Robert Rodriguez in Talks to Direct 'Escape From New York'

[Admin]

www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/robert-rodriguez-talks-direct-escape-new-york-remake-988707

Robert Rodriguez in Talks to Direct 'Escape From New York' Remake

John Carpenter, who directed and co-wrote the original, is executive producing the project, which is targeting a production start later this year.
Robert Rodriguez is in negotiations to direct Escape From New York, 20th Century Fox’s remake of the 1980s cult classic that starred Kurt Russell.

Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman of The Picture Co. are producing the feature project, which the studio is hoping to launch as a franchise in the same mold of its Planet of the Apes series.

The original 1981 movie was set in a future (then 1997) where Manhattan had been turned into an island-sized maximum-security prison. When the president of the United States crashes into the decaying city, an outlaw is coerced into traveling inside to rescue him.

Neil Cross, the creator of the BBC crime series Luther, wrote the script.

John Carpenter, who directed and co-wrote the original, is executive producing the project, which is targeting a production start later this year.

Michael Ireland is overseeing.

With the Escape deal, Fox is doubling down on Rodriguez, who is coming off of directing Alita: Battle Angel for the studio. The sci-fi movie is an adaptation of the popular manga and is being produced by James Cameron. Rosa Salazar leads a cast that includes Mahershala Ali and Christoph Waltz. The movie is set to open July 20, 2018.

[Admin]

deadline.com/2017/03/robert-rodriguez-escape-from-new-york-director-1202051424/

Robert Rodriguez To Direct ‘Escape From New York’

EXCLUSIVE: Robert Rodriguez is getting the gig to direct Escape From New York, the remake of John Carpenter’s iconic 1981 film that’s set up at 20th Century Fox. The studio won a bidding battle for rights to the reboot in early 2015, with Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman’s The Picture Company set to produce. Neil Cross (Luther) is penning the script.

The original was released by Avco Embassy, and the rights were owned by Studiocanal. Carpenter will be an executive producer and have a big say in the tone of the project. Fox’s Mike Ireland, who brought in the movie, will oversee for the studio. The hope is to reinvent the property with an eye toward launching a Planet Of The Apes-like franchise.

The deal cements the relationship with Rodriguez and Fox; the director just helmed the studio’s Alita: Battle Angel, the film based on Yukito Kishiro’s manga graphic novels that was written by James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis. Set in a 26th century dystopian future, the film follows the story of an amnesiac cyborg who, after being rescued from a scrap heap by a doctor, becomes a bounty hunter tracking down criminals. Rosa Salazar and Christoph Waltz star in the pic which has a July 20, 2018 release date mapped out.

The cynical original Escape From New York, hatched by Carpenter after the Watergate scandal, was set in a futuristic Gotham circa 1997. Kurt Russell of course played Snake Plissken, an eyepatch-sporting tough guy who is conscripted to rescue the President of the United States after Air Force One — en route to a summit that could head off World War III — goes missing after it crashes in New York, which has been relegated to a maximum security prison. Plissken, a former special forces operative convicted of trying to rob the Federal Reserve, is given 22 hours to liberate the president and a tape he carries which holds the key to peace. If he fails, he’s wired to explode.

Rodriguez and Carpenter have collaborated before. Rodriguez’s El Rey Network last fall announced the launch of The People’s Network Showcase, a series of specials featuring short films from emerging indie filmmakers. Carpenter hosted the premiere episode, The People’s Network Showcase: Horror Edition.

[Admin]

variety.com/2017/film/news/robert-rodriguez-escape-from-new-york-remake-1202015963/

Robert Rodriguez in Talks to Direct ‘Escape From New York’ Remake

Robert Rodriguez is in negotiations to direct the remake of John Carpenter’s iconic “Escape From New York.”

Fox is targeting summer for the start of production, with Michael Ireland overseeing the film. The project has been in the works at the studio since 2015, when Fox obtained the remake rights to “Escape From New York,” starring Kurt Russell as “Snake” Plissken. StudioCanal sold the rights to Fox, which topped several bids.

Carpenter will exec produce the reboot. Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman’s The Picture Company is also producing. Neil Cross, creator of the BBC crime series “Luther,” wrote the script.

The original “Escape From New York,” released in 1981, took place in a dystopian 1997 Manhattan after it had been turned into a maximum security prison. The story centered on Plissken being recruited to rescue the U.S. president (played by Donald Pleasence) after the hijacked Air Force One crashes.

Russell also starred as Plissken in Carpenter’s 1996 sequel “Escape From L.A.,” set in 2013.

Rodriguez is in post-production on Fox’s live-action movie version of “Alita: Battle Angel” with James Cameron and Jon Landau producing, and Rosa Salazar starring. Fox has set a July 20, 2018, release date.

Rodriguez’s directing credits include “El Mariachi,” “Desperado,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Sin City,” and the “Spy Kids” films. The news about “Escape from New York” was first reported by The Tracking Board.