In a 2007 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Russell was asked to opine on the then plans to redo “The Thing” and “Escape from New York.” The former became a half-assed prequel, while the latter has, thankfully, after several different attempts, yet to go before cameras.
17 years ago, Russell joked, “They’re remaking everything I’ve ever done.” Then, after acknowledging that people “get territorial and proprietary about these things” as they get on in years, he addressed the Snake in the room. And he was candid:
“I will say that when I was told who was going to play Snake Plissken, my initial reaction was ‘Oh, man!’ [Russell winces]. I do think that character was quintessentially one thing. And that is, American.”
He’s referring to Gerard Butler, the Scottish movie star who’s since found a crowd-pleasing groove as a jut-jawed, B-movie action hero. I like Butler in loopy nonsense like “Olympus Has Fallen” and sleazy delights like “Den of Thieves” (a sequel to which is on the way). He plays an immensely enjoyable garrulous jerk. But he’d be all wrong for the laconic Plissken.
