Recasting “Escape from New York”

Art by Paul Shippper

A little over eight years ago there was talk that Joel Silver was working with StudioCanal to remake John Carpenter’s Escape from New York along with two other films featuring Snake Plissken.  I was excited for the news and began to think about who would play each part.  Below are my original cast suggestions as well as who I would cast now. 

So… let’s take a look at who should fill the roles in Escape from New York Remake:

• Snake Plissken was originally played by Kurt Russell.  Then I suggested Guy Pearce.  Now I would cast Wyatt Russell.  I know Wyatt has said he wouldn’t play Snake, but man, that would be perfect casting.
  
  
• Hauk was originally played by Lee Van Cleef.  Then I suggested Stephen Lang.  Now I would still go with Lang.
  
  
• Cabbie was originally played by Ernest Borgnine.  Then I suggested Brian Cox.  Now I would cast Ma Dong-seok (Train to Busan).
  
  
• The President was originally played by Donald Pleasence.  Then I suggested James Gandolfini.  Now I would cast James Spader.
  
  
• The Duke was originally played by Isaac Hayes.  Then I suggested Terry Crews.  Now I would still go with Terry Crews.
  
  
• Brain was originally played by Harry Dean Stanton.  Then I suggested Michael Emerson.  Now I would still go with Michael Emerson.
  
  
• Maggie was originally played by Adrienne Barbeau.  Then I suggested Rosario Dawson.  Now I would still go with Rosario Dawson.
  
  
• Romero was originally played by Frank Doubleday.  Then I suggested Walton Goggins.  Now I would still go with Walton Goggins.
  
  
• Slag was originally played by Ox Baker.  Then I suggested Ryan Hurst.  Now I would still go with Ryan Hurst.

So, what do you think?  Inspired casting or did I miss the mark?