Posted on 04/24/2010 11:41:47 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Ah, Snake Plissken. Every movie hero is rendered 10% cooler when they have an eyepatch. The original “Escape From New York” remains a classic for who those of us (me) who grew up in the 80s and spent an inordinate amount of time imagining themselves as a kickass futuristic ex-con with a very low, gravelly voice.
Anyway, they’ve tried reviving the Plissken character once before, with “Escape From LA” in ’96. That movie was tepidly received, so here comes a reboot of the original film itself, which was slated to star Gerard Butler, but lost him while gaining a director in the process. From The Heat Vision Blog:
Breck Eisner, who directed Overtures' remake of "The Crazies," is in negotiations to helm the remake of "Escape From New York" for New Line.
Eisner, repped by CAA, also directed 2005's "Sahara."
So Eisner is in, but Butler is out. Heat Vision says this project is a top priority for New Line, which means they WILL find a star for it. But who? Who can possibly fill the shoes of someone like Kurt Russell (besides Russell himself, who remains disturbingly ageless)?
Well, I’m sure they’ve already asked Sam Worthington to do it. And I’m sure Nicolas Cage would do it for a mortgage payment. But I have a better idea. Before New Line goes and offers this to the R-Pattz/Tyler Lautner subset and ruins everything for everyone, I implore them to consider… Jeremy Renner. He’s the correct age, and he has the requisite mount of badassery in his blood. Losing Butler is a godsend for this movie, given that Butler has done nothing useful since “300.” Renner, on the other hand, hasn’t worn out his welcome just yet. Come on, New Line. This shouldn’t be that hard to figure out.
LOL! ROTFLMAO!!!!!
But who will reprise Ernest Borgnine’s role as Cabbie?
My wife and I were talking about this and we came up with a couple of suggestions, but who we would pick would depend heavily on the screenplay.
I can think of a couple of the regulars on “Sons of Anarchy” that might make a pretty good go of reviving Snake Pliskin...all of them are certainly candidates as inmates...Charlie Hunnan, Kim Coates, and Tommy J. Flanagan for starters.
But again, if the right screenplay came along, we both think Vin Diesel would be an outstanding Snake Pliskin. Think about Riddick in the opening of “Chronicles” with all that shaggy hair and that knife...
You don’t want somebody cute. You want the shaggiest looking baddass you can find, and Kurt Russell left some big shoes to fill. Yah, he looks more comic today than he did when EFNY came out, but at the time he was the baddest guy on film.
Another “Essential Kurt Russell” is “Big trouble in little China”. Also a howler to watch, but Jack Burton is also vintage Kurt Russell...
Michael Yon
Escape from LA sucked rocks - it couldn’t hold a candle to Escape from NY.
Oh, and for the love of God, please PLEASE don’t give the role to Nicholas Cage...
In the words of Snake Pliskin:
“Get a new president”.
Interesting dynamics in the old film. You can watch it and see Kurt Russel and John Carpenter both working with their soon to be ex-wives. Season Hubley trapped with Snake in the Chock Full of Nuts shop, and of course Adrienne Barbeau as Maggie.
And the uncredited opening narration, did you recognize Jamie Lee Curtis’ voice ?
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