Zack Snyder Confirms a Major Detail About His 'Escape From New York' Reboot

Snyder vows that his version of Snake Plissken will stay true to the original

Zack Snyder has finally shared the first plot details for his next movie, a remake of John Carpenter’s 1981 schlock classic Escape from New York, and it sounds like Snake Plissken fans should expect a fairly faithful adaptation.

In an interview with the YouTube channel Happy Sad Confused, Snyder said, “The approach is… the movie’s going to be set in ’97… from the perspective of 1981. The war between the United States police force and… the criminal elements takes place, I think, July 9th, 1981 – which is the release date of the original movie. And then the rest is pretty much Escape from New York.”

Zack Snyder's Escape from New York remake will be faithful to the original

Essentially, it sounds like the remake will attempt to adhere to the original as closely as possible, down to representing its version of the year 1997 “from the perspective of 1981.” Expect retrofuturistic technology and inexplicable shuriken. As for why he wants to stick close to the Carpenter film, Snyder described the movie as “the perfect combination of kitsch and camp… that’s why I love it.”

Snyder confirmed that he is still looking for his Snake Plissken. Interview host Josh Horowitz brought up that Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) had expressed interest in playing Plissken, which Snyder confirmed. When asked if Snake would look like his iconic, eye-patched self, Snyder said: “He’d better, or I’ll walk out!”

What is Escape from New York about?

Escape from New York is a sci-fi action thriller that follows Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a former special forces operative turned criminal. The film is a borderline parody of ‘80s paranoia, set in a dystopian United States where a “400% increase in crime” has resulted in Manhattan being converted into a maximum-security prison. After anti-government insurgents hijack Air Force One and take the president hostage, Plissken is ordered to retrieve the commander in chief within 24 hours to clear his name.

Escape from New York is a cult classic that inspired elements of the Metal Gear series. Between his bandana, gruff voice, and name, Solid Snake is clearly modeled after Snake Plissken.

What’s up with Snyder’s most recently released film?

As for Snyder, he’s coming off some brutal press. His most recent movie, The Last Photograph, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 13, and critics tore it apart; it’s currently at 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer described it as “grotesque, shameless and an utter disgrace from start to finish.” Hopefully, Snyder’s Escape from New York reboot will fare better.