Update: Escape from New York sequel starring Kurt Russell coming from Scream directors?

UPDATE 2: It would seem that Radio Silence are indeed going to direct the new Escape from New York movie as Deadline has also confirmed the news, adding that original director John Carpenter is onboard as an executive producer.

UPDATE: Our friends at Bloody Disgusting have been able to confirm that Radio Silence is in early talks with 20th Century Fox about directing an Escape from New York project, but Kurt Russell has not been contacted at this time.

The original article follows:

A remake of John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi action film Escape from New York (watch it HERE) has been in development for many years, passing through the hands of filmmakers like Len Wiseman, Brett Ratner, Breck Eisner, Robert Rodriguez, and Leigh Whannell. But now a RUMOR has emerged, via GiantFreakinRobot, that the remake plans have been scrapped and we’re actually going to be getting a sequel to Escape from New York, with Kurt Russell reprising the role of Snake Plissken. The filmmakers that are said to be at the helm of this sequel: the Radio Silence trio, consisting of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and Chad Villella. Earlier this year, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett directed the new Scream movie, with Villella producing. The trio is currently working on Scream 6.

If this scoop pans out and the new Escape from New York sequel does go into production with Russell in the lead, this will be his third time playing Snake Plissken. He and Carpenter made the sequel Escape from L.A. in 1996.

Scripted by Carpenter and Nick Castle, Escape from New York has the following description:

In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the US president crash-lands inside, only one man can bring him back: notorious outlaw and former Special Forces war hero Snake Plissken. But time is short. In 24 hours, an explosive device implanted in his neck will end Snake’s mission – and his life – unless he succeeds!

Russell was joined in the cast by Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Adrienne Barbeau, Harry Dean Stanton, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Van Cleef, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Frank Doubleday, John Strobel, Season Hubley, Nancy Stephens, George Buck Flower, and Ox Baker, with some narration by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Carpenter and Russell wrote Escape from L.A. with Debra Hill, crafting the following story:

In 2013, the United States president is exiling all citizens who don’t conform to his hyper-conservative views to Los Angeles, which became an island after a huge earthquake. But when the president’s daughter nabs the detonator to her dad’s apocalyptic weapon and sneaks into L.A. to be with the rebel leader she loves, the government taps commando-turned-crook Snake Plissken to retrieve the young woman. And, if he doesn’t succeed quickly, he’ll be executed.

Russell was joined in that one by Steve Buscemi, Peter Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Valeria Golino, Stacy Keach, Pam Grier, Bruce Campbell, Georges Corraface, Michelle Forbes, Peter Jason, and A.J. Langer.

Would you like to see Kurt Russell return as Snake Plissken in an Escape from New York sequel directed by the Radio Silence team? Share your thoughts on this rumor by leaving a comment below.

Escape from New York Kurt Russell
Source: GiantFreakinRobot

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.