WhenShane Blacktook the reins as writer-director on 20th Century Fox’s new projectThe Predator, which has been confirmed to be a sequel and not a reboot or remake, in many ways, it brought the franchise full-circle.Shane Blackactually made his acting debut as Hawkins in the originalPredator, which celebrates its 30th Anniversary this summer, and the same year that movie came out, another film he wrote calledLethal Weaponwas released, making him one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood, whose films often showcased a dark comedic edge. With production continuing onThe Predator, one ofThe Predatorstars,Sterling K. Brown, spoke about howShane Blackis approaching this story with, unsurprisingly, a ‘wicked sense of humor’. Here’s whatSterling K. Brownhad to say below.
“Shane has his whole take on it and it’s very different than theoriginal Predator. It’s got a really wicked sense of humor to it, which I love about it. And it’s got a real camaraderie amongst the main characters that I think folks will be attracted to. That’s pretty much all I can say.”
Theoriginal PredatorstarredArnold Schwarzeneggeras Dutch, who lead an elite team into the jungle on a mysterious mission, only to learn that they’re up against a creature far more dangerous than anything they’ve ever encountered. The supporting cast was filled with an eclectic group of actors, includingCarl Weathers,Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura,Sonny Landham,Richard ChavesandBill Duke, withKevin Peter Hallportraying the Predator himself.Sterling K. Brownalso revealed in his interview withEntertainment Weeklythat he was a huge fan of the original, and that his friends used to compare him toBill Duke.
“I’m a huge fan ofPredator, and, of course, everybody loves Jesse the Body (Ventura) and Arnold (Schwarzenegger) andCarl WeathersandBill Duke. My friends at Stanford used to tease me, being the dark-skinned African-American man that I am, they’d say, ‘Yo, man, you’re going to start getting all [those]Bill Dukeroles when you get older.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t look anything likeBill Duke, you guys can kiss my ass.’ So then I booked this movie and I told them and they’re like, ‘Dude, do you even realize that you’re nowBill Duke???’ And I had to go tell them to kiss my ass all over again.”
After it was revealed that this story is not a reboot or remake, there were rumors thatArnold Schwarzeneggermay return as Dutch, but the actor himself revealed in an interview last week that he turned down the chance to return because he didn’t like the script, hinting that he wasn’t given a large enough role. It is believed that he would have only showed up at the very end of the movie, much like the last-minute appearance ofMark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker at the end ofStar Wars: The Force Awakens.Sterling K. Brownis part of a cast forThe Predatorthat also includesBoyd Holbrook,Olivia Munn,Trevante Rhodes,Keegan Michael Key,Thomas Jane,Jacob Tremblay,Alfie AllenandEdward James Olmoss.Shane Blackdirects from a script he co-wrote withFred Dekker, with 20th Century Fox setting a June 03, 2025 release date.
