Jason Momoa Reveals if He’d Play Snake Plissken in Zack Snyder’s Escape from New York [Exclusive]

by

Zack Snyder is known for directing visually striking films like 300, Watchmen, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, he first gained recognition by directing a remake of the zombie classic Dawn of the Dead. Now, over twenty years later, he’s planning another remake – Escape from New York. The big question everyone is asking is who will play the iconic character Snake Plissken, a role Kurt Russell famously originated. Jason Momoa, who has worked with Snyder before, is a potential candidate, but it’s unlikely he’ll take the part.

While promoting his new film Supergirl (hitting theaters June 26th), Jason Momoa discussed the possibility of starring in a remake of Escape from New York. He admitted he wasn’t sure a remake was necessary, even enjoying the sequel, Escape from L.A. Momoa expressed his deep admiration for Kurt Russell, who originally played Snake Plissken. Although someone approached him about taking on the role, he quickly declined, stating he didn’t want to step into a part so closely associated with Russell. He explained he has too much respect for Kurt and wishes the future actor good luck.

He explained that this role was different from the one he had in the Conan the Barbarian remake. He hadn’t been a fan of the original Conan films with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Instead, he’d grown up reading the original Robert E. Howard stories, and his mother had raised him on classic films like Gone with the Wind, Barefoot in the Park, and movies by Alfred Hitchcock.

Jason Momoa Highlights a Problem With the Escape from New York Remake

With his charismatic and magnetic screen presence, Momoa would definitely be an entertaining pick for the new Snake Plissken. That said, his sentiment about the Escape from New York remake is understandable. He has a great deal of reverence for the original, which is a cult classic and one of the best action movies of the 1980s. Remakes are always tricky propositions, especially when they’re reimagining a film of that pedigree. Snyder has proven himself in this realm before with Dawn of the Dead, but it sounds like Momoa is a little leery of the new Escape from New York. As fun as it might be for the actor to play Snake, a part of him would probably feel like he’d be messing with one of his all-time favorites.

If Jason Momoa has these concerns, it’s likely other actors feel the same way, which presents a challenge for Zack Snyder’s planned Escape from New York remake. Finding the right person to play Snake Plissken might be difficult. The situation could end up mirroring the American Psycho remake, where author Bret Easton Ellis revealed that several well-known actors turned down the role, not wanting to be measured against Christian Bale’s iconic performance as Patrick Bateman.

Just like Jason Momoa wasn’t a fan of the original Conan the Barbarian, many actors may not have grown up watching Escape from New York. When casting the new film, it might be best to find someone who doesn’t have strong memories of the original. This could allow the lead actor to approach the role as a fresh opportunity, without feeling pressured to imitate Kurt Russell. While this Escape from New York is a remake, a lack of attachment to the original could actually be a good thing for the actor playing Snake Plissken.

It’ll be interesting to see who Snyder casts. There are two directions he can go; he could cast a recognizable name, which might be preferable from the studio’s perspective because they could build a marketing campaign around a bona fide star. Or, Snyder could go with a relative unknown, someone who doesn’t bring as much baggage to the production. The Escape from New York brand and iconography will be the main draw here, and it might be easier to sell someone as the new Snake if it’s a fresh-faced lead.

Read More

2026-06-11 20:41