Shane Black not only thinks that his take on ‘The Predator‘ is going to be good but that it will be an “event” in the way that ‘Iron Man 3’ was. His sights for the franchise aren’t just a reboot but to make the new incarnation a blockbuster tentpole that will have people coming back for more. When initially pitched the project he wasn’t at all interested as he felt they might be trying to churn out something akin to the AVP films but when the studios let him know they were willing to put their money where their mouth was, he perked up.
After saying no to the original script with that in mind this is how things broke down:
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.” “Shit, that sounds interesting.”
I was already interested with Black being in charge of the film and with the idea that he has a huge budget and the purpose or relaunching the franchise to new heights has me eagerly awaiting to hear more! When talking about the scope of it though he wants to have the movie be able to tackle the kind of success that Marvel Studios has seen in recent years as when he talks about the franchise he says that:
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.”
There is even a chance that this reboot might pay homage to the original film as there are talks that Arnold Schwarzenegger could be involved. However as to how much we could see him in the film is left completely open as he doesn’t want to talk about the plot this early in the process. We do know that he has previously stated that it would be a sequel of some sort but a lot can happen in two years with nearly no updates.
Personally, I would love a film that takes place in the same universe and gives us some more time with Arnold as Major Alan Schaefer again. It is easy enough to use a sequel premise to reboot a franchise and this is one I think that they could truly make it work.
Are you looking forward to ‘The Predator’? Would you rather see this ignore all of the films to date or take the existing mythology head on? Share your thoughts below!
‘The Predator’ will be released on March 1st, 2018.
Sources: Slash Film, Collider
