Arnold Schwarzenegger might be making his return to the Predator franchise. Schwarzenneger starred in 1987’s Predator as Alan ‘Dutch’ Schaefer, one of the survivors of an encounter with a Predator. Even though Predator launched a franchise spanning nearly four decades with different lead characters, the series is closely linked to Arnold Schwarzenegger, despite his only appearing in one film. For years, producers on various Predator sequels have tried to court Schwarzennger back to the series to no avail, though Predator: Killer of Killers offered a hint at the star’s potential return.
At the premiere of Predator: Badlands, the film’s producer Ben Rosenblatt addressed the possibility of Arnold Schwarzennger reprising his role as Dutch in a future Predator film. “Obviously, the holy grail of Predator movies would be getting Arnold back in there, and it’s always been something in the back of our minds that it would be really great to see him come back to this franchise that he’s made iconic, and that’s made him iconic,” said Rosenblat to Deadline. The producer then revealed that Arnold Schwartzenneger is a fan of the recent Predator films, and he’s been talking with director Dan Trachtenberg, hinting at the possible future return. Rosenblatt said:
“So, he’s been really wonderful. Arnold and Dan have met a couple of times now. He’s been really interested in what we’re doing, he’s a real fan of what we’ve done so far, from what I understand. And we’re really excited. After Predator: Badlands comes out, we’ll see and have more conversations. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to do something with Arnold, because that would be awesome.”
Will Arnold Schwarzennger Return for a New ‘Alien vs. Predator’
After Schwarzennger’s role in Predator, the franchise has spent nearly 38 years trying to court him back. Schwarzennger dropped out of returning for Predator 2 due to salary disputes. When Robert Rodriguez was originally hired to pen the script for Predators back in 1995, the goal was to get Schwarzennger and Predator 2 star Donald Glover to return, but by the time the movie was released in 2010, Schwarzenegger was unable to return due to his obligations as governor of California. 2018 The Predator originally had an ending planned that would have seen Schwarzennger’s Dutch return. After 38 years, fans finally got to see Dutch return in a cameo as one of the frozen pods in Predator: Killer of Killers‘ bonus ending.
The Predator: Killer of Killers ending might be the best clue of where Schwarzennger’s Dutch could return, likely in another animated title that unites him with Danny Glover’s Detective Mike Harrigan from Predator 2 and Amber Midthunder’s Naru from Prey. The animated film format would be best, as it allows the actors to voice their characters from when they were likely frozen or captured, with Dutch likely sometime in the 1990s. Though Arnold Schwarzennger could also appear in live-action, as an older, more experienced fighter.
The other big avenue for Schwarzenegger to return to Predator would be a potential Alien vs. Predator crossover film. With Predator: Badlands featuring the Weyland-Yutani corporation as a major part of its story, it appears that Dan Trachtenberg and 20th Century Fox’s plan is to revive the Alien vs. Predator film franchise. A synthetic android version of Dutch plays a prominent role in the original 1994 Alien vs. Predator arcade game. Featuring Arnold Schwarzennger in an Alien vs. Predator film could help the movie feel like an event film rather than just another crossover. It would also allow Schwarzennger to join an elite group of actors, including Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and Michael Biehn, who have appeared in Terminator, Alien, and Predator.
- Release Date
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June 12, 1987
- Runtime
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107 Minutes
- Writers
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Jim Thomas, John Thomas
