After his kick-ass portrayal of Leonidas in the kick-ass movie 300 (see Neill Cumpston’s infamous review for many, many more gratuitous uses of the term “kick-ass”), Gerard Butler is ready to consolidate his action-hero status by playing one of the most kick-ass screen figures ever: Snake Plissken in the upcoming remake of Escape from New York.
According to Variety, Butler has signed on to play the iconic antihero in a remake from New Line, with no release date yet set. Other notable participants on the project include Ken Nolan, who wrote the script for Black Hawk Down; and John Carpenter, director of the classic original, as one of the executive producers.
It’s well known that when Kurt Russell played Snake in the original, he was channeling Clint Eastwood. So if Gerard Butler as Snake Plissken channels Kurt Russell channeling Clint Eastwood, we have the possibility for some kind of postmodernist trifecta here. Still, I like Butler (based on 300, anyway), and I liked the original, and I like Snake Plissken. Whenever this feature hits the screens, I’ll definitely be there. Unless they cast Rosie O’Donnell to replace Ernest Borgnine in the cabbie role. In that case, all bets are off.
8 comments
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……….
Flea, I can’t help but sense a lack of enthusiasm here. Is it dislike for Gerard Butler? John Carpenter? Kurt Russell? All or none of the above?
Why do they have to remake it? There’s no reason for it. What are they going to remake next – Remo Williams? Are there any original ideas left in Hollywood?
Gerard Butler was great in 300. I’d like to see him again – just not in a dopey remake.
Remo Williams – I watched that movie at least 50 times – and i shudder to think that some jackass would remake it by casting josh harnett or something equally disastrous.
It’s probably safe to assume that Hollywood wouldn’t care to remake that movie because it makes no overarching political statement. A few elements can be construed as such, but not enough to remake the whole schbang.
I’ll agree that a remake of Escape from NY–or Remo Williams, for that matter–is pretty unnecessary. But with the right cast and production team, it might be pretty entertaining. At worst, it doesn’t cancel the original. Tim Burton’s botch-up of Planet of the Apes couldn’t kill the greatness of the original 1968 cheesefest.
The point about “political statements” is a good one, though. If the Escape from NY remake turns out to feature brave Muslim freedom fighters and Village Voice subscribers kidnapping a useless but evil Bush clone, I’ll retract everything I said.
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!…
The terrorists have won: Hollywood is remaking Escape from New York…….
The terrorists have won: Hollywood is remaking Escape from New York
DA: That tears it, Jack, we have to bite the bullet and nuke Hollywood.
Bauer: Damnit. Well, there isn’t that much we’ll be losing as a country or society if drop one on Hollywood.
DA: Ok. I’ll do it.
Bauer: No. Leave it to me. This is my mess, and I need to clean it up.
DA: Ok, Jack. Let me know if you need help.
The Llamas are on the same wavelength as me.