Jason Momoa Has Zero Interest in Playing Snake Plissken in Zack Snyder’s ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK Remake
When news broke that Zack Snyder is developing a remake of Escape from New York, one question immediately started making the rounds among fans… who could possibly step into the role of Snake Plissken?
It's one of those iconic characters that comes with a lot of baggage, thanks to Kurt Russell’s unforgettable performance in the original film.
One name that seemed like an easy possibility was Jason Momoa. He already has a working relationship with Snyder, he has the screen presence, and he certainly looks like someone who could survive a dystopian prison island. But if fans were hoping to see him sporting Snake’s eyepatch, they can go ahead and cross him off the list.
While speaking with ComicBook during promotion for Supergirl, Momoa was asked about the possibility of joining Snyder’s remake. His response made it clear that he has no desire to take over the role from Russell.
“Do we need a remake? I even like [Escape from L.A.], and I love Kurt Russell, and the truth of it is, like, as much as I love Zack, someone’s like, ‘I want you to do Snake,’ and I’m like, ‘I love Kurt Russell. I don’t want to.’
“I would never want to step into that. It’s one of those things where you’re like, oh my God, I would love to do that. But at the same time, I’m like, I love him too much … I really love Kurt, and I [say] good luck to whatever actor is going to do that.”
Honestly, I'm perfectly fine with that. Momoa would've brought plenty of charisma to the role, but Snake Plissken isn't a character that needs to be handed to the biggest action star available.
Momoa went on to explain why this situation differs from another famous remake he headlined, Conan the Barbarian, which ended up not being a very good movie. The actor said:
“I didn’t grow up with Conan. I grew up reading Robert E. Howard. I didn’t grow up with Arnold’s thing. My mom raised me on, like, Gone with the Wind, and Barefoot in the Park, and Hitchcock movies.”
Momoa didn't have the same emotional attachment to Arnold Schwarzenegger's version of Conan that he has to Russell's Snake Plissken. For him, Escape from New York falls into that sacred category of movies that are better left untouched, or at least not touched by him.
The original Escape from New York remains one of the defining cult action films of the 1980s. Any actor stepping into the role will inevitably be compared to Russell, whether that's fair or not. That's a difficult shadow to escape, and it's not hard to imagine other actors feeling the same hesitation.
We've already seen similar situations play out elsewhere. The upcoming American Psycho remake reportedly faced resistance from actors who didn't want the burden of being measured against Christian Bale's legendary performance as Patrick Bateman.
That reality may ultimately push Snyder toward a different casting strategy, and cast someone who can approach Snake Plissken as a character rather than a cinematic monument.
A fresh face could also work in the movie's favor. The Escape from New York name carries plenty of recognition on its own, and introducing a newer actor might make it easier for audiences to accept a different take on the character. A major celebrity brings expectations. An unknown brings opportunity.
Whatever direction Snyder chooses, finding the right Snake Plissken is going to be one of the most fascinating parts of this remake's development.
As for Momoa, it sounds like he's happy staying in the audience for this one, which is fine. There are probably better candidates out there who can take a shot at making the role their own.