Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Machete) is now the frontrunner to direct the upcoming Escape From New York remake, according to The Tracking Board. There is no finished deal yet, but Rodriguez is reportedly interested. John Carpenter, who was the director on the original 1981 film, will serve as an executive producer, and The Picture Company’s Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will produce.
The script for the Escape From New York remake is from Luthor creator Neil Cross. The story will follow, “Col. Robert “Snake” Plissken during an 11-hour mission to find the villainous heir to an agrochemical and biotech corporation as a major hurricane approaches.”
Set in a dystopic future (1997 to be exact), the 1981 original stars Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, an eyed-patched convict sent into a maximum security prison (formerly the island of Manhattan) to rescue the President. Carpenter directed his own sequel to the original, Escape From L.A., in 1996, although that film is decidedly less-beloved by fans of the original. Production on the remake is slated to start later this year.
Rodriguez not only directs, but has worked as a producer, writer, composer, cinematographer and film editor. He’s known for his directing work on Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, the Spy Kids series, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Machete, the Sin City films and more. He is directing Alita: Battle Angel, which is based on Yukito Kishiro’s Battle Angel Alita manga. The film is set to be released on July 20, 2018, and is produced by James Cameron.
