The remake of John Carpenter's Escape from New York has been floating around Hollywood for a few years now, with both Brett Ratner and Len Wiseman once attached to direct, and Gerard Butler signed on to star. Fortunately that version of the film eventually fell apart, but earlier this year New Line decided to pick up the pieces and start all over again by hiring Breck Eisner (The Crazies) to helm it. While that choice seems to have gone over well with fans, the big question has always been, who can they possibly get to replace Kurt Russell in the iconic role of Snake Plissken? Well, this week, we might finally have the answer... Jeremy Renner anyone?
According to Bloody Disgusting, The Hurt Locker star has been in close talks for the lead role in this new take on Escape from New York. Although it's unclear just how reliable the scoop is, they did update their post clarifying that it's 'VERY early and a premature announcement.' In other words, nothing is set in stone as of yet. However, there's no denying that Renner is in high demand right now; he also has upcoming roles in The Avengers and Mission: Impossible 4, along with P.T. Anderson's The Master.
I have to admit that with the possibility of Renner wearing the eye patch, for the first time I find myself thinking that this remake could actually work. He can turn on the attitude and machismo when he needs to, but he can also act. His recent performance in The Town proved that The Hurt Locker was not a one time thing. It seems to me that he could make the remake a little more realistic and believable than the original, while also having some fun with it. What do you think, is Jeremy Renner the right choice to play the new Snake Plissken?"