Shane Black’s The Predator is now just over a month away from hitting cinemas, but Fox likely still have a lot of work ahead of them before the production’s deemed ready for release. A sci-fi sequel that’s undergone extensive reshoots, the film has evidently been the subject of a lot of tinkering in order to get things just right, and for better or worse, this process has left at least one notable actor on the cutting room floor.
While Battlestar Galactica and Blade Runner‘s Edward James Olmos was cast last year to play military general Sanchez in the Predator’s next outing, it seems that we may need to wait until the home video release bonus features before we can see how he fares in the role. Fortunately, though, the star of the upcoming series Mayans MC doesn’t seem too shaken up about it, telling /Film the following:
“I’m not in [it]. It was too long so my character, they had to take me out. They were like half an hour, 3/4 of an hour too long. So I understand why.”
For a horror movie that will no doubt be aiming to ratchet up the tension, it certainly makes sense that the filmmakers would want to keep things tight and efficient. In that regard, this notable trim in runtime could ultimately make for a more compelling watch, even if some fans may be disappointed that Olmos will no longer be leaving his mark on yet another cherished sci-fi property.
But while previously filmed scenes are being cut out of the pic, it feels like new footage is constantly being shot for the forthcoming release. Reasons for bringing the Predator back to the set have reportedly included the need to reshoot most of the third act, and the studio’s demand for a sequel teaser near the end of the movie.
It’s been a rocky journey for The Predator with several delays along the way, but if all stays on schedule from here on, then we should be seeing the extraterrestrial killer on our screens once more from September 14th.
