Charlie Hunnam To Star In ‘Escape From New York’ Remake? ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Star In Talks To Play Snake Plissken

New information indicates that Charlie Hunnam might be set to play the lead role in the upcoming remake of John Carpenter’s Escape From New York. Although the film has been long in development and has suffered from a few delays, Kpop Starz is reporting that Twentieth Century Fox has taken over the project and plans to get it up and running.

Hunnam, known for his role as Jax Teller in the hit TV drama Sons of Anarchy, is thought to be the top choice to play Snake Plissken in the movie. As fans of the cult action film remember, Kurt Russell previously played the eye patch wearing hero.

According to Cinema Blend, the remake is expected to be slightly different from the original, and may develop into a trilogy of movies. In the original, the movie is set in a future where Manhattan has been transformed into a prison that holds some of the most dangerous convicts known to man. Plissken is tasked with finding and rescuing the President, whose plane crashes inside Manhattan.

With that in mind, Plissken might be joined by a whole new team of characters who help him make his way through New York City. The team is made up of a number of criminals including Mina, a journalist who was framed for killing someone; Cabbie, a mentally ill guide; Gareth, the last of the President’s bodyguards; and The Brain, a former associate of Plissken.

Meanwhile, as the studio considers Charlie Hunnam for the part in Escape From New York, the Pacific Rim star is currently busy with a number of new projects. Along with his part in the upcoming Guillermo del Toro horror flick, Crimson Peak, Hunnam is filming for his role in Guy Ritchie’s Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur.

While Hunnam is thought to be the top candidate for the role, there are a number of other actors who have been considered. Jeremy Renner (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Gerard Butler (Law Abiding Citizen), Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) have all been in running at some point for the part.

Although the remake has been long in coming, the fact that Twentieth Century Fox recently purchased the rights from Studio Canal suggest that the film might finally get off the ground.

An official release date for Escape From New York has yet to be announced by Twentieth Century Fox.

Charlie Hunnam is currently in Belfast shooting The Lost City of Z with Twilight star Robert Pattinson.

[Image Courtesy: Kevin Winter/Getty]