I Nonetheless Imagine John Carpenter & Kurt Russell’s Unfinished Motion Trilogy Wants A Third Film After 29 Years Of Ready

Nearly 30 years after the second entry, I nonetheless hope that John Carpenter and Kurt Russell will reunite to shut out their Snake Plissken trilogy with Escape from Earth. A have a look at John Carpenter’s film filmography reveals that the famed author/director/composer tends to keep away from sequels like his life trusted it. He was basically compelled to make 1981’s Halloween 2 (which he wrote and produced however refused to direct) whereas Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy is linked by themes as an alternative of characters. The one sequel he did direct was Escape from L.A.

Regardless of being a fan of Carpenter’s work, I’ve to confess this 1996 sequel is one in every of my least favourite. Regardless of being the fifth and closing John Carpenter and Kurt Russell collaboration, Escape from L.A. is tormented by poor CGI and cheesy humor. Russell’s Snake Plissken remains to be an important character, however for the reason that follow-up is basically a remake of the unique, there are few surprises. Nonetheless, the sequel ends on a powerful observe, which arrange the unmade third film Escape from Earth, the place Plissken has to do precisely that after the planet’s expertise is worn out.

Why John Carpenter & Kurt Russell’s Escape From Earth Hasn’t Occurred

Blame Escape from L.A. for the shortage of recent Snake Plissken film

Escape from New York is one in every of my favourite action-adventure motion pictures. Regardless of being shot on a modest funds, it nonetheless seems to be nice, is populated by cool characters and is dripping with ambiance and rigidity. The film additionally has one of many all-time nice premises, however regardless of there being demand for a sequel shortly after it arrived, Russell and Carpenter moved on to new initiatives like Massive Bother in Little China. It was Russell who pushed to make a sequel occur since he beloved Plissken a lot and wished to reprise the half earlier than he obtained too outdated.

Russell was a full-blown film star when Escape from L.A. was launched, however regardless of this, the sequel was a box-office dud. It solely grossed $25 million, about half its manufacturing funds (by way of The Numbers), and critiques had been intensely combined (it stands at 54% on Rotten Tomatoes). The film has amassed a cult over time, although, whereas Carpenter has all the time maintained his perception that L.A. is even higher than Escape from New York. For apparent causes, plans for a 3rd film dubbed Escape from Earth had been instantly shelved.

Particulars for this third Snake Plissken journey have all the time been imprecise, although Carpenter informed Fandom in 2022 that the third movie’s fundamental setup was “… sort of Snake Plissken in an area capsule, flying interstellar.” Within the many years since, there have been a number of plans for an Escape from New York remake, alongside a canceled online game and anime. Basically, the Escape from… saga has been dormant since 1996, exterior of some comics.

Going Into House Would’ve Labored For The Over-The-Prime “Escape” Franchise

Snake Plissken in House sells itself

There are many John Carpenter sci-fi motion pictures (The Factor, Starman, and many others), however the one time the filmmaker left Earth (in a film, that’s) was for Ghosts of Mars. This 2001 action-horror was one other bomb, and Carpenter semi-retired within the aftermath. Regardless of Escape from New York being considered as a severe, dystopian journey, it has its share of over-the-top motion and humor. Escape from L.A. is a extra colourful, goofier film, and whereas it would not totally work for me, it does have some nice sequences.

Going to outer area feels like a shark soar on paper, however the Snake Plissken motion pictures are designed as bigger than life adventures. The sequel succeeded in upping the dimensions from the unique, so it is sensible for the trilogy capper to be the largest of all. Contemplating that Snake himself shut down the Earth within the finale of the 1996 sequel, escaping the chaos and heading for the celebs would not sound like a nasty name.

John Carpenter’s Ghosts Of Mars Reveals What Escape From Earth May Look Like

No, Ghosts of Mars was by no means supposed as a Snake Plissken sequel

Regardless of rumors that the screenplay was reworked following Escape from L.A.’s failure, Ghosts of Mars was by no means designed as a Snake Plissken film. These rumors doubtless cropped up attributable to Ice Dice’s lead character within the 2001 film being suspiciously Snake-like, however these are the one hyperlinks between them. Even when it did not begin life as a sequel, Carpenter’s martian odyssey hints at what Escape from Earth may have been.

It is arguably Carpenter’s most action-packed film (or not less than I believe so), with the movie that includes quite a few shootouts and fistfights. Regardless of its sci-fi trappings, Carpenter retains issues comparatively grounded as attainable. Ghosts of Mars has no spaceships or laser weapons, and it extra so resembles a Western than a sci-fi monster film. The connection between Dice’s Williams and Natasha Henstridge’s Ballard appears like a dynamic {that a} Snake Plissken journey may have benefited from, with the one-eyed outlaw being compelled to work along with his equal.

Ghosts of Mars itself is a fusion of Carpenter’s favourite Western Rio Bravo and its unofficial sequel, El Dorado, so Escape from Earth might need burrowed a similiar Western vibe. Sadly, Ghosts of Mars is sort of chintzy-looking wanting too, and Dice himself refused to advertise the film as a result of he felt it appeared too low-cost. It could be attention-grabbing to think about how Ghosts of Mars would work with Russell’s Snake Plissken at its heart, nevertheless it wasn’t meant to be.

John Carpenter Is Nonetheless Open To Making Escape From Earth

I might love one final John Carpenter and Kurt Russell film

Escape from L.A. might have been a disappointment, however Carpenter and Russell are nonetheless my favourite director/actor duo. Of their prime, they had been operating off classics like The Factor and Massive Bother in Little China, and so they have remained buddies since; Russell even spoke at Carpenter’s Hollywood Stroll of Fame ceremony in April 2025. With annually that passes, I am resigned to the concept the 2 won’t ever collaborate once more. That mentioned, regardless of being all however retired, Carpenter hasn’t dominated out Escape from Earth, telling Den of Geek in 2022.

You by no means know. I discovered by no means to say by no means within the enterprise. I don’t assume so, however I don’t know.

Carpenter has been linked to many initiatives since his final film, 2010’s The Ward, however none have come collectively. He now has a second profession as a musician, making his personal music or scoring for different filmmakers, together with David Gordon Inexperienced’s Halloween legacy sequels. I am glad the Escape from New York remake is not taking place too, as the reboot’s failure to come back collectively may persuade the rights holders {that a} legacy sequel with Russell as Snake is the proper transfer.

Since Russell has mentioned he would by no means play Snake with out John Carpenter, that makes him actually the one director appropriate for Escape from Earth. In all probability, it will not occur – as a lot as I need it to. It all the time felt like there have been extra Snake tales to inform, however Escape from L.A.’s reception simply poured chilly water on these plans. Nonetheless, Snake Plissken has escaped from unattainable conditions earlier than, so he may all the time get away of improvement hell sometime and mount an enormous comeback.

Supply: The Numbers, Rotten Tomatoes, Fandom, Den of Geek