Robert Rodriguez is hard at work on post-production of next year’s sci-fi epic, Alita: Battle Angel, but that hasn’t stopped him from lining up his next job. Word has reached us that the Texan director has his sights set on the Escape from New York remake.
The project has been in the works for several years, with various other directors and actors attached at various points, but the studio is hoping that Rodriguez will stick. Given that his current Battle Angel film had also been in production limbo for ridiculous amount of time, he might very well be the man to bring it to life.
The original film was released back in 1981 and helped cement Kurt Russell as a major player in Hollywood. In the film, Russell played Snake Plissken, a one-eyed warrior with plenty of attitude. Set in what was the future (the year 1997) back then, the city of New York had become one big maximum security prison. After the President ends up trapped within the walls, Plissken is coerced into rescuing him.
The remake will obviously have to update the future, given that that future was twenty years ago (wow we feel old), and is also planned to be the start of a new franchise. The first film scored itself a sequel, Escape from L.A, which was not well received by most. Luther‘s Neil Cross is attached to help Rodriguez write the script, and John Carpenter is aboard in a producer capacity.
The news could also be the final nail in the Machete Kills Again in Space coffin. Were Rodriguez to jump straight from Battle Angel to Escape from New York, he wouldn’t have the time to fit it in. Though we’re sure that he’ll find a way to get Danny Trejo in this new one somehow, maybe he could be the new Snake?
Rodriguez will release Alita: Battle Angel in the UK on 20th July 2018.
