Prey was the greatest thing to happen to the Predator franchise since Arnold Schwarzenegger picked up the commando vest to fight the extraterrestrial threat in Predator. In 2017, The Predator was about to be released in theatres, with a big cameo planned to set up the sequel at the film’s end.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Dutch in the original film, was in talks to return to the franchise. It would have marked the actor’s second appearance in the franchise, with perhaps more screen time in the upcoming sequels. However, Schwarzenegger turned down the iconic role, due to reasons that seem a little pricey on the part of the Terminator actor.
Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted a bigger role
Speaking with Yahoo!, the Commando actor talked about being approached for 2018’s The Predator. The actor said:
“They asked me, and I read it, and I didn’t like it — whatever they offered. So I’m not going to do that, no. Except if there’s a chance that they rewrite it, or make it a more significant role. But the way it is now, no, I won’t do that.”
Schwarzenegger wanted to have a bigger role in the franchise, rather than a small cameo at the end of the film as a teaser for the next film. The True Lies alum was keen on returning to the franchise, but found it to be a wholly hollow affair, given the amount of screen time and lines the actor was given in the film. This was also corroborated by the film’s director via his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Me too… I spoke with him, I think it was that he didn’t have enough to do. Enough presence in the film.
— Shane Black (@BonafideBlack) April 6, 2017
it seems that all parties involved were too attached to their interpretation of the role, preventing the iconic character from returning for the role.
What’s next for Predator, and what fans expect from the franchise
Fans have been clamoring for more Predator content ever since the release of 2022’s Prey. While Disney has made good on their promise to deliver on the Planet of the Apes franchise, it seems that Predator has been on the back burner for the time being. It has been reported that a completed Aliens v Predators anime series has been locked up in the House of Mouse, pending a direction for the IP. This information comes from the Perfect Organism Podcast, featuring former licensing director at 20th Century Fox, Joshua Izzo.
Apart from this, Dan Trachtenberg has confirmed that the studio is interested in potential sequels. When asked about his opinion on the fan-favorite conversation of a Predator film set in Feudal Japan, featuring samurai, the director said:
“Um… not at liberty to say. But, yes, have loved the conversations and when we were still filming, we were talking about the other things we could do.”
Further, fans have been pitching ideas for films since the 2022 feature, interested in seeing the Predator franchise in different periods.
it’s disappointing that Predators perfectly sets up a period prequel film set in Japan with samurai fighting Yautja and somehow no one has run with this idea yet pic.twitter.com/LshetbPthY
— priscilla page (@BBW_BFF) September 16, 2022
Was hoping for Predator v Samurai but a WW2 setting sounds interesting. pic.twitter.com/EFVClEtb5d
— Kendall Reviews (@gjkendall) October 22, 2023
Predator vs Samurai????
Predator fans want Bullet Train star Hiroyuki Sanada to join the Yuatja team in a Predator vs Samurai prequel following the success of Prey.
Source:FanWire#EntertainmentNews #HorrorMovies#preymovie pic.twitter.com/dIjMoRPafd
— Weyland-Yutani (@ScifiZoneIM) August 8, 2022
People keep saying we should get a Predator film where a Yautja takes on some Samurai (all for that btw), but what about a Predator film where it fights some cowboys.
— Nitro-Spidey (@NitroSpidey) October 3, 2023
PREY & HONOUR. I’m going to put money on the Predator Vs. Samurai movie happening. Hiroyuki Sanada would own it. #PreyMovie #Predator #Samurai pic.twitter.com/hfd14BJ4FH
— Rich Johnson (@richpieces) August 9, 2022
A popular choice for the Feudal Japan Predator film seems to be Hiroyuki Sanada in the lead role. It must be noted that a Katana prop in 2018’s The Predator hinted at the possibility of such a scenario, which is perhaps already canon in the narrative of the universe.
Officially, there has been no such announcement for other Predator films set in different historical settings. Fans are clamoring for more content similar to Prey, which leaves Disney in an interesting position. Either the House of Mouse can produce what the fans want, or experiment with formulas that they think would work, whether they are doomed to fail from the beginning or not.
