Shane Black’s The Predator First TRAILER OUT

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It took some time for action-specialist screenwriter Shane Black to break through as a director, with his critically praised Robert Downey Jr. vehicle Kiss Kiss Bang Bang drawing rave reviews but so-so box-office in 2005. But nearly a decade later Black re-teamed with Downey for Iron Man 3, a gargantuan smash-hit that blasted Black straight to the A-list. Now, the director is set to deliver his ’70s crime caper The Nice Guys in May, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling.
Black has been busy outside his endeavors with superheroes and foul-mouthed investigators, as he is set to begin work writing and directing The Predator, a reboot-sequel to the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger alien-hunter film in which Black also appeared as an actor.


The new teaser image doesn’t exactly reveal much, save for an early tagline (“You’ll never see him coming”) superimposed over an image of the Predator. This is a possible indication that the upcoming movie will offer a more traditional take on the character, as opposed to the larger “Super Predators” featured in Predators, the most recent installment of the franchise produced by Robert Rodriguez. Black’s longtime partner Fred Dekker (himself the director of The Monster Squad) is collaborating on the project.

Beyond the new image, little is known of Black and Dekker’s (say it out loud a few times) take on the material, other than it aims to “reinvent” the franchise, but not necessarily remove or ignore previous installments. It is not expected to make reference to the Alien Vs. Predator series, however, which attempted to merge the continuity of the two franchises, but has thus far been ignored by later installments of each.
For its part, Predators was set on an alien planet and featured a new cast of abducted humans as prey, but made passing reference to the events of the originals. Some fans have speculated that the new film may opt to tell the story from the Predator’s point of view, which would be a first for the series. Traditionally, Predators (the species does not have a more specific canonical name in the feature films thus far) are depicted as trophy hunters from an intergalactic warrior culture who travel to other planets to hunt the native dominant species.
While Black may not yet be a household name for some moviegoers outside of “The Director of Iron Man 3,” he is well known in screenwriting circles for the huge payday he scored for his work on the original Lethal Weapon film, and his subsequent scripts for action-heavy vehicles The Last Boy Scout, Last Action Hero, and The Long Kiss Goodnight. He has several other major properties in development in addition to The Predator, including revivals of iconic pulp heroes Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze and Remo Williams: The Destroyer. To succeed, The Predator will most likely aim to trade on the familiarity of the monster itself.
Source: Predator (Facebook)

 

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[h=1]Arnold Schwarzenegger To Meet With Shane Black For The Predator[/h]

These days in Hollywood, what’s old is new again. Studios are keen on reviving classic franchises, green lighting new entries in famous series to capitalize on nostalgia and bring in a new generation of fans. One such project that’s on the horizon is The Predator, from writer/director Shane Black. Described as an “inventive sequel” that will look to “reinvent” the property (as opposed to a hard reboot), Fox has pegged a March 2018 release date for the film.
With just about two years until its premiere, not much is known about The Predator at this time. However, Black is already beginning the hype train, sharing a teaser image with the tagline, “You’ll never see him coming.” He’s also moving on to casting for his latest endeavor, eyeing none other than original Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
During the annual Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio, the action icon broke the news, revealing to The Arnold Fans that he’s going to have a meeting with Black soon about the new film:

“I haven’t talked with him (Shane Black) yet but I’m going to meet with him for lunch sometime soon. Just as soon as I’m finished with this (Arnold’s Sports Festival) and The Apprentice and all this stuff. But I will get together with him. If there is any news, we’ll of course let you know right away. There’s also a meeting coming up soon about Conan, about the project moving forward.”
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Given that Black’s primary objective is to explore the existing Predator mythology, it’s safe to assume that Schwarzenegger would be reprising his role as the soldier Dutch, the only member from the team that survived the first film. Many of these “soft” relaunches typically bring back a veteran cast member or two to help pass the torch to a younger generation (see: Harrison Ford in Star Wars 7 and Sylvester Stallone in Creed). From that perspective, it would make sense to have Schwarzenegger return. Seeing Arnold go toe-to-toe with a Predator again would be appealing for longtime fans, and it would help establish strong connective tissue between the 1987 classic and Black’s new film – which ideally would start a fresh series of stories.
At the same token, Schwarzenegger is not the same kind of draw as he was during his prime. His last handful of films have underwhelmed critically and/or commercially. This includes a trip back to the Terminator well in last year’s under-performing Terminator: Genisys. That shows that it’ll take more than returning to a famous role to draw audiences in. Schwarzenegger in an action film hasn’t been a box office lock for years; viewers need the final product to justify the trip to the theater.
Luckily, with Black at the helm, The Predator could prove to be worthwhile. The filmmaker is a talent behind-the-camera, writing well-received hits like Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. In addition, his The Nice Guys is one of the most anticipated films of the summer. He’s also knowledgable about the Predator franchise, having co-starred with Schwarzenegger in the original film as Hawkins. If Predator is to make a comeback, there aren’t many better than Black to handle it.


The Predator will be in theaters March 2, 2018.
Source: The Arnold Fans

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s Predator Will Be Iron Man 3-Style ‘Event’ Film[/h]

Writer/director Shane Black costarred in the original Predator film, back in 1987 – and now, Black is developing a fresh installment in the sci-fi/action franchise, currently known as The Predator. Plot details for Black’s take on the Predator series remain firmly under-wraps for the time being, though Black has established that the project will be an “inventive sequel” rather than a hard reboot of the property – which is to say, it should be more along the line of a “soft reboot” in the vein of Jurassic World and/or a “re-imagining” featuring modern production values (similar to Mad Max: Fury Road).
Black’s latest comments about The Predator suggest that the comparison to Fury Road is perhaps the most appropriate to make here. Indeed, much like George Miller had a proper big-budget to draw from when he revisited the Mad Max universe (a place that he had created more than thirty years earlier) while making Fury Road, Black says that The Predator will be a large-scale production as well as an “event film” on the level with his Marvel Studios movie, Iron Man 3, rather than the previous, more modestly-budgeted Predator series installments.
Robert Downey Jr. and Shane Black filming Iron Man 3



Thrillist (h/t Collider) spoke with Black about his upcoming movie The Nice Guy following the release of the latest trailer for the 1970s-set action/comedy – and during the course of their interview, Black explained how 20th Century Fox convinced him to take charge of the Predator franchise movie forward, even though he freely admitted to not having been overly impressed with certain previous installments in the series (the Alien vs. Predator movies, in particular):

They called me and I was reluctant. I said, “Look. You guys at Fox, I mean, I enjoy these movies, but we’ve been churning out these AVP whatever, they each cost a certain amount of money, they’re okay, but there’s no effort to elevate them or make them any kind of an event.” They’re just sort of another Predator. “Oh, there’s another one that came out.” They said, “What if we said to you we want to reinvent this, and really treat it with as much of an event status, or as much hoopla as we would the Alien prequel, which is coming out also? We really want to make this something. The kind of movie that people line up for.” I said, “Really, you’ll spend a bunch of money?” They go, “Yep.” I go, “Make it really scale, spectacle?” “Yep.” “S***, that sounds interesting.”
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Fox is now doubling down on both the Predator and Alien film franchises, what with Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant (a sequel to Scott’s Alien prequel/spinoff, Prometheus) and Black’s The Predator both being in the pipeline for theatrical release in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Covenant is officially described by Fox as being the second chapter in a full-blown Alien prequel movie trilogy (possibly a tetralogy if you believe Scott) that will be on the same scale as the $130 million Prometheus, while Black’s latest comments confirm that Fox has similar plans for The Predator – including, no doubt, hopes for at least one or two followups. That would be a change of pace for the Predator movie franchise, seeing as the previous installments were more of the lean and mean survival action/thriller variety, in scale and cost alike; even the crossover “event” of Alien vs. Predator was budgeted at a relatively modest $60 million.

Black, for his part, feels that in order for the Predator mythology (or “brand,” whichever term you prefer) to continue evolving and keep up with the times, it should go the way of an Iron Man 3-style blockbuster instead:

I think the first one was great, and it was contained, and it was a perfect little gem for what it was. I think there’s an expansion that needs to take place, and also just a love for that era, that movie, and the mythology of the Predator. I think that they came to me knowing pretty much that… they said, basically, if I wanted to make Predator but treat it like it was Iron Man III instead of just another little movie. I said, “Let’s really do it right this time.”
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The Predator producer John Davis has alluded to the idea that Black’s project will ‘reinvent’ the Predator franchise in the past, and Black’s latest comments have now shed more light on exactly what Davis meant. Truth be told, though, Black has a point about the Predator series needing an “expansion,” seeing as mid-range projects (like the Predator movies past) are becoming a relic of the past when it comes to Hollywood franchise fare; in the current environment, if a franchise that’s not called Deadpool is active right now, then it’s probably going bigger on every level. Projects such as Mad Max: Fury Road and Black’s Iron Man 3 illustrate how a director’s creative vision and voice can shine through even on a big-budget feature too, so if Black can follow his own example with The Predator then it would show that he had the right idea about how to ‘reinvent’ the Predator series in the first place.
[h=2]NEXT: Arnold Schwarzenegger Meeting with Shane Black for The Predator[/h]The Predator opens in U.S. theaters on March 2nd, 2018.
Source: Thrillist [via Collider]

 

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[h=1]Rapper 50 Cent Teasing Predator Reboot Casting[/h]

Of all the odd things horror films are sometimes known for, one often-overlooked tradition is the odd pattern of rappers facing off against some of genre cinema’s most iconic villains. From Busta Rhymes and LL Cool J attempting to throw down with Halloween’s Michael Myers to Redman tangling with murderous doll Chucky to Ice T battling the Leprechaun, there is a surprising list of instances of rappers doing battle with monsters in modern movie history.
Possibly set to be the latest entry on that eclectic list is Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who has been dropping hints as of late that he’ll be joining the cast of Shane Black’s upcoming Predator reboot. During a recent radio interview on Sirius XM’s Shade 45 (via Bloody Disgusting), Jackson was asked about upcoming projects, and he said, “I’ll be doing some new feature films and stuff like that too. I’ll do Predator.” He later reiterated his claim during a second interview with Miami’s 99 Jamz UnCensored, stating, “I’m working on some new projects. You heard of the movie Predator? I might be a part of that project this summer.”


While there has yet to be any official confirmation or denial of 50 Cent’s claims by either Black or Predator production studio 20th Century Fox, it’s difficult to imagine that the rapper/actor would be going around the radio circuit talking about working on the film without at least some contact having been made. Also, Jackson is no stranger to Hollywood, having carved a fairly successful side career on both the big and small screens since his debut in the quasi-biopic Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Jackson currently produces and appears on the acclaimed Starz series Power, and has worked on films like Righteous Kill, Spy, and Schwarzenegger/Stallone team-up actioner Escape Plan. That last job may be the most relevant to the story at hand, as it’s well known that Black met up with original Predator hero Schwarzenegger awhile back to discuss a possible return to the franchise. While it’s still not one hundred percent clear whether the legendary cinematic badass will indeed battle the universe’s ultimate hunter once again, it’s not too difficult to imagine Arnold putting in a good word for his former co-star.
At this point, very little is known about the actual plot of the Predator reboot, outside of the fact that Black was given the go-ahead to expand the franchise’s world and the increased blockbuster-level budget to make that ambition feasible. It’s also been established that Black and co-screenwriter Fred Dekker intend the film to be more of a loose sequel to the existing Predator installments in the style of, say, a Jurassic World than an outright continuity reset, meaning that a return of Arnold’s Dutch character from the original remains within the realm of possibility. Where 50 Cent ends up slotting into the mix is anyone’s guess, although it’s safe to say that the Predator will not be down with partying like it’s his birthday.
The Predator opens in U.S. theaters on March 2, 2018.
Source: Shade 45, 99 Jamz UnCensored (via Bloody Disgusting)

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator is Set in the Present-Day[/h]

Fans of director John McTiernan’s original 1987 hit sci-fi action/thriller Predator are no doubt looking forward to seeing The Predator, the upcoming installment in the franchise that is being written and directed by Iron Man 3 filmmaker Shane Black (whose next film, The Nice Guys, opens in May). Thus far, we’ve learned that there is a possibility that Arnold Schwarzenegger will return as Dutch from the original film in Black’s Predator movie – a project that Black committed to after 20th Century Fox agreed to make it as an event-style film; which is to say, a proper big-budget tentpole a la Iron Man 3.
Even as the official casting decisions have yet to be made, with the potential likes of rapper/actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson among those in the running to play a role, things appear to be shaping up for Black’s film to be the revitalization of the larger Predator franchise that Predators sorely missed the bar of being in 2010. In that light, the latest word from Black has it that the script for The Predator takes place in a time more than a little eerily familiar to our own.


In an interview with Collider, Black spoke at length in regards to his plans in developing The Predator, a project that has taken immediate precedence over all of the other projects that he is currently involved with (see his slow-developing Doc Savage film adaptation, for example), meaning that the new movie will be the next project that he will direct. On the process of developing said script with co-writer Fred Dekker (RoboCop 3), Black stated:

“I’m working on the script, and barring an act of God, a safe from the sky, there’s nothing that suggests it won’t be the next thing, and I’m getting more and more excited day by day. I mean, there’s great Predator movies, but to actually play with the idea of making it an event, not necessarily in scale, it doesn’t have to be huge, but it just has to feel like a Predator movie you want to see in the summer and line up for it. And that’s what we’re going for. Let’s get back to the excitement and innovation of that original movie where it felt fresh. I just want to find a way to make it feel fresh and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
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Black went to state that The Predator will take place in present-day, meaning that his film will feature events set to occur exactly thirty-one years after McTiernan’s original from 1987. Unfortunately Black was unable to comment on Schwarzenegger’s level of involvement for the time being, though he did reiterate that he has high hopes for crafting a film that strives to, “Honor the tradition of what is really a remarkable first movie and even parts of the rest of them as well.”
With all of that information formally put on the table, Black’s other noted production of the superhero adventure property Doc Savage has been shelved for the time being. But while fans of the formerly mentioned original 1930s and 1940s American pulp magazine serial are out of luck for now, fans of the late 1980s action franchise can begin anticipating a modern day update in Black’s The Predator come March 2018.


Predators will open in U.S. theaters on March 2nd, 2018.
Source: Collider

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator to Begin Filming by October[/h]

Shane Black’s The Predator has been largely kept under wraps, with the director revealing precious little about what he has planned for the franchise. The good news is that it doesn’t appear to be a full-on reboot of the property, with Black revealing that there’s a chance Arnold Schwarzenegger himself could reprise his role from the original Predator in some capacity.
There is at least one thing that we now know about The Predator, though: When it’s likely to start filming. Black recently revealed that he hopes to have cameras rolling by October of this year at the latest.
Speaking to AFP, Black revealed that things are moving forward with the film. His intention to make the movie into an “event” film may be playing a part in this, as it suggests the possibility of a larger return for the studio than your standard Predator film. According to Black:

“To the best of my knowledge, the train is rolling. It took some convincing because they’ve been putting out these movies all along with a $50-60 million budget, and they all had a guaranteed return. But there was never the sense that it was an event picture. It was more like ‘I understand another Predator is coming out — maybe we’ll see it maybe we won’t.'”
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He went on to confirm that the movie will start filming “in the latter part of the fall — September, October.”



Black, who actually appeared alongside Schwarzenegger in the original Predator as radioman Rick Hawkins, hopes to elevate the Predator films to a blockbuster status that they’ve never really had before. The original film is now considered a sci-fi classic, but opened to fairly lackluster critical reviews. Without revealing details beyond the film taking place 31 years after the original (that is to say, in the present day), it’s clear that Black hopes to win over audiences in a way that none of the previous films in the franchise have.
It will be interesting to see what Black brings to the table for the Predator franchise. He directed Iron Man 3, which was large in scope, but it failed to resonate with a lot of fans despite enjoying a post-Avengers bump that landed it in the $1 billion box office club. Of course, he also directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which was a smaller film but one that enjoyed a very positive reception, so he at least has the potential to pull off a film that fans and critics both will love.
The important thing is that Black needs to focus on making a good Predator movie more than making a good “event” film. He still has several months before filming starts to iron out the details, so let’s hope that he can achieve his goal and give fans the Predator film that they’ve been waiting for.


The Predator will open in U.S. theaters on March 2nd, 2018.
Source: AFP

 

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[h=1]Shane Black Talks New Predator Film’s Tone & Timeline[/h]

As one of the more intriguing concepts among a spate of ’80s-era remakes, reboots, and reimaginings, Shane Black’s The Predator looks to revive the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring classic. The rebooted film recently added Monster Squad director Fred Dekker as a co-writer. In addition, the alien stalker flick will start shooting this October, in order to comply with its new earlier release date in February 2018.
Speaking of dates, many fans of the series might be wondering where Black (check out our interview) will set his “event” film in relation to the original movies. For that matter, how does his Predator reboot fit into the overall mythos of the franchise?
Black (The Nice Guys) recently sat down with IGN to discuss his intentions for The Predator and its roots. In the interview, he explored the power and legend building of Ridley Scott and his Alien influences. The director and co-writer also discussed his desire to maintain the darker tone of the franchise, as well as the enigmatic nature of the titular alien beast. Black said:

“The worst thing you could hope for in one of these is a shot in bright sunlight of a field and the Predator just kind of walks on and ‘hello’ – you want to do… I keep going back to Ridley Scott, the way he captured the alien in that first movie. The sense of mystery and portent. If we could just cut into a little piece of that – that sort of vibe – and then I think there’s humour to be had too. And tonal shifting.”
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As an actor and uncredited co-writer on the original Predator, Black clearly understands the power of keeping the alien hunter steeped in mystery. The less audiences know about the creature, the more chilling its actions were (much like the xenomorphs in Alien). The real question on the minds of fans of the series is how does this film relate to the previous sequel? Black examines the timeline:

“Well it seems to me if we set ours in 2018 which is when the film [Predator 2] is set, then we can only be a prequel to that one, so you could say yes it exists, but people won’t be discussing it really…it’s in the midst of the mythology. It’s a movie that’s set in our present-day. Or maybe the day after tomorrow.”
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Black was also asked whether Dwayne Johnson, with whom the director is working on the upcoming Doc Savage film, could join the cast of The Predator. To which the director replied:

“Um, well look, I’m meeting with him in a couple of weeks…anything can happen in this crazy genre world.”
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It looks as though Black may offer some new twists on the classic alien hunter. Fortunately, his experience with the previous film and his knowledge of the Predator series should keep his sequel of sorts in line with the franchise. Black and Dekker’s take on the film also sounds interesting, not as stalk-and-kill-oriented than its predecessors. However, exploring “the bigger picture” behind the saga can be challenging while attempting to retain the aura of dread and foreboding behind the character.
Also, although unlikely, it would be amazing if Black could work out a team-up between action heroes from the past and present for his reboot. Fans would likely have fun watching Schwarzenegger and The Rock go toe-to-toe with the gnarly extraterrestrial (or extraterrestrials). Of course, there’s no guarantee that any of the potential Predator foes/bait currently teased will wind up in the reboot. But we can hope, can’t we.


The Predator opens in U.S. theaters on February 9th, 2018.
Source: IGN

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator to Begin Filming in September[/h]

There hasn’t been a new installment in the Predator franchise since director Nimród Antal’s Predators was released back in 2010, but that changes in 2018 when The Predator arrives. The latter is a soft reboot or semi-continuation of Predator films past (in the vein of Jurassic World, Creed, and so on) that co-writer/director Shane Black is prepping to start production later this year. Black co-penned the Predator screenplay with his writing partner, Fred Dekker, and has thus far managed to keep his cards close to his chest where it concerns the movie’s storyline, beyond confirming that it takes place in the present-day (or 2018, at the time of the movie’s release).
There’s a possibly that Arnold Schwarzenegger will reprise his role as Dutch from the original Predator (1987) in Black’s film, but the only other major casting rumor for The Predator so far involves a potential role for Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. However, proper casting updates for the movie will be arriving sooner than later, now that The Predator is seemingly locked in to begin principal photography in September of this year.


The Directors Guild of Canada (hat tip to AvPGalaxy) has revealed that Black is set to begin production on The Predator in Vancouver on September 26th, 2016 and will wrap up filming there a few months later, on December 20th. Keep in mind, this doesn’t rule out the possibility that The Predator will film in locations outside of Vancouver (and the city’s sound stages therein), but it’s safe to assume the majority of production is taking place there. Either way, this report lines up with Black’s previous claim that he expects to start rolling camera on his latest project by September or October of this year.
Shane Black directing Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys



Both 20th Century Fox’s Predator series and Alien franchise – sci-fi action/horror properties that crossed over during the 2000s with the Alien vs. Predator films – aim to rejuvenate interest in their brands with their latest movie releases, arriving in 2018 and 2017, in turn. Where Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant is a sequel to Prometheus (the Alien prequel that was also directed by Scott) that hopes to unify Alien fans more than its predecessor managed, Black’s intention is for The Predator to offer the sort of “event” movie experience that no Predator film since the original installment has.
Black, as it were, has developed a loyal cult following over the past decade with his original (or, rather, non-franchise based) writing/directing efforts Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and this year’s The Nice Guys, years after he was an in-demand Hollywood screenwriter in the 1980s and ’90s thanks to his scripts like Lethal Weapon. Although the previous “event” film directed by Black, Iron Man 3, divided hardcore Marvel Cinematic Universe fans, it was a critical/commercial hit, as far as success with mainstream audiences are concerned. Moreover, it’s quite unlikely that whatever tweaks Black and Dekker make to the larger Predator mythos with their movie will prove anywhere near as controversial as the infamous Iron Man 3 Mandarin twist.



The Predator opens in U.S. theaters on February 9th, 2018.
Source: DGC (via AvPGalaxy and Comic Book)

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator Casting Shortlist Includes James Franco[/h]

Though the arrival of Shane Black’s The Predator sequel/soft reboot is still quite some time away from actually happening, there remains a great deal of interest and questions about the project. The film itself has some reasonably big boots to fill, with 1987’s Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Predator casting its shadow as arguably one of the biggest and most beloved action films of all time.​

Shrugging off speculation early on that The Predator would be a remake of the original, Black has been vocal on several occasions about his intent to make what he calls an “inventive” sequel and to turn the homicidal space alien into something that scales back its “overdone” characterization in Predator sequels past. Throughout all this however, The Nice Guys director has yet to divulge who will lead the battle against the creature – aside from revealing that said character is tentatively called Quinn Mackenna and won’t be played by Schwarzenegger.
As is to be expected in a case such as this, numerous names have been circulating with regards to who will nab the lead role and the latest rumor courtesy of Popcorn Talk is that James Franco is a possibility. Though prefaced (in the linked video starting at the 27:45 mark) as “rumor, pure conjecture, utter speculation and to be taken with a giant grain of salt” the current word in Hollywood is that the CAA agency is actively pushing Franco’s name as the prime candidate for the film’s lead.
Franco is apparently “very high on a list” for the job, which doesn’t necessarily mean that he will snag the role, but at present his is the name that is most publicly identified with the Quinn Mackenna character. Over the years the 38-year old actor hasn’t exactly shown his preferred genre to be action – with turns in a number of art-house, dramatic as well as comedic titles – but he’s no stranger to it either, having appeared in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy as well as 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. These films are a far cry from the gritty, military vibe that is sure to permeate The Predator, but Franco’s substantial abilities as an actor have made his a name synonymous with variety, as even the most cursory of glances at his current acting resume will confirm.



Recent rumors regarding The Predator’s casting process have also indicated that Arnold Schwarzenegger could potentially be returning to his original character of Dutch. If The Predator does once again involve a military platoon in the jungle, it’s somewhat difficult to imagine James Franco leading any such group – especially one in which Schwarzenegger must defer to him – into battle.
Aside from Franco’s involvement with The Predator being little more than a well polished rumor at this point, it’s also worth noting that Hollywood can arguably make an action star out of practically any actor. A personal trainer is often all that’s needed to make the transition complete – provided the actor in question can also bring the necessary acting skills. In the case of James Franco, those skills have long since been proven.
The Predator opens in U.S. theaters February 9th, 2018.
Source: Popcorn Talk

 

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[h=1]The Predator: Benicio del Toro in Talks to Star[/h]

With five films currently residing in its cinematic portfolio, the Predator franchise has been going strong since Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers first battled the otherworldly alien hunter in 1987. While the pseudo-sequel Predators, starring Adrien Brody (Houdini) and Topher Grace (American Ultra), didn’t exactly light up the box office nor garner much in the way of positive attention from critics or audiences, it still fulfilled that empty space fans of the franchise were craving.
A few years later, 20th Century Fox decided to put Shane Black (The Nice Guys) in charge of directing a new Predator installment, tentatively titled The Predator. Black is also co-writing the movie’s script with Fred Dekker (The Monster Squad) – himself no stranger to sci-fi or action genre stories. Filming for The Predator is supposed to begin in either September or October of this year, but with no leading star attached to the project that might not be possible. Though a short list of rumored potential lead stars had emerged (which included James Franco) no official word on who might land the leading role had been announced.
Now, according to Deadline, it appears that actor Benicio del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy) is entered into talks with Fox Studios to star in Black’s re-envisioning of the classic eighties action/sci-fi film – though his actual role is currently unknown. Of course, “talks” can always fall through and this del Toro news could turn out to be nothing more than Hollywood agents tossing their client’s name around, but for now it appears as if he might be the next person to battle the skull-collecting alien.

Benicio del Toro from Sicario (2015)



Developing…

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The Predator opens in U.S. theaters on February 9th, 2018.
Source: Deadline

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator Working Title Revealed[/h]

Since announcing that a new movie based on the homicidal space alien more commonly known as The Predator was on its way, director Shane Black has been careful not to reveal too much too early on. Fans of the original 1987 Predator movie, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and followed a group of special ops forces as they battled an all powerful alien entity in a South American jungle, arguably see the movie as one of the most iconic action films of all time.
With Predator’s history and fanbase what it is, Black certainly has his work cut out for him. However, the fact that Black starred in the original film has perhaps imparted upon him a familiarity with the material that other directors wouldn’t have, which could also be fueling a stronger desire to do right by the movie and its fans. Black has previously teased elements of the new film, with everything from the feel of it, to the look of the Predator itself being mentioned. Yet even as fans eagerly collect these crumbs of information, we still don’t have so much as a plot outline, or for that matter, an official confirmed title


While we’ll have to continue to wait for word on the plot, we now have (courtesy of Comic Book) an official working title for The Predator, which is Ollie. It seems that Black is continuing with his efforts to ensure that this film supplies no easy answers to the public until the time is right. At present there is no explanation as to what significance Ollie could have in terms of the film’s plot, locations, characters – nothing at all.
Earlier this year it was reported that production on The Predator (or Ollie, if you prefer) was set to begin in Vancouver on September 26th, 2016 but as of this writing, there has been no such confirmation that filming is currently taking place – only that the film’s release has been bumped ahead. As a matter of fact, to date there’s yet to be a confirmed cast list, with names like Benecio Del Toro, James Franco and Arnold Schwarzenegger still floating around, teasing the imaginations of fans. As if all of this wasn’t intriguing enough, Black decides to drop this rather bizarre and utterly random seeming working title on us all.



One thing to keep in mind in terms of the working title is that it very well could simply be a distraction which plays no significant role in the film’s makeup. Consider the names Primevil, Hunter and Alien Hunter. Recognize them? Probably not, but all three of them were at one time or another, working titles for the original 1987 Predator film. Granted, those three titles sound a little more badass than Ollie, but the point remains the same; working titles are temporary and don’t always reflect what the film is about.
It’s already clear at this point Shane Black is doing everything he can to ensure that when Ollie finishes production and is unleashed on audiences, the “event” film he promised will be real. There’s no guarantee that Ollie will be good or bad at this point, but with the mystery that currently surrounds this film likely to build over the coming months, it’s understandable why anyone with even a slight interest in Black’s efforts would want to head to theaters and check it out.


Ollie (aka The Predator) opens in U.S. theaters February 9th, 2018
Source: Comic Book

 

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[h=1]The Predator Reboot: Benicio Del Toro Drops Out, Adds Boyd Holbrook[/h]

When it comes to iconic franchises being reimagined for the modern day, bringing back The Predator is one of the more highly anticipated films on the horizon. There is a lot of love from action movie fans of all generations for the first Predator movie, but the new film will certainly benefit from advances in technology, visual effects, and more. Fox has had Shane Black attached to direct the film for some time, but the search for a lead was thought to be done when Benicio Del Toro was revealed to be in talks to star.
With a star seemingly attached, some of the newer updates for the film have pointed to an IMAX release and just today, the working title for the movie was revealed. Now the cast is getting an overhaul with Del Toro reportedly on the outs, and Boyd Holbrook looking to step into the lead.
THR is reporting that Del Toro has fallen out of negotiations for the lead role, citing possible scheduling conflicts as a result of the deal never closing. While they are reporting that Boyd Holbrook is being eyed by the studio, Variety is reporting that is a done deal. This would be Holbrook’s biggest role to date, after appearing in Narcos on Netflix, and can soon be seen as Donald Pierce in Logan.



With Del Toro now out of the project, the star power is significantly less with Holbrook on board. Del Toro has proven to audiences multiple times that he is an actor to take seriously and can carry the lead. This would have been a different role for him, but after his performance in Sicario, it is hard to imagine him not killing it in the lead. Holbrook is a capable actor, but has not yet shown he has what it takes to carry a film, and potentially a franchise.
The seemingly quick turn to Holbrook should point to Fox liking what he did with his role in Logan, and are confident that he has what it takes to carry a film. This is not to say that he will be alone, as the Predator films have previously had some sort of team assembled, so Holbrook will likely have a group of individuals right next to him throughout the film. Then again, there has not been any plot details revealed so far, so this new direction for the franchise could include a departure from previous installments.
The Predator opens in U.S. theaters February 9th, 2018.
Sources: THR, Variety

 

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[h=1]Shane Black Teases ‘Funny, Scary, Wondrous’ Predator Reboot[/h]

Throughout Shane Black’s career, he has developed a unique style of filmmaking. From Lethal Weapon to Iron Man 3 or his most recent venture in The Nice Guys, Black has thrived at buddy cop comedies. He has done son in the traditional sense and with superheroes, but next up he will be bringing The Predator to the big screen. Unlike his previous efforts, the Predator franchise has not traditionally been a comedic adventure, instead heavily being influenced by the sci-fi and thriller genres.
This could be changing a bit with Black behind the camera however. Not only is he planning on bringing his signature sense of comedy, but he is also interested in making the killer alien’s sixth appearance scarier than fans have seen before.
In a recent interview with Collider, he was asked about the tone that he would take with the franchise. It would not be a Shane Black movie without the humor, and while he previously discussed how this can be the case, there will be more to the film than that. In fact, he is interested in making the franchise scary, while elevating the out-of-this-world nature that the idea of a Predator brings.


I think the Predator movies have slightly veered from typical sci-fi in that there is a sort of thriller aspect to them. I think it should be scary, I think it should be funny, and I think ultimately it should be wondrous and about perceiving things that human beings very seldom get a chance to see… I don’t mean movie audiences I mean characters in the movie. I’m not saying the movie will be nothing anyone’s seen before (laughs).




Ultimately, these comments are right on par with what he has hinted at before. This is a franchise that has previously had funny moments or scary moments for audiences, but as he said, these were never the overarching tones for any of the films. With Black attached, he should be able to find plenty of comedic moments over the course of the movie. However, the Predator inherently has a power set that presents moments for the alien to be used to instill fear in the characters, and in the audience as a result.
Black appears to have a set idea on what the film will be, and with him also revealing in this interview that production begins early next year, this should not be a surprise. With the tone in check, Black and the rest of the creative people involved at Fox will focus on fleshing out the cast around Boyd Holbrook prior to the start date. With this tone in mind, Black plans to “get a group of credible guys” to add personality to the film outside of just having the prototypical tough guys. This tone and potential group of credible actors should take the franchise in a new direction, which could be exactly what it needs.
Source: Collider

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s Predator Casts Olivia Munn[/h]

Despite director Shane Black’s best efforts to keep news under-wraps concerning his sequel/reboot The Predator, also known by its somewhat-confusing working title Ollie, fans simply cannot stop talking about this highly anticipated movie. The upcoming film (also co-written by Black) will mark the first entry in the Predator franchise since 2010, when Predators hit the scene.
The anticipation around The Predator is not without its merits either, as Black has now deliver some highly-revered films – cult classic Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and this year’s (under-appreciated) The Nice Guys among them. The semi-continuation of the beloved Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Predator currently counts Narcos star Boyd Holbrook among its ranks, after potential star Benicio Del Toro passed on the film. It would appear, however, that The Predator has found its next cast member now.
THR is reporting that X-Men: Apocalypse costar Olivia Munn looks to join Holbrook as a member of the (human) cast for The Predator. Munn’s turn as Psylocke in the aforementioned X-Men film marked the actress’ first role in a major franchise movie. She will next star alongside Jennifer Aniston, Kate McKinnon, and Jason Bateman (among others) in the DreamWorks raunchy winter holiday comedy, Office Christmas Party.



Former Attack of the Show! host Munn has been on the rise as a film actress over the past few years, going back to her role as Joanna in the Channing Tatum-led Magic Mike. She has since gone on to appear in a number of films, play a leading role on Aaron Sorkin’s TV series The Newsroom – and is even slated to lend her voice acting talents to next year’s The LEGO Ninjago Movie (alongside Dave Franco and Jackie Chan, among others).
As alluded to earlier, Black and company are keeping a tight lip concerning The Predator‘s (although the film’s writer/director has teased certain elements), but it is being reported that Munn will be portraying a scientist opposite Holbrook’s Special Forces officer in the film. It’s been rumored for some time that Schwarzenegger may reprise his role as Dutch in the film too, but for now that’s far from a given.
Some Predator fans might still be feeling the sting of losing the heavy-hitting Del Toro as a cast member in Black’s film. Still, as more fresh talents continue to fill out the roster, excitement should continue to build for the project. The addition of Schwarzenegger would be a major coup for the film too – but regardless, Olivia Munn joining the project is intriguing on its own, for now.


Source: THR

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator Will Not Take Place in the Suburbs[/h]

Over the years, Shane Black has tackled plenty of different projects, but through them all a buddy cop dynamic has remained. From his involvement with Lethal Weapon, to pairing up Stark and Rhodey for a good portion of Iron Man 3, or bringing Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling together as the worst private investigators in The Nice Guys, his style has found a way into the films. Outside of these dynamics, Black has also been known to do the unexpected with genre tropes.
This appeared to be something he would once again be doing with his upcoming sequel/reboot, The Predator, as well. With Boyd Holbrook in the lead, the movie reportedly has put Olivia Munn in the female lead, but that was not the most interesting thing from the report. Instead, it was additionally reported the movie would take place in the suburbs. However, the newest report says that will not be the case after all.
Collider is reporting that the initial report was misinformed and that Holbrook and Munn’s characters will not be encountering a Predator in suburbia, but instead a still unknown setting. While they were not able to reveal the true location of the film, knowing that the sequel will not take place in the suburbs should help some cautionary fans be at ease with Black and his direction for the film.



Moving the Predator to the suburbs does seem like something that Black would do since it would take it out of its element, but audiences have seemingly already seen the basis of this in Predators. There is certainly a chance that Black could have pulled this off it were true, but instead fans should expect a more natural locale for the cast of characters and the alien hunter.
The location of the film is not the only thing that continues to remain a secret, as almost no plot details have yet been revealed. With the exception of small character details for Holbrook and Munn, how the two are involved and come into contact with a Predator continues to be a secret for fans. However, Black has recently teased the funny yet scary take he has planned for the R-rated sequel, and with production set to begin in early 2017 on The Predator, some sort of details should be made official in the coming months. But for now, fans can rest assured that Predator will not be making his way through the suburbs anytime soon.
Source: Collider

 

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[h=1]The Predator Lands Batman V Superman Cinematographer[/h]
When it comes to the many reboots and reimaginings of iconic franchises and properties currently in development in Hollywood right now, one of the more exciting and interesting is Shane Black’s The Predator. Coming off of the critically-acclaimed buddy cop comedy, The Nice Guys, earlier this year, Black is next set to help bring the Predator back to life on the big screen once again, in a film that he’s been understandably, very tight-lipped about. Thanks to his well-known history with classic ’80s properties though, and his own history with the Predator franchise (Black played Hawkins in the original 1987 film) , this has the makings to be one of the few modern-day reboots that could win over even the more stubborn of diehard fans.
Production on the film was originally set to begin back at the end of September, but curiously, there’s never been any confirmation on the production schedule since then, or if filming on the project has even begun yet. Following the casting of Boyd Holbrook, however, it looks like we can at least add one other name to the list of talent involved in it right now (even if the list itself remains surprisingly short).


/Film is reporting that cinematographer Larry Fong has been signed to shoot The Predator, following his most recent work on films like Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and next year’s highly-anticipated, Kong: Skull Island. In addition, the report states that the film is currently in pre-production, with principal photography set to begin in February 2017. Holbrook will indeed be playing the lead role, while Olivia Munn will head what is said to be a “strong” supporting cast.



Like the rest of the film, not much is known about the story or plot of The Predator, only that it won’t be a reboot in the traditional sense, but will instead be more like a sequel, according to some of Black’s previous comments. While initial reports stating that the film would take place in a suburban setting were later shot down by the director also, Black has stated that the film will acknowledge the death of Dutch Schaefer’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) patrol thirty years earlier. Rumors of Schwarzenegger possibly returning for the film have been running around since it was originally announced, but no one officially attached to the project has either confirmed or denied his involvement as of yet.
Fong’s involvement should come as welcome news for fans of the franchise though, since both his visuals in Batman V Superman and even in the first two trailers for Kong: Skull Island have been on the receiving end of massive critical acclaim as of late. After getting his start with J.J. Abrams and the crew over at Bad Robot, Fong has gone on to make a name for himself as one of the go-to cinematographers for blockbuster films working today, and for good reason too. He should only help to bring a cinematic, sleek look to this reboot, which Shane Black has described as being a rated-R, scary, funny, and wondrous new take on the beloved property.
Source: /Film

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator Casts Keegan-Michael Key[/h]


2017 will see the return of the xenomorph in Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant, which 20th Century Fox is seemingly so confident in, the studio has moved the film to a prime summer spot. That’s not the only space meanie the studio’s prepping for a return either, as 2018 will bring back the two-mouth monster’s famous nemesis for Shane Black’s The Predator, eight years on from the last movie in the franchise (director Nimród Antal’s Predators). The film has been in development for a while – it was first floated in mid-2014 – but after a shooting delay (it was originally set to start filming last September) and a few casting hiccups (Benicio del Toro almost signed on), it’s beginning to move forward for a mid-February production start-date.
The film’s been slowly building up its cast in that time. Boyd Holbrook (who’s also playing Logan villain Zander Rice for Fox in just a couple months) is the lead, reportedly along with Moonlight’s Trevante Rhodes playing an ex-Marine, backed up by Olivia Munn as a scientist. The latest addition to the movie’s cast, however, comes from a distinctly more comedic background.


According to THR, Keegan-Michael Key (of Key and Peele fame) is in final talks to appear in the film. His role isn’t specified in the THR article, but it look to be a core part of The Predator‘s main ensemble, with the exclusive report saying the character will team up with Holbrook and co. to take on the deadly yautja.

Key’s been a comedy mainstay for a while thanks to both his series with Jordan Peele and a raft of movie appearances (he’s been in everything, from bit-parts in the likes of Role Models to the duo’s first feature, Keanu, last year), but The Predator could offer bit of a career change; presuming it isn’t a straight-up gag-role a la Tomorrowland, this could see him move into (moderately) more serious territory. Not that comic relief would be out of the question; last October Black talked about how the Predator films manage to cross genres, being funny as well as scary, and how he wants to replicate that here.
The Predator was at one point rumored to be bringing the deadly hunter to the suburbs, a detail THR first reported and that its Key story repeats – even though other reports refute the claim (which is hardly surprising, given how suburbia is a little too close to the small-town aesthetic of AVP: Requiem, a film neither franchise wants to hearken back to). As such, it’s hard to really speculate on how Key might fit into the movie, but more details will likely come out once he’s signed on the dotted line and production on Black’s film officially begins.
Source: THR

 

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[h=1]Sterling K. Brown in Talks for Shane Black’s Predator Reboot[/h]

Sterling K. Brown is quickly becoming one of the hottest names in Hollywood. Brown experienced a breakout role in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story as Christopher Darden, and continued his success on the small screen by joining NBC’s This Is Us, one of the biggest new series of the past year. With television conquered, Brown has set his sights on bigger projects. Not many can quite match the ensemble of his upcoming superhero related project Black Panther, and yet one superhero role is not enough for him as he is also campaigning to play John Stewart in the Green Lantern Corps movie.
Superhero franchises aside, Brown is continuing to build off his incredible string of performances over the past year. Now, it looks like he will be the latest member to join Shane Black’s highly anticipated alien assassin flick The Predator.
THR is reporting that Brown is in talks to join the cast of The Predator as a government agent. The conflict of his character will reportedly come after he locks away the film’s lead Boyd Holbrook and must then let him go free so he can fight off the Predator epidemic that is tearing through the suburbs.

After initially losing Benicio Del Toro in the lead, Black has rebounded in an impressive way to bring in quality talent for every role so far. While none of the attached cast members are the prototypical headliners in Hollywood, it is hard to say this isn’t a cast that has come together nicely. Outside of Holbrook now in the lead, Moonlight star Trevante Rhodes, comedian Keegan-Michael Key, and Olivia Munn are set to fill out the cast in different aspects.
The report from THR also mentions of multiple Predators making an appearance in this film, so it could be all hands on deck to stop them. Brown’s description of a government agent does not do a great job at showing how involved in the action he could be. For all we know, he could be a special operations leader trained in combat that makes him a viable addition to this mini-army so far assembled. However, he could also fall into the category that is not uncommon with big action films of being the terrified and unqualified government man that is roped in. Based on Brown’s track record, the former is much more likely and would suit his talents better as an actor, but there is no telling what Black has imagined. With production reportedly beginning later this month, these details could become official shortly.
Source: THR

 

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[h=1]Shane Black’s The Predator Casts Room Actor Jacob Tremblay[/h]

Right now, Shane Black’s The Predator is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and interesting “reboots” in development. Coming off of two critical darlings with Iron Man 3 and The Nice Guys, Black has re-emerged as one of the most unique voices in the industry, and his next project has him taking a stab at bringing the beloved Predator franchise back to the big screen again, directing from a script he’s co-written with Fred Dekker. Thanks to not only his previous work as a writer and director, but his firsthand experience with the Predator franchise already (as Black played Hawkins in the 1987 Predator film), he should be able to provide the franchise with the kind of rejuvenating kickstart it certainly needs.
Reports point towards the film starting production sometime next month, and if that’s true, Black has already assembled an impressive cast for himself. Boyd Holbrook is set to play the film’s lead, starring alongside Keegan Michael-Key, Moonlight breakout star Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Thomas Jane, and more. In case that ensemble wasn’t already enough also, yet another exciting and talented actor has been added to the film’s cast.


THR is reporting that Room star Jacob Tremblay has joined the cast of The Predator, which the report states will indeed begin production next month in Vancouver. While plot details are sparse, Tremblay will reportedly play the son of Boyd Holbrook’s character, an ex-marine who discovers the existence of fierce aliens but finds no one believes him that they exist. Tremblay’s character is autistic and often bullied in school, but becomes a key role in the fight against alien race, thanks to his preternatural ability to learn languages.

Despite Black’s involvement in the project being a well-known fact for quite some time now, the first official details and cast members for The Predator have just now started to come out over these past few months. That hasn’t necessarily detracted from the excitement or interest surrounding the project, however, and after the disappointing direction that the franchise began to take with a number of its later installments, it seems fair to say that Black is one of the best writers and directors that Twentieth Century Fox could have gone with for the film.
Following his breakout role in Room in 2015 (as well as the multiple awards and accolades that he won for his performance in it), Tremblay has gone on to become one of the most in-demand child actors of his generation. In addition to The Predator, he’s also set to star alongside Julia Roberts in Stephen Chbosky’s upcoming adaptation of Wonder and is one of the lead stars of The Book of Henry, the newest film from Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow. Both movies are set to be released in a couple of months; and while The Predator marks the first major franchise that Tremblay has been attached to, judging by the trajectory and success of his career so far – there’s a good chance it won’t be his last, either.
Source: THR

 

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[h=1]The Predator Is ‘Not A Sequel’; Schwarzenegger Cameo Unlikely[/h]

Predator is coming back to the big screen in 2018 from director Shane Black. The last time a studio rebooted the classic ’80s action movie, Adrien Brody ended up fighting his way through the jungle alongside a motley crew of undesirable characters in the semi-successful Predators. The new reboot will star Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther), Jacob Tremblay (Room), Keegan-Michael Key (Keanu), Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse) and Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl).
Details on the The Predator, as the new movie is called, are being kept under heavy guard but there have been some rumors about what will go down, including one about Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to the franchise for a cameo appearance. It turns out some of these rumors should probably be dismissed.
In an interview (via We Got This Covered), Boyd Holbrook (who replaced Benicio del Toro) talked about what this new take on Predator will be, and gave assurances that this is indeed a new take. Holbrook also gave an update on that rumored Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo, and it’s not good news if you like Schwarzenegger with your Predator:


I’m currently working on Predator. It’s not a sequel; Shane Black has made something totally new, somehow keeping within the realm of Predator [while also being] absolutely new in terms of the story that we’re talking about today, and rooted in something real. It’s real fresh. I don’t think you’re going to see [Arnold] Schwarzenegger. It would kind of make it a gimmick. It’s horror, science-fiction and a western.”
Shane Black is set to begin shooting The Predator next week, and once things get rolling on the movie, we’ll begin hearing more details about how Black is tackling the reboot. The horror, science-fiction and a Western line is bound to touch off lots of speculation, as it doesn’t sound from that like the movie will be returning to the jungle (at least we know it won’t take place in the suburbs). It’s hard to think of too many Westerns that take place in the jungle (though it’s not totally outside the realm of possibility).

If indeed Shane Black plans to create a “totally new” Predator then it makes sense that he would avoid playing the nostalgia card by bringing in Schwarzenegger for what would amount to a gimmicky cameo. Starring Schwarzenegger in Terminator: Genisys did nothing for that movie’s box office, so it’s fair to question whether his name even means anything to younger fans. Starting afresh with a whole new cast and a whole new take on the story is probably the right way to go for Black.
Would it be cool seeing Arnold back in the Predator universe? Yes it would. But it would be even cooler to see a director eschew going for easy points with older fans in favor of a completely new and interesting vision. All indications are that Shane Black has something big in store for The Predator.
Source: We Got This Covered