News recently broke that everybody's favorite galactic trophy collector, the Predator, would once again be returning to the big screen in a new reboot helmed by "Iron Man 3" director Shane Black. However, Black is now saying his film will be more of an "inventive sequel" than a reboot.
Script duties for the new film from 20th Century Fox will fall to Fred Dekker. The film will be a reunion of sorts for the duo, who previously worked together on "The Monster Squad" in 1987. Together Black and Dekker plan to build on the existing Predator mythology for their new film.
Talking with Collider, Black says the project is definitely not a reboot and he doesn't enjoy the idea of them, especially for a property like "Predator."
"Why start over, when you've all this rich mythology yet to mine?" Black says. He notes he would rather explore that mythology, instead of simply hitting the "restart button" and starting over. Black goes on to say that Dekker is perfect for the project and that the duo had a blast working together on "The Monster Squad."
The original 1987 "Predator" starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a commando forced to do battle with the creature in the jungles of Central America. The film did well enough to spawn a less memorable 1990 sequel, but since then Fox hasn't done too much with the franchise. The studio combined the intergalactic hunters with another staple sci-fi franchise, "Alien," to create two more films: "Alien vs. Predator" and "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem." Neither movie lived up to expectations.
Movie fans last saw the iconic monster in the 2010 film "Predators," a sort of reboot, sort of sequel starring Adrien Brody. This version pitted Brody's character and a ragtag group of warriors against a "Predator" hunting party on an intergalactic game preserve. With such a variety of films to choose from, right now it's unclear which movie Black will be creating an "inventive sequel" for. Black made a small appearance in the original 1987 film, and according to The Hollywood Reporter Fox asked Black multiple times to work on the film's script, which he repeatedly refused to do.
Black's association with the first film in the franchise may mean his sequel will try to capture the essence of the original, much in the same way "Predators" did in 2010. Fans will just have to wait and see, but it could be a while. There currently isn't any word on when Fox is planning for the film to hit theaters.
