Timothy Olyphant could be taking on the lead role of Snake Plissken in Breck Eisner’s remake of Escape From New York.
The part was originally played by Kurt Russell in John Carpenter’s 1981 film, which had the one-eyed soldier attempting to escape a futuristic prison based in an abandoned New York City.
With Eisner and Olyphant having worked together on this year’s surprisingly decent The Crazies, it seems both are keen to re-pair for future projects.
And Escape could be just that project. Eisner spoke to Movieweb recently, stating:
“I love working with Timothy Olyphant, and I will be working with him again. He is an amazing actor. A talented guy. And he’s incredibly funny. He needs to do a great comedy, because he is a funny guy. But I will work with him again. I can promise you that.”
This re-do will shake up the original’s concept, with the remake cannibalising a Snake Plissken origins story with bits of the 1981’s original plot. (Vulture, who saw the script, said it “nailed the humour in Plissken without slipping into camp”.)
Speaking recently to ComingSoon, Eisner explained other changes, which include setting the movie in a penal colony rather than a post-apocalyptic New York.
“Conceptually, it’s an idea that’s not true today because of the world we live in. So, how the prison is created is going to be different than in Carpenter’s version. The anxiety of the world and anxiety of our existence post-9/11 is there, especially the anxiety in Manhattan post-9/11.
“Plot-wise, they’re different, emotionally they’re very similar. That’s why it’ll be interesting to tackle this movie, to have a slightly different take but with the same results which is Manhattan is turned into a walled prison.”
With these two on board, could this be a rare good remake? We’re ever hopeful…
Think Olyphant would make for a great Snake?
Comments
ChrisWootton
Jun 24th 2010, 9:20
Kurt Russell is Snake Plissken.... end of line.
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WillShelmerdine
Jun 24th 2010, 10:19
The are no words. *Facepalm*
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rickbman
Jun 24th 2010, 11:45
Remaking Escape from New York is a bad idea to begin with but the addition of Timothy Olyphant just makes it worse. He is a horrible, horrible actor... and he certainly isn't bad a*s enough to play Snake.
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DonisFun
Jun 24th 2010, 12:15
WHY remake another classic film and especially with Timothy Olyphant as Snake, he makes me ill!! Do not make this film or I will self harm!
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gonzoBen
Jun 24th 2010, 13:37
Tim Elephant has tusks.
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Ali1748
Jun 24th 2010, 14:49
Anybody watch Timothy Olyphant's Justified on Five USA every Wednesday ? it's great.
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joncrossi
Jun 24th 2010, 16:18
It could've been just a little tiny bit worse, they originaly wanted Gerald Butler!!!! but also, I think, this rumour started because Olyphant was in The Crazies (also directed by Breck Eisner - who obviously doesn't have an original thought in his tiny tiny mind) and The Crazies did alright. It's ridiculous anyway because it doesn't matter WHO ... See Morethey cast, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK is a treasured, too holy to touch, classic movie and, like EVIL DEAD, if it isn't the original Director/Actor team then what's the point? These movies were made by true visionary, epic partnerships. These characters were created by a collaboration that wasn't on the page but in the making of the thing, anyone who tries to step into Snake's boots will either have to do a 'vague impression' of Kurt Russell (who himself was doing a vague impression of John Wayne) which will make the whole endeavour utterly pointless and futile OR try and make the character their own and inevitably fail because who wants to see Butler's or Olyphant's version of Snake Plisken? It's sheer money grabbing, egotistical arrogant nonsense to even contemplate a remake of this classic and it's not the same as remaking The Crazies which, while the original is good for Romero die-hards, isn't a classic really, didn't involve a beloved character and by most mainstream audiences had been forgotten. The same can not be said for Escape from NY which still has a huge following of fans and is being discovered each day just like we did back in the day. The whole thing is a soulless, mindless and fruitless venture, Olyphant (the big fraud) should be ashamed of his stupid faced self and as for Breck Eisner (what type of name is Breck!?!?!) he owes Russell an apology, especially since he worked on the cinematic genius that is Tango & Cash!!!
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Jawsphobia
Jun 25th 2010, 1:14
The problem with this remake business is that it blocks the possibility of John Carpenter's Escape From The Earth, with Russell revisiting Snake. Just because people age and the action can't be EXACTLY the same doesn't mean it can't be good. Russell was formidable abd funny in Death Proof. Old Snake Plisken as a reluctant leader or demented mentor might be interesting.
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AnnaL
Jun 25th 2010, 10:20
I love Timothy Olyphant and would watch any film with him in it! He is a brilliant actor full of nuances. There is something fascinating about him and he always brings it to a higher level.
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holden21361
Jun 25th 2010, 14:43
I won't try to convince anyone that his opinion is false or invalid. Personally, I enjoy Timothy Olyphant. I have some questions as to whether he is right for this role or not, but we'll have to wait and see. He was especially good in A Perfect Getaway. Remakes/re-imaginings are a mainstay in modern film. If the studio wants it, it will happen. It's not fair to chastise a director or actor for being involved with it. I love the original Escape for New York; it is in my top 5 movies of all time. And I am skeptical that this should be done. However, I will give this a chance. It will never be the original, but it could be an original take on the material; show somethings in a different, creative way. That is what I'm looking for. And, this project does not preclude John Carpenter and Kurt Russell from coming back and doing another movie (which could rock to no end), much the same way Rob Zombie's Halloween wouldn't stop Carpenter from doing another Halloween movie. I don't think the studios would turn away John Carpenter on either project.
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photoflash
Jun 25th 2010, 23:34
Hell NO!! didnt think he was that good in Die Hard..as for hitman...Bad choice
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opir1
Jun 27th 2010, 1:16
How can you call it Escape From New York if you take out the New York?
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