Zack Snyder to write and direct Escape from New York remake

Zack Snyder is set to write and direct a remake of John Carpenter's 1981 sci-fi action pic Escape from New York. The Picture Company (A Complete Unknown) will produce alongside Studio Canal and Snyder's Stone Quarry banner. The project was first announced several years ago, with Radio Silence originally attached to direct and Leigh Whannell set to pen the script — a pairing that hinted at a stronger horror bent.

Both Whannell and Radio Silence left the film in 2024, citing scheduling issues. The original Escape from New York starred Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, an eye-patch-wearing former Green Beret turned federal prisoner given 24 hours to rescue the President in exchange for his release.

It proved a critical and commercial success, spawned the sequel Escape from L.A..., and inspired the Metal Gear video game, which is also getting a live-action movie treatment. A 2012 film called Lockout echoed similar plot beats but was ruled an "unauthorized remake" after legal action by StudioCanal and Carpenter.

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