In the 27 years since Predator first hit theaters it still ranks as arguably Arnold Schwarzenegger's most memorable non-Terminator film, and the franchise has been running strong in various forms ever since. About four years ago Nimroad Antal gave us Predators, an extremely well done sequel that did a good job of making us forget the two Alien vs. Predator films. While there was brief talk of another sequel 20th Century Fox has decided to go the reboot route, enlisting a familiar face in Shane Black to direct it.
THR reports Black will direct a rebooted Predator film, while also drafting the treatment which his old Monster Squad co-writer Fred Dekker will script. This is an interesting "full circle" situation as Black, who also created the Lethal Weapon series, was asked repeatedly to do some writing on the original Predator script. While he frequently refused, the studio gave him a role in the movie (as Hawkins, dying an especially grizzly death) and continued to ask him. Black kept on refusing.
Who knows where this will fit into Black's schedule as he's trying to develop The Nice Guys, an action comedy that would star Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. He's also working on a long-gestating adaptation of Doc Savage with Chris Hemsworth eyed for the lead. While I'm disappointed we won't see a continuation of Predators the idea of Black taking a stab at the franchise has me eager to see his vision. Hopefully we'll hear more on those plans soon.
