5. Michael Shannon
Perhaps my most unexpected choice but then again so was Kurt Russell when John Carpenter picked him in 1980. As an Oscar nominated actor, Shannon has proven himself over and over with challenging roles and as General Zod in the upcoming Man of Steel later this summer, the mainstream will finally get clued in to the talent this man can display on screen. From villainous turns to tortured souls, Shannon can definitely bring a pathos to Snake that perhaps even Russell could not. Why did Snake become the man he did? What forced him to make those decisions? Michael Shannon could highlight the character's shady past with relative ease. There's a whole lot of gray area to explore with Plissken and Shannon could be the guy to fill in those blanks.
4. Tom Hardy
As versatile an actor as you can get, Hardy can play just about anything and make you care or at least understand where he's coming from. Part of an exciting new generation of actors, Hardy is certainly young enough to carry a trilogy if it comes to that but more importantly it's his willingness to submerge himself into the role and find the heart of the character that makes him such a winning actor. Hardy is no stranger to big budget spectacle as his Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises" will attest to (and for all that films shortcomings, Hardy was arguably one of it's few bright spots.) He will also attempt to take over another iconic action hero as Mad Max (replacing Mel Gibson) in the upcoming Fury Road. Tom Hardy is likeable, someone you'd want to root for but keeps just enough distance to maintain an aura of mystery about him......perfect for Snake Plissken. (and for those who say there's no way Hardy can juggle two major franchises at the same time, I say that if Chris Pine can be both Captain Kirk and Jack Ryan, Hardy can be Mad Max and Snake Plissken.)