Zack Snyder will write and direct a reimagining of John Carpenter's 1981 dystopian action film Escape from New York. StudioCanal announced the project at CinemaCon in April, with Carpenter serving as executive producer. The film is intended for theatrical release, though plot details remain under wraps.
The original Escape from New York grossed over $50 million worldwide on a $6 million budget and became one of the most influential science-fiction action films ever made, introducing the iconic antihero Snake Plissken. Remake attempts have circulated for decades involving Joel Silver, Robert Rodriguez, Radio Silence, and Leigh Whannell, but none materialized. Snyder's involvement marks the first time the project has moved forward with a named director since those earlier efforts.
Much of the original Escape from New York was shot in St. Louis, with the city standing in for a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, locals reportedly encountered a smoldering jet fuselage on 6th Street during night shoots.