12 Intriguing Details About John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York'

While modern dystopian films like The Hunger Games and Divergent dominate the genre today, the 1981 collaboration between director John Carpenter and former Disney actor Kurt Russell redefined the category with the gritty, low-budget cult hit Escape From New York. Far from a tale of heroism or optimism, the film is a dark, brutal journey that has cemented its place as one of the most legendary science fiction films in history. Dive into a dozen fascinating facts about Snake Plissken and his daring mission into the world’s most infamous prison: New York City.

1. St. Louis became the filming location for Escape From New York due to a catastrophic event.

Despite being set in New York City, director John Carpenter revealed that filming in the actual city would have been too disruptive. Instead, the crew chose St. Louis, Missouri, as their primary location. The decision was influenced by a devastating fire that had ravaged parts of St. Louis’s waterfront years earlier, leaving behind a landscape of crumbling buildings and desolate streets—perfect for capturing the film’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

“You’d encounter massive stretches of charred, abandoned buildings that seemed endless, stretching as far as the eye could see,” producer Debra Hill recalled. Carpenter was granted complete freedom to film in the city at night, scattering debris across the streets to create the ideal dystopian backdrop for Snake Plissken’s harrowing adventure.

2. The film was initially set to open with a bank heist.

In the final version, Snake Plissken (Russell) is introduced as a notorious convict and ex-war hero offered a chance at redemption. However, Carpenter’s original vision included a detailed prologue showing how Snake ended up behind bars. The director filmed an intricate sequence depicting Snake and a partner robbing a bank, escaping on a hijacked train, and ultimately being apprehended. The scene was later removed after test audiences found it disorienting.

3. The name "Snake Plissken" was inspired by a real individual.

While crafting the screenplay, Carpenter needed a memorable name for his protagonist. By chance, a mutual acquaintance introduced him to a man named “Snake Plissken,” whom Carpenter described as a “high school tough guy” with a snake tattoo. The name was too fitting to ignore, and it became an iconic part of the character’s identity.

“Anyone sporting a snake tattoo somewhere on their body … that’s the kind of hero I can get behind,” Carpenter remarked.

4. John Carpenter had to push hard to cast Kurt Russell.

During the film’s production, Kurt Russell was primarily recognized for his roles in Disney films such as The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. While he wasn’t an established action hero, Carpenter believed he was perfect for the role of Snake. The studio, however, pushed for bigger names like Tommy Lee Jones or Chuck Norris. Carpenter argued that Norris was too old and stood firm in his preference for Russell over Jones. After a battle of wills, Carpenter’s choice ultimately prevailed.

5. James Cameron contributed to the crew of Escape from New York.

To achieve some of the film’s visual effects, Carpenter collaborated with Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. For a scene where security forces airdrop food to prisoners from a helicopter, Carpenter required matte paintings to replicate the New York skyline, as filming wasn’t taking place in the actual city. Among the artists who created these paintings was James Cameron, then employed by New World, who would later gain fame for directing Titanic and Avatar.

6. The iconic eyepatch worn by Snake Plissken was Kurt Russell’s suggestion.

One of the most memorable elements of the film is Plissken’s eyepatch, which surprisingly wasn’t part of the original script. Russell revealed that he proposed the idea to Carpenter, who instantly compared it to a beloved Western character.

“I told John, ‘I think an eyepatch would be a cool addition.’ While many directors might have hesitated, John immediately responded, ‘That’s fantastic! I don’t think anyone’s worn an eyepatch since John Wayne in True Grit!’”

7. The production team received rare permission to film on Liberty Island.

While most of the movie was filmed outside New York, Carpenter managed to secure a crucial piece of the city’s identity for on-location shooting: Liberty Island. This was used for the scene where a helicopter passes the Statue of Liberty, establishing it as the new base for security forces. Carpenter noted that the City of New York provided his crew with unprecedented access.

“We were the first film crew ever allowed to shoot on Liberty Island at night, right by the Statue of Liberty,” Carpenter explained. “They gave us complete access to the entire island. It was a stroke of luck, as securing permission wasn’t easy. A bombing had occurred three months prior, raising concerns about safety. But we proved to be responsible tenants, taking great care and ensuring everything was left spotless afterward.”

8. Carpenter brought in a professional wrestler to face off against Russell.

For the gladiator-style fight scene where Snake battles another inmate, Carpenter enlisted real-life pro wrestler Ox Baker. Baker’s intensity during rehearsals was so authentic that Russell’s stunt double simply wished him, “Good luck.” However, Russell got the upper hand in the end, as he had to strike Baker in the neck with a nail-studded baseball bat. Although padding protected Baker, both Carpenter and Russell remembered the wrestler being visibly nervous before the stunt.

9. Jamie Lee Curtis might have had a hidden role in Escape From New York.

Three years before Escape From New York, Carpenter directed the slasher classic Halloween, which also launched Jamie Lee Curtis’s career. Without the success of Halloween, Carpenter might never have made Escape From New York. As a nod to their collaboration, Carpenter invited Curtis to contribute to the film. While she doesn’t appear on screen, it’s widely believed she provided the voice for the narrator under the alias Kathleen Blanchard.

10. Donald Pleasence crafted his character’s backstory himself.

Jamie Lee Curtis wasn’t the sole Halloween alum to feature in the film. Carpenter also enlisted Donald Pleasence, who brought gravitas to Halloween as Dr. Loomis, to portray the U.S. President. The film never addresses why the President has a British accent, but Pleasence reportedly crafted his own explanation. Carpenter shared that the actor created a backstory involving Margaret Thatcher and a scenario where the U.S. had reverted to British rule. Carpenter chose not to incorporate this into the film.

11. A key shot in Escape From New York was filmed in Carpenter’s garage.

Russell noted that Snake Plissken only truly cares about one character besides himself: Maggie, portrayed by Carpenter’s then-wife, Adrienne Barbeau. To emphasize the emotional weight of her death, Carpenter wanted to make it unmistakably clear that Maggie was gone. However, he hadn’t filmed her body, only the moment she was struck by the Duke’s car. To resolve this, Carpenter and Barbeau later shot a scene of her lifeless body in their garage.

12. Carpenter hasn’t completely dismissed the idea of a third film.

After a 15-year gap, Carpenter and Russell revisited the world of Snake Plissken with 1996’s Escape From L.A. Discussions about continuing the franchise have surfaced periodically, and Carpenter and Russell reportedly conceived a concept for a third installment, which would have followed Snake’s attempt to escape Earth itself.

“You never know,” Carpenter told Den of Geek in March 2022 when asked about the possibility of a third film. “In this business, I’ve learned never to say never. I don’t think it’s likely, but I can’t say for sure.”