"I thought you were dead," said I to this remake.
There have been so many attempts to rejigger ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK for the new millennium that you wouldn't be faulted in thinking that another announcement of its existence is nothing new. However, the key distinction between those incarnations and this current, Fox-commissioned one is a crucial one: John Carpenter is giving his blessing via executive producing and "exert(ing) creative influence."
Before we all run into the streets with margaritas in our hands, let's remember that Carpenter also gave his blessing (as plain-ol' producer) for the dismal remake of THE FOG (currently one of Rotten Tomatoes worst-rated movies ever).
We don't know who they're eyeballing to direct or star as S.D. Bob "Snake" Plissken, but I think it's safe to assume that none of the names we've heard (including Len Wiseman, Jonathan Mostow, Gerard Butler, or Jeremy Renner) will end up being involved. Charlie Hunnam's name has been banded around, as have Chris Hemsworth's and Jon Bernthal's, but at this point, it's anyone's game (provided they have some star power and look good in an eyepatch).
John Carpenter openly brags about how little work he has to do, and how much money he makes for it, every time they remake one of this films. Which is fine for HALLOWEEN, THE FOG, or even CHRISTINE. But I really hope they end up leaving ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK be. They tried franchising it already. It didn't work.
