Shane Black to Helm Fox's Predator Reboot
-
- June 24, 2014
Director starred in 80s classic
By James DeRuvo (doddleNEWS)
Fox is planning to reboot the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger action film franchise Predator, and it brings along one of its original cast members to do it. No, not Arnold, no, not Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura, and no, not Carl Weathers. The actor coming back is Iron Man 3 director Shane Black, who starred in a minor role of a soldier on a mission doomed by an alien presence. The plan is for Black to write a new treatment and then direct the film in a reboot.
Black played the role of Hawkins in the original “Predator.”
There’s no doubt that Black can handle it. He knows the franchise intimately, having been courted numerous times to polish the original script and story, which Black turned down. But then original Predator director John McTiernan cast him in a small role, and it was an offer Black couldn’t refuse. Black’s brand of action and humor can benefit the series, in dire need of a refresh, and since he also wrote the original Lethal Weapon, and directed and wrote Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, it’s sure to be worth the price of admission.
We didn’t really hear from Black for awhile, as he had a pickup acting role here and there, and even lended his voice to several video games based on movies. But then he burst back on the A-list when he helmed the third installment in the Iron Man franchise that breathed new life into it, after what most most Stark fans agree was a lackluster sequel to the original. Currently, Black is developing Doc Savage and Death Note, and is producing a film called Deathless.
But Fox is likely looking to fast track a reboot of Predator, and so those films may end up being put on the back burner. Since 1987, Fox kept the franchise moving with follow ups starring Danny Glover, and Pedators, directed by Robert Rodriguez. They even released a pair of films where they mashed up Predator with the Alien franchise for Alien vs. Predator, and told the story of the Predators hunting down the ultimate prey on planet Earth.
And while Black will only be writing the treatment, he’s bringing along his college buddy Fred Dekker, who co-wrote Black’s film Monster Squad. So you can bet that Black will also be working closely with Dekker to fine-tune the script based on Black’s story. And then Black will get behind the camera as director.
And it begs the point. Will Black want to bring Arnold Schwarnegger back for the film? Or can you imagine Thor himself Chris Hemmsworth, which Black has been talking about for Doc Savage, to take over the lead role? How about Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson? I could easily see him playing the lead role, or the role of the CIA contact that Carl Weathers did such a great job on. Then there’s Jesse Ventura. Who could ever fill those shoes? Whoever it is, he still won’t have time to bleed.
Hat Tip – THR
Editor’s note: Will the twist be that The Predator is actually Trevor Slattery?
The post Shane Black to Helm Fox’s Predator Reboot appeared first on Doddle.
