Yesterday we found out the joyous news that the remake of Escape from New York would not be handled by hack director Brent Ratner. Fans cheered for the future of the needless remake and a few tears might have even been shed out of joy. Today, another name is departing the picture, although the news is less joyous.

The new Snake Plissken, Gerard Butler (300), has announced that he will no longer be involved with the remake. Understand, Butler was attached before there was a director or studio formally involved. Now the day after Ratner’s departure, Variety announces Butler is also leaving, due to “creative differences.”

My question is: differences over what? There is no director right now, so there’s really nobody to have differences with. I know “creative differences” is kind of a catch all excuse, but how about some honesty here. How about, “the script sucks” or, “remaking this picture is just a bad idea.” Give us some reason rather than a generic excuse.

Apparently New Line is responding to the loss of both director and star by having rewrites done, even on the eve of the possible start of the writer’s strike. Jonathan Mostow (U-571) has been brought in to do some script doctoring and possibly even take over directing the project. Meanwhile, I maintain this remake isn’t a smart move and the whole project should just be trashed now.