Key facts
- Zack Snyder will direct a remake of 'Escape From New York'.
- The original film was released in 1981 and starred Kurt Russell.
- The remake is being developed by StudioCanal.
- The film is expected to have a theatrical release.
- Snyder's directorial style is described as epic and gritty.
Filmmaker Zack Snyder is set to direct a remake of the 1981 cult classic 'Escape From New York' for StudioCanal. The original dystopian action thriller starred Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, a criminal tasked with rescuing the President from a maximum-security prison that Manhattan has become. Snyder, known for his distinctive, often polarizing, gritty and epic directorial style, previously helmed the 2004 remake of 'Dawn of the Dead'. The new 'Escape From New York' is anticipated to receive a theatrical release. While casting has not yet been announced, Snyder's involvement suggests a visually driven and action-packed adaptation. This project marks another instance of Hollywood reviving 1980s intellectual property, following recent 'legacyquel' treatments of films like 'Ghostbusters' and 'Tron'. Kurt Russell's son, Wyatt Russell, has previously stated he would not be interested in playing Snake Plissken in a reboot.