The Predator Reboot Aims For ‘Something Totally New’

Maybe “reboot” isn’t the right word. Directed by Shane Black (“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “Iron Man 3”), the reinvention of the 80’s classic is scheduled to start production on Feb. 24. That makes it just over a year before “The Predator” returns to terrorize the public on Mar. 2, 2018. Black, an uncredited contributor to the original “Predator” script, plans to expand on the franchise’s mythology instead of simply remaking the original film.

Boyd Holbrook: ‘The Predator’ Something Totally New

Recently, “The Predator” lead Boyd Holbrook shed a little more light on what we can expect from the movie. He said that Black made “something totally new.” Think expansion or reimagining. Don’t think of the film as a sequel or as simply another installment. “It’s real fresh,” Holbrook said. “It’s horror, science-fiction, and a western.”

This keeps in line with what we know so far of the film, details of which have been kept closely guarded. “The Predator” offers an opportunity to reinvent the franchise and connect with a modern audience. Its setting? Suburbia. No, you read that correctly. The movie takes place in the suburbs of present day, placing it around 30 years down the timeline from the original “Predator.” For die-hard fans, used to seeing the all-powerful Predator in harsh terrain (jungles, alien worlds, icy wastes), this might be a little hard to wrap their minds around. We’ll just have to wait and see what Black is planning.

‘The Predator’ Production To Start On Feb. 24

This news comes as a welcome relief to fans, as the film has been plagued by some recent trouble. “The Predator” hit a snag in October last year when negotiations with Benicio Del Toro fell through due to scheduling conflicts.

The loss dealt a blow to the film, as Black and 20th Century Fox had been courting Del Toro for months. Fortunately, they quickly found a replacement in Holbrook as their lead.

Don’t Expect Arnold Schwarzenegger

Holbrook also revealed that “Predator” fans shouldn’t expect Arnold Schwarzenegger to cameo in Black’s reimagining. “It would kind of make it a gimmick,” Holbrook said. Schwarzenegger starred in the original film as Dutch, the leader of a special forces team hunted by the seemingly all-powerful alien Predator in the South American jungle.

While Schwarzenegger allegedly met with Black to discuss a potential cameo, it’s not too surprising that the action star won’t be returning to the franchise. Black confirmed that “The Predator” will remain in the franchise’s continuity. However, he has been adamant in saying that the new film is an expansion, not a reboot or a revisitation.

The Cast Of ‘The Predator’

Even without Arnie, the franchise seems to be in good hands with a diverse cast. “The Predator” tapped Holbrook as the film’s lead in October last year. But he won’t be playing Schwarzenegger’s Dutch. Black revealed that the lead of “The Predator” is a new hero called “Quinn Mackenna,” though the name is subject to change. Similar to Dutch, Mackenna possesses a background as a Special Forces commando. We’re sure that Holbrook, fresh off his stint as the villain Donald Pierce on “Logan,” is up to the task.

Unfortunately, apart from Holbrook’s Mackenna, details of other roles have been handed out as sparsely as breadcrumbs. We know that “X-Men: Apocalypse” star Olivia Munn will play a scientist opposite Holbrook’s Special Forces commando. Trevante Rhodes, of the critically-acclaimed LGBT film “Moonlight,” will reportedly play an ex-Marine. Keegan-Michael Key, of “Key & Peele” fame, also looks to be part of the core cast and might team up with them against the yautja. Sterling K. Brown, currently part of NBC’s “This Is Us,” plays a government agent who initially finds himself at odds with Holbrook’s commando.

Recently, “The Predator” also added Thomas Jane (AKA The Punisher) and ten-year-old Jacob Tremblay (“The Room”) to the cast. Details of their roles have yet to be released.