Escape From New York Remake in the Works

A remake of John Carpenters 1981 post-apocalyptic action film Escape From New York is in the works with Robert Rodriguez the favorite to direct.

Carpenter will serve as executive producer on the project, which is being eyed to launch a franchise in the mold of the Planet of the Apes reboot, The Hollywood Reporter writes.

Kurt Russell starred as the films antihero Snake Plissken in Escape From New York; a sequel, Escape From L.A., followed 15 years later.

A remake of the cult classic film has long kicked around Hollywood, with Gerard Butler and Josh Brolin among those considered to don Plisskens trademark eyepatch.

However, after nearly a decade of minor movement, Luther creator Neil Cross finished his draft of the script, with 20th Century Fox aiming to go into production later this year.

Escape From New York is the second Carpenter property to receive remake status in as many months: In February, the director revealed that he had teamed with David Gordon Green and Danny McBride for a new spin on his groundbreaking horror film Halloween.

Carpenter was so excited about the new project, he suggested he might reprise his role as composer for the remake, which arrives October 18th, 2018, two weeks shy of the original Halloweens 40th anniversary.

David and Danny both came to my office recently with [Blumhouse producer] Jason Blum and shared their vision for the new movie and WOW. They get it. I think youre gonna dig it. They blew me away, Carpenter wrote of the Halloween remake.

The director has not yet commented on the Escape From New York remake.