It's been a good week for "Upgrade" director Leigh Whannell: He can now add the remake of "Escape From New York" to his to-do-list, right after he tackles a new version of "The Invisible Man."

Whannell will write the script for the remake of the 1981 John Carpenter action classic. Sources say that there is no deal in place right now for him to direct, but that's a definite possibility.  Carpenter is executive producing.

Robert Rodriguez ("Machete") was last attached to direct the remake from a script by "Luther" creator Neil Cross.

Whannell's version will reportedly "retain elements of the original but bring new ideas to the table." And aim to be a better, less bloated remake of an '80s classic than recent flops "Robocop" and "Total Recall."

Kurt Russell starred in the original as eye-patch-sporting tough guy Snake Plissken, who had 24 hours to rescue the President of the United States from the island of the Manhattan (which, in the futuristic year of 1997 was now a maximum-security prison). Carpenter and Russell reteamed for the so-so sequel "Escape From L.A."

Whannell got his start writing and co-creating the "Saw" franchise with pal James Wan. They then started a new franchise with "Insidious," in which Whannell also played occult investigator Specs. He  made his directorial debut with 2015's "Insidious: Chapter 3."

He also wrote and directed last year's underrated sci-fi thriller "Upgrade."

[Via THR]