Fantasy Cast: Who Should Play The Duke in the ‘Escape From New York’ Remake?

Basically, when you’re talking about someone playing The Duke of New York, you’re talking about someone playing Isaac Hayes.   He was the embodiment of that character, and he really didn’t seem to be channelling anything other than his own, cool presence.   You could just as easily be asking who should be playing Isaac Hayes in a biopic of the musician’s life.

That is, of course, if whoever decides to direct the ‘Escape from New York’ remake plans to make the character much the same as he was in the 1981 original.   They could take the character in a whole new direction, and that raises another question entirely.

There is an obvious route to take here.   Think of the coolest, bald, black guy in Hollywood.   I’m sure a certain, purple lightsaber just lit up in everyone’s head who is reading this.   That would be Samuel L. Jackson.

He’s the only guy in Hollywood you could buy forcing someone else calling them “A #1!”   For that reason alone, he’s put right up at the top of the casting list for this film.

However, if the director decides to take a different direction, there are certainly other choices for The Duke out there.   Modern, action directors (at least one who would take on the task of remaking John Carpenter’s ‘Escape from New York’) are under the belief that bigger is better.   Having said this, it certainly isn’t a stretch to think that whoever directs ‘Escape from New York’ will want a big guy to play The Duke.   For this, our director needs not look any further than his local UFC PPV for the biggest, baddest Duke candidates on the planet.

These come in the form of either Quinton “Rampage” Jackson or Kimbo Slice.

Both guys have the physical prowess, and they could certainly give whoever is cast in the part of Snake a run for his money.   Kimbo’s name recognition isn’t nearly as big as Rampage’s, and Rampage would bring so much more cool to the part.

Here is where we leave it to you.   Who do you think should play the part of The Duke if and when the ‘Escape from New York’ remake ever gets off the ground?   What direction should the director go in?   Should the part be more of an Isaac Hayes turn or something completely different?   Let us know by shooting us your suggestions in the comment section below.

And, as always, if you have any ideas for future Fantasy Casts, shoot us an email with your ideas. You can find all of our email addresses right here!