During a recent GQ interview, actor Kurt Russell discussed the similarities between his character, Snake Plissken, in Escape From New York, and the character Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid video game series.

Not Interested in Voicing a Video Game Character

When asked about the possibility of voicing a character like Solid Snake in a video game, Russell made it clear that he was not interested. “I’m pretty lazy by nature,” Russell said, indicating that he preferred to focus on his work in film rather than branching out into video games.

Protecting the Legacy of Snake Plissken

Russell also expressed his desire to protect the legacy of the characters he portrayed on screen. He explained that he preferred to play iconic characters for a single project and was not interested in financially capitalizing on those characters in other mediums. “I come from a different era,” Russell said, emphasizing his commitment to the integrity of the characters he portrayed.

Legal Issues and Friendship

There were rumors that the Metal Gear Solid game series borrowed heavily from Escape From New York, leading to potential legal issues. However, director John Carpenter intervened and prevented any legal action. Carpenter spoke highly of Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and was instrumental in avoiding a lawsuit. Kojima himself has stated that Solid Snake was not named after Snake Plissken, dispelling the notion that the characters were directly connected.