio Canal's business dealings and history to reshaping and remaking SC. There was a quick blurb about Escape, here is what it said. Thanks Variety
Those movies will feed Studio Canal's library of 5,000 titles, which the studio is also busy mining for remake purposes. New projects with an array of international partners include a new "Escape From New York," being developed with New Line, a Brit version of the French classic "La Piscine" and a remake of "The Dam Busters" being developed with Universal.
Merrick reviews 'Escape from New York' remake script
June 29, 2007
Merrick Thinks The ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK Remake Script Is Surprisingly ESCAPE FROM NEW YORKish!!
Merrick at AICN got a sneak peak of Escape From New York 'revisitation' and he seems impressed. Since this script is probably in draft form still, chances are changes will be made with things added or removed before it hits the finished product stage. Merrick says that the script remains a faithful adaption to John Carpenter and Nick Castle's source material. He goes on to talk about what to expect in a slightly vague but interesting view of a non-spoilerish view in the first part of the article, then goes into the thick of the script review. Spoilerish Alert... (btw, if you read the article, do expect lots of spoilers)
What Merrick says about Ken Nolan's Escape from New York script is first off, it remains faithful to the source material by enhancing and broadening aspects from the 1981 film. Giving the date of when this pre/remake is set in (2024) and which characters remains and which didn't make the cut. There was discussion on what scenes were enhanced and what type of additions for more background information on Snake's history in Black Ops and how NY becomes a SuperMax. And all this is set in a more modernized view of today's world as background setting for future New York. There'll be more action, military type and did I say action? :) Merrick goes onto what he doesn't like about the film and a bit more on what impressed him and that he believes the film should be made. For a much more detailed spoiler view, check out Merrick's Review. Thanks AICN
Another EFNY Script Review
July 2, 2007
Script Review: Escape From New York Re-Make
IESB has a script review from a fan of the original films. It starts out saying that "Call me Snake" is a die hard fan of the original movie and that the original film still stands up to the test of time. With that being said, he talks just a tiny bit on a couple of other John Carpenter remake films and then goes into his review. "Call me Snake" said that the script is very respectful to the source material, that it builds and delivers on the original film premise. Even though there were changes, the script is still recognizeable to the first film and with those changes, it's a credit and detrimental depending on how you look at it. So, what the script so far does, it updates it into the current socio-economic of today and now for the spoilers.
Escape opens briefly with how the 'prison' works but in this version, doesn't explain how it came to be that way and how the city deteriorates to the point it's in. The background story over all is given more detail and how this material broadens the script and this expands much of the original films concepts and ideas. The story is a much larger scale and adds an air of realism. What remains the same is Snake Plissken, Hauk with a more of a background of why he put Snake into the city. Rehme remains the same in this version and the Duke of New York is still around but his motivations is different and what his plans are for the President. Brain is still Duke's "Big Thinker", but the background history of Snake and him is gone and he has a different motivation in this movie, though still a turncoat. Romero is still around, a little less rounded than the original version. The Crazies remain, but given a more prominent role in this film. What was changed from the original version is Snake is given a background, the Cabbie is gone and so is Maggie and both of these characters are replaced by "Brains" right hand man. The President's Secretary of State and a corrupt General complicate things and add new elements that complicate Hauk's extraction mission of the President. Also, the script is more updated, gone is Snake's coldwar anti-hero stance to an updated fighting against insurgents. "Call me Snake" goes on to what he believes is detrimental for the script, the briefcase of the President, Snake's almost obvious political stance when in the original he was a politically neutral character. The much more detail of how and why Snake left the military, became an outlaw and what happened to his eye and with this he loses the mysterious aura from the original film. And a new subplot was added about the Navy Seals and the President's aids, which works. He goes on a bit more of what parts work and which don't but over all, he can't say he doesn't like it and believes that this film needs a remake. It's actually a pretty decent read, goes into more detailed than this brief summary. Check out the link, it's actually a interesting article. Thanks IESB
Len Wiseman to direct two films?
August 2, 2007
Rumor: Director for Gears of War and Escape from New York
Here's one rumor you'll want to hear, just like the Justice League of America that ran yesterday. Apparently, our friends over at IESB.net have uncovered who may likely be the director for two of this decade's biggest upcoming films, Gears of War and Escape From New York remake which Gerard Butler will be starring in. (Both from New Line Cinema). Yes, IESB claims that Len Wiseman (both Underworld films and Live Free or Die Hard) may direct both films. Both films made news this past March when they were announced for heading into production. Perhaps Wiseman is the perfect choice, after putting together an action-filled Die Hard. Gears of War and Escape From New York are currently slated for a 2009 release but pre-production has barely begun on either of them. IESB seems confident in the source but it maybe a while before an official announcement is made. This may just be a fun rumour to mull over and kick around. Thanks First Showing.net
Wiseman negotiates for 'Escape'
August 15, 2007
Wiseman eyes 'Escape' remake
Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) is in negotiations to helm New Line Cinema's remake of John Carpenter's cult classic, Escape From New York. New Line set up this project in March which Gerard Butler is attached to star as anti-hero Snake Plissken with Neal Moritz producing. Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) penned the script which combines an origin story for Plissken merged with the story from John Carpenter's 1981 movie. The original film was set in a futuristic 1997, when Manhattan has been turned into a giant maximum-security prison. When the US President's plane crashes on the island, Plissken who was incarcerated for robbing a federal reserve bank, is coerced into a rescue mission. Executive producing are, John Carpenter, Sichler and Ron Halpern from Canal Plus, along with Ori Marmur of Original Films. Toby Emmerich and Keith Goldberg are overseeing for New Line Cinema. Wiseman, who rose through the Hollywood ranks from positions like prop assistant on films such as Men in Black and Independence Day, directed films Underworld and sequel Underworld: Evolution. Wiseman is repped by ICM. Thanks Hollywood Reporter
