MGM Home Entertainment has just unveiled details about the long-promised and eagerly-awaited Special Edition release of John Carpenter’s action classic Escape From New York

This post-apocalyptic view of the world starring Kurt Russell in one of his most memorable roles, throws viewers into a world in which the entire island of Manhattan has become a penitentiary. To rescue the President from a plane crash site inside this moloch of violence and crime, the CIA uses one of their secret weapons. Snake Plissken, a former convict who is intimately familiar with gloomy Manhattan and its inhabitants.

The 2-disc Special Edition DVD will feature an anamorphic widescreen transfer of the movie with a newly remixed 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track, as well as two feature-length commentary tracks.

The second disc of the set will contain a deleted opening sequence – the infamous but never-before-seen bank robbery scene – with a commentary by John Carpenter and Kurt Russel. Also included are a series of featurettes covering various aspects of the production of this landmark movie. A featurette on the making of the snake Plissken comic book will also included, as well as an extensive photo gallery, trailers and much more. The release will also contain liner notes by john Carpenter and a special edition of the Snake Plissken comic book.

“Escape From New York” will be released on December 16 and carry a suggested retail price of $29.98.