Arnold Schwarzenegger Has Discussed a Real PREDATOR Return with PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS Director
The Predator franchise is back in a big way. With Prey earning critical acclaim and reigniting excitement around the series, the universe has only continued to expand.
Earlier this year, fans were treated to Predator: Killer of Killers, another hit that kept the momentum alive and it ended up delivering one of the wildest cameos in the franchise’s history.
That shocking moment showed the frozen bodies of Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Prey protagonist Naru, played by Amber Midthunder, and Danny Glover’s Harrigan, bringing the saga full circle.
In a recent interview with Empire, director Dan Trachtenberg revealed that he sat down with Schwarzenegger to discuss the possibility of bringing Dutch back in a bigger way. Trachtenberg said:
“I met Arnold, and he said, ‘You’d think I get, ‘l’ll be back,’ yelled at me most, but it’s actually, ‘Get to the chopper!’ So, he’s well aware of the franchise’s staying power.
“He was excited to talk about what else we could do. Because there’s so much more story to tell now — you could tell how [Dutch and Naru] were captured, or what happens when they’re de-iced. Many possibilities.”
The idea of Schwarzenegger finally returning to the role of Dutch is monumental for fans. The original 1987 Predator remains one of the greatest action sci-fi movies of all time, and a huge part of its success was Schwarzenegger’s unforgettable performance as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer.
Now the timing feels perfect to bring the character back. With Killer of Killers establishing a direct connection between the first hero and the most recent one, the door is wide open for Dutch’s return.
Exploring what happened to him after Val Verde or showing how he and Naru might re-enter the fight against the Yautja could create something truly special. It would not only honor the legacy of the franchise but also push it into bold new territory.
I think Schwarzenegger still has the presence to pull it off, but it’s also something that we could see in animation form, which could be cool as well. Just seeing the character face the Predators again would be a dream come true for longtime fans and a massive moment for the series.
While we wait to see what happens with Dutch, Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7.