Escape from New York: Tom Hardy or Jason Statham as Snake Plissken?
Escape from New York: Will It Be Tom Hardy or Jason Statham for Snake Plissken?
Hollywood continues its remake fever by deciding to produce a new film based on John Carpenter’s 1981 action film, Escape from New York. Joel Silver will be producing the film, and while the director for the film has yet to be chosen, they may be closer to choosing their leading man. Kurt Russell made the role of Snake Plissken an icon, but it’s extremely unlikely that he will be back to reprise his role, since the proposed project will be a prequel that will work as an origin story for Snake.
An unnamed Hollywood source has claimed that there are two men in the running for the role of the younger Snake Plissken: Tom Hardy and Jason Statham. Here’s a quote from this unnamed insider, courtesy of Dread Central.
On the other hand, there’s also Tom Hardy.
I hate most remakes and other “cash in” attempts as a general rule, but I’m particularly peeved about this one. I love the original Escape from New York, mainly because I have a whole truck’s worth of respect for Kurt Russell, and Plissken is his signature role. Back in 2007, when the studio first tried to get the remake going, they cast Gerard Butler for the role. Russell expressed disappointment. Here’s his quote, courtesy of Screen Rant.
While I don’t necessarily have a problem with British stars playing American icons – like Henry Cavill and Christian Bale playing Superman and Batman respectively – Russell does have a point. At his core, Snake is an old-school patriot who was betrayed by the country he fought for, and actively hates the tyrannical and dsytopic nation it became.
If it has to be between these two guys, then I’m rooting for Hardy. I’m a fan of Hardy’s work, and out of respect for Russell, I’d rather have a truly badass actor in the role, instead of some emotionless British killing machine like Statham. Besides, between the two, Hardy looks the most like a younger Russell, despite the heavy tattoos on the arms.
What do you think of these two men playing Snake Plissken? Would you rather see an American representing as the one-eyed badass? Why don’t you just tell us what you think in the comments below?
Snake Plissken…. No question about it….