Director Zack Snyder has revealed initial plot details for his forthcoming remake of John Carpenter's 1981 film, "Escape From New York," indicating a strong fidelity to the original source material. Snyder stated in an interview with the YouTube channel Happy Sad Confused that the film will be set in 1997 but "from the perspective of 1981." He further explained that the conflict between the United States police force and criminal elements will commence on July 9, 1981, the original film's release date, with the remainder of the narrative closely mirroring the 1981 movie.
This approach suggests that the remake will aim to capture the retrofuturistic aesthetic and tone of the original. Snyder expressed his admiration for the Carpenter film, describing it as "the perfect combination of kitsch and camp." He also confirmed that he is actively seeking an actor to play the iconic role of Snake Plissken, noting that Jeffrey Dean Morgan has expressed interest. Snyder was emphatic that the character must retain his signature eye-patch, humorously stating, "He’d better, or I’ll walk out!"
The original "Escape From New York" centers on Snake Plissken, a former special forces operative turned criminal. Set in a dystopian 1997 America where Manhattan has been transformed into a maximum-security prison due to a significant crime surge, the plot involves Plissken being tasked with rescuing the President after Air Force One is hijacked. The cult classic has notably influenced video game characters, with Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series being a prominent example.
Snyder's remake arrives on the heels of a challenging reception for his latest film, "The Last Photograph," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie has garnered largely negative reviews, with its Rotten Tomatoes score currently at 20%.