Yup, we’re still talking about that Escape From New York remake. Folks have been trying to make this thing for years now, but after all this time, it doesn’t seem like they’ve gotten anywhere closer to actually making it happen. However, if this new rumor turns out to be true, perhaps that could change soon.
There’s a reporting floating around out there claiming that even though there’s still no director attached, Silver Pictures and StudioCanal are making moves and have their eye on Charlie Hunnam, Jon Bernthal and Dan Stevens to portray the new Snake Plissken. Hit the jump for more on the Escape From New York remake.
The news comes from Starlog (via /Film) and the outlet claims to have a very trusted source close to the production. According to that source, the film is currently in early pre-production and Snake Plissken isn’t the sole star of it. Apparently this iteration will have Plissken trekking through a treacherous New York landscape as part of a team of criminals because he makes a deal with them; they help him save the president and he helps them get off the island-turned-prison.
Evidently the new Escape From New York always had this team vibe to it, but over time, these criminals have gone from supporting players to main characters under Plissken’s command. According to Starlog, these are the criminal characters that will appear in the film:
“Plissken’s team consists of Mina, a warzone journalist framed for murder and living in the shadows of New York as a scavenger; Cabbie, a schizophrenic travel guide who serves as comic relief; Gareth, the last surviving member of the President’s security detail who harbors a dangerous secret; and The Brain, Plissken’s former partner-in-crime who left him to die after a botched robbery.”
Now let’s get to that casting. If the rumors are true, Hunnam, Bernthal and Stevens are on the shortlist for the Plissken role with Hunnam being the top choice. None have actually read for the part yet, but the source insists that an offer will be made any day. There is a chance that Pacific Rim 2 could knock Hunnam out and, if the whole King Arthur thing pans out, that could pose a scheduling conflict as well. However, apparently that’s not stopping Silver Pictures from moving forward with pre-production artwork featuring Hunnam, possibly for use at the American Film Market.
The source refused to reveal who’s being considered to direct because they say it’s far too early in the process, but they did add a little more about what they’re doing with the script, claiming that instead of an origin story, we’ll get glimpses of Plissken’s past throughout the film that will blend into reality due to a post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the film will not be tech-heavy, but rather, more of a “gun-and-run thriller.”
Before wrapping up, Starlog pointed out that none of this information has been confirmed, so don’t take it too seriously right now. Again, this project has been around for quite a while and hasn’t been given an official green light just yet, so even if all of this is true, it's still subject to change.
