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The special edition of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK shows the missing bank robbery footage.
© MGM

Wiseman Out of ESCAPE Remake, Ratner In?

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Date: Friday, October 05, 2007
Source: Merrick at AICN

I'll begin this with a warning. As always in "Rumor Control", these are unverified and unsubstantiated rumors that have not been confirmed or denied by anyone in the business. Whereas the "McG Up For Terminator 4" news came from CHUD with Devin insisting his source was reliable, the same can't be true for this one. This bit is coming from AICN and if that isn't enough, even they have admitted that they are not sure about their source with this news. They seem to be throwing this rumor out in hopes of the studio validating their source one way or another...Alright, the warning has been given. Merrick at AICN is reporting the source has indicated that director Len Wiseman is out of the ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK remake and Brett Ratner has replaced him.

Now, let's bounce out of Rumor Control for a second so I can fill you in on what we know for sure, something that was verified news by Variety on August 14, 2007. New Line hired Len Wiseman to direct the remake to the John Carpenter cult classic with Gerard Butler already announced as the Snake Plissken character. The film would be written by Black Hawk Down scribe Ken Nolan, produced by Neil Moritz and executive produced by the original's producers John Carpenter, Ori Marmur, Ron Halpern and Frederic Sichler. This is verified information about the film.

When New Line reacts to the AICN rumor, positive or negative, I'll update it here for you readers.

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Comments/Responses

GentlemenDeath • Oct 05, 2007, 01:13am •

I actually had NO problem with Len Wiseman doing this...But Brett Ratner!!! This movie is FUCKED!

LobeznoD • Oct 05, 2007, 01:14am •

Wiseman or not, I still feel this is one of those movies that does not to updated for the sake of the all mighty dollar. The original movie was a classic in its own right. It should be left as is despite what type of "reimagining" these geniuses at the movie studios have in mind. I'm looking forward to seeing is Gerard Butler's performance...other than that there is no real draw for me here.

gauleyboy420 • Oct 05, 2007, 01:17am •

I agree that this movie definitely doesn't need to be remade. But especially with Ratner taking over. You know how movies turn out when Ratner takes over after production begins. (remember X-3)

GentlemenDeath • Oct 05, 2007, 01:33am •

Of course it does not NEED to be remade....But they are going to do it regardless!

I always thought they should make a trilogy out of the series....It could still happen.....Yeah, and I could get a blowjob from Jenna Jameson!

mckracken • Oct 05, 2007, 01:38am •

Merrick at AICN says? giggle.... riiiight
oh ok its 100% totally bull-SHIT.
not true. maybe Wiseman IS out... but Ratner? Gimme a friggin break.
AICN will attach Rat-ass's name to just about anything just to get a rise out of the stupid retards that think AICN is "reliable"...
i got news for yah... they aint.

westend • Oct 05, 2007, 02:14am •

Wow, the people on this site really have it in for Ratner. I guess he should be thankful he isn't Uwe Boll

daforce • Oct 05, 2007, 04:51am •

Well, at least everything won't be washed out in a blue light. The movie is still going to suck (not as bad as with Wiseman), as do most remakes, no matter what b-movie hack they get to direct this turkey.

ponyboy76 • Oct 05, 2007, 06:32am •

Well, as the article says, this rumor is unsubstantiated, so I`m not going to start beasting.
That being said, it would really really suck if it were true.
While Wiseman, isn`t Kurosawa, he is at least a decent director and I`ve enjoyed his previous flicks.
That can not be said for Brett Ratner. The last Ratner movie I enjoyed was Rush Hour 2.
It was bad enough that they were remaking a classic, but to give it to Ratner is like shitting on an plate of filet mignon.

Whiskeymovie • Oct 05, 2007, 06:53am •

I would prefer that Wiseman handles this one, I think Live Free or Die hard was amazing, but unlike most of the snobs here, I enjoy Ratners movies for what they are, so if that is the case, so be it,,,,,Esscape From NY is not the amazing movie everyone makes it out to be, its good, yes, but come on. And don't even get me started on Escape From LA....i tred to like that movie, but I just can't...you wanna talk about people making crap movies people,,,,,well, there you go.

EagleManiac • Oct 05, 2007, 07:55am •

All of you on here who have seen my rants know how I feel about remakes, so I won't go into some diatribe about how Hollywood is ruining classic movies. Instead, I'll just ask one question: Is Kurt Russell going to be in it? If not, don't bother.

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