Although it could be argued that the Predator franchise is rather hit or miss, there’s no denying that the creature itself remains among the most iconic in science fiction/horror history. Having always been a marvel when it comes to prosthetic-based costume design, it likely gives moviegoers nightmares to this day – regardless of whether they’re able to get to the choppa before waking.
As for which entries in the franchise resonated most with audiences, one could say that the original flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was the only to achieve “classic” status, but the sequel does have its supporters. Still, those that followed – namely a couple crossover films with Alien and 2010’s Predators – proved to be a bit more divisive, but we’re hoping that director Shane Black’s upcoming effort will set things right.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a general feeling of unease surrounding the pic at the moment. After several delays, it was confirmed the other week that it was undergoing reshoots and today, we’re learning what exactly’s being reworked. According to star Keegan-Michael Key, the majority of the third act needed to go.
“We just finished [reshoots] last week, and just about three-quarters of the third act was rewritten. And Shane Black is… he’s just a consummate professional, and a consummate writer. He’s a wordsmith! It was a really, really exhilarating experience, and I think that he’s still one of our most vibrant writers of cinema.”
Honestly, this isn’t the most reassuring thing to hear. It sounds like a good chunk of the film had to be reshot and usually, that’s not a good sign. That being said, they’re at least taking care of things well in advance of release and even despite the concern surrounding the project right now, it might be able to pull through. At least, I sure hope it does.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Predator, with the titular monster being one of the cooler alien designs out there and the ‘noble hunter’ concept behind the species pretty neat. Plus, Shane Black kicks ass. So there’s that, too. All this makes me being there on opening night a dead cert.
On the casting front, Fox’s reboot will see the likes of Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Edward James Olmos, Alfie Allen and Yvonne Strahovski come up against a swarm of hunter aliens in a bustling suburban setting. Think Predator 2, only with more humor. And we’ll finally get to see if the wait was worth it on September 14th.