For better or for worse, a new film set in the world of Escape from New York is reportedly in the works, but the original film’s director apparently isn’t involved. Last month, reports of a new take on the classic film emerged when it was announced that Radio Silence, the team behind the new Scream films and Ready or Not, would be setting their sights on Escape from New York. It was noted that their plan is to do a “continuation” of the original film rather than a remake, but there’s not yet been any indication that star Kurt Russell will be involved.

The same can be said for John Carpenter, who directed the original movie starring Russell. In a new interview with Variety, Carpenter was asked about the project. He confirmed that he doesn’t know a single thing about it, revealing that no one has given him a call one way or the other about potentially getting involved. As Carpenter explains:

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When Carpenter was informed that Radio Silence were the ones taking on the project, he seemed to be pretty satisfied with that revelation. He then commented on how the last time he’d heard anything about Escape from New York, there were plans to remake the film with a gender-swapped version of Snake Plissken. That concept seems to have been scrapped with Radio Silence eyeing a continuation rather than a remake, but either way, there’s not much else Carpenter can really say about the film. But perhaps it’s better that way.

“No one told me about it. This is the thing about my career in Hollywood — no one tells me anything. They never tell me things. Have they cast it yet?”

“Hey, great. The last I heard was they were developing it where Snake would be a woman. But, no, I haven’t heard about this latest thing. No one wants me around, and they don’t tell me anything to keep me in the dark. It’s safer for them.”

Escape from New York Will Get a Continuation

     AVCO Embassy Pictures

The new film wouldn’t be the first follow-up to Escape from New York. Back in 1981, Carpenter released the original film, which he’d co-written with Halloween’s Michael Myers actor Nick Castle. It stars Kurt Russell as part of a stellar cast that also includes Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, and Adrienne Barbeau. The film would go on to become a beloved cult classic and would forever be considered one of Carpenter’s all-time greatest films.

In 1996, Carpenter would release the sequel, Escape from L.A., which he co-wrote with Russell and Debra Hill. This time, Russell was joined by names like Steve Buscemi, Stacy Keach, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, and Bruce Campbell. The film was not quite the instant hit that its predecessor was, though it has also managed to develop a cult following of its own. Carpenter tentatively planned to make another sequel at the time, but scrapped that idea when the movie underperformed upon its initial release.

No release date has been set for the new legacy sequel from Radio Silence, as the project is still in its very early stages.

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