Kurt Russell has made some rather disapproving remarks about the casting of Gerard Butler as one Snake Plissken in the needless remake of John Carpenter’s Escape from New York.
One of the big things he is pissed about, is that Butler is Scottish and the Snake Plissken character that he reminds us…. “He created”….. is most definitely American.
From Entertainment Weekly through Filmstalker….
”I will say that when I was told who was going to play Snake Plissken, my initial reaction was ”Oh, man!” [Russell winces]. I do think that character was quintessentially one thing. And that is, American”.
Would Russell do a cameo in the flick?
“F— that! I am Snake Plissken! It’s like Sean Connery always watching someone else do their version of Bond…
….I think one of the things, for instance, about Escape From New York that appealed to me was that it wasn’t a special effects extravaganza. It’s a quiet, dark world and it revolved around watching the behavior of this one guy. He’s a fascinating character. In fact, he’s the most complex character I’ve ever played”.
Let me just say this. As good an actor as Butler is, I have to agree 100% with Kurt Russell. This remake should not be happening, just like the remake of Halloween, the remake of The Thing and the remake of Assault on Precinct 13 that came out a while back.
Can you imagine Orson Welles approving and acting as executive producer on a remake of Citizen Kane? NO!
John Carpenter, you should be ashamed of yourself letting all your back catalogue be re-made like this whilst you revel in the big paycheck. Kurt Russell is Snake Plissken and the Carpenter movies are the only place that character should be used… end of story.
source – filmstalker, entertainment weekly
8 Comments
Oh and I do agree. I’m surprised this hasn’t kicked off a bigger debate than it has so far.
However I don’t think this is the biggest travesty, the remake of The Thing certainly is, and I just can’t for the life of me figure out why they would do this, apart from Carpenter collecting his cheques.
Funny how Russell and Carpenter have such a divide in opinion on this. Last I checked these guys were great friends. I’m sure they still are but how can they have such different opinions on the sanctity of their past collaborations?
Snake Plissken seems like the type of character that gets better with age. Why not give him another go around.
Probably because…
New Escape from New York = Money for Carpenter, nothing for Russell
New Escape from New York = Another actor in the spotlight for the character Russell created, whereas Carpenter clearly doesn’t care about prostituing his films.
Couldn’t agree more. Kurt Russell could easily have done another flick.
The day I heard the news of a new Escape from New York I was bummed!! Why disrespect a classic that still holds up? Kurt Russell is the one and only Snake Plissken! He always will be. I didn’t even bother with the remake of Assault because I love the original soo much. It’s a shame that Carpenter is selling out his classic films. The Fog remake was pretty bad! And there is no need for a new Snake or Escape from New York. As campy as Escape from L.A. was it was all Carpenter and all Kurt Russell. Enough with the remakes anyways, people need to take step towards original ideas, not re-hash what’s been done. I’d much rather have these old films re-released for audiences today.
Let me start by saying that I am a big John Carpenter fan, likewise a Kurt Russell fan as well. And so far I have cringed at every Carpenter remake, “The Fog”, “Assault on Precinct 13th” and of course Zombie’s “Halloween”. All of the remakes fail to see and appreciate what made those movies so extraordinary at the time they were released. With that said, Kurt Russell is Snake Plisken! Kurt is what made Escape From New York work work. Here is this little un-threatening guy walking through a desolate and hostile environment. Man you never see him coming. They should just make another Escape from movie with Kurt Russell as Snake. There is no need to make a re-make of Escape from New York. And I bet it’s going to be action driven instead of character driven. And of course, that is what makes it such a good movie, the character of Snake Plisken, who by the way IS Kurt Russell!!
“F— that! I am Snake Plissken!”
Possibly one of the best quotes ever!
Bottom line is that none of us here like remakes. That’s why we are “OWF”. But you have to look at it from a different angle. I know few and far between but what if it’s good. Don’t start yelling sacriledge at me just yet. If it’s good then awesome we have a great remake of a great film. If it’s bad (which it probly will be) then it make the origional that much better. plus it’s fun to point out to these dumb kids who have no idea about the origional how ignorant they are about remake that are mistaken for origionals.
To respond to noodle, I actually dont have a problem with remakes. I love the remake of The Hills Have Eyes, King Kong and a couple of others. If the remake of Escape From New York is good then its good! But… Kurt is still around, John Carpenter is still around, Debra Hill is still around, why not just make another “Escape from” movie with Kurt Russell as Snake “Mutha#$!&n” Pliskin? It is beyond me why some people, almost intentionally, ruin a good franchise or tranish and original! Kurt Russell will always be Snake!