Robert Rodriguez to direct 'Escape from New York' remake

The ?Escape from New York? threat level has been upgraded to ?imminent? as Robert Rodriguez may be donning his director's hat.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the 48-year-old filmmaker is in talks to direct ?Escape from New York? remake of 1980s cult classic.

Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman of The Picture Co. are producing the feature project, which the studio is hoping to launch as a franchise in the same mold of its 'Planet of the Apes' series.

The original movie starred Kurt Russell in the lead role.

The 1981 movie was set in a future (then 1997) where Manhattan had been turned into an island-sized maximum-security prison. When the president of the United States crashes into the decaying city, an outlaw is coerced into traveling inside to rescue him.

The creator of TV-series ?Luthor? has penned the story.

On a related note, Rodriguez who is coming off of directing sci-fi ?Alita: Battle Angel,? an adaptation of the popular manga and is being produced by James Cameron.

The flick also stars Christopher Waltz and Mahershala Ali.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)