The Predator is no longer the galaxy’s apex hunter.
For in Shane Black’s star-studded reboot, the tables have turned – evolved, really – resulting in a 10-foot Mega Predator so damn ugly it would leave Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) clutching at his cigar in disbelief.
Sadly, Arnie won’t be returning for The Predator, as Black and co-writer Fred Dekker look to expand the series mythos in a totally different direction. But his legacy, and the legacy of Dutch’s crew, remains intact, given next month’s R-rated thriller sends a group of muscly commandos after an extra-terrestrial threat.
Taking up arms against the Predators (and yes, that’s ‘Predators’ plural) is Special Forces commando Quinn McKenna, a role that was initially earmarked for James Franco (and Benicio Del Toro!) before it fell to Boyd Holbrook of Logan fame. He’s pictured alongside Olivia Munn (X-Men) and Moonlight‘s Trevante Rhodes in the galley below, which comes to us by way of SFX Magazine (h/t AvP Galaxy).
The blood-red laboratory shot appears to have been captured between takes – either that, or many of the film’s extras are strangely relaxed when in the company of an alien hunter. And finally, we see a masked Predator holding someone (Rory McKenna?) aloft, perhaps as a way to bargain or strike some sort of peace with the humans.
Remember, the two species will be fending off a common enemy come September (read: the Mega Predator), so we’re intrigued to find out how Shane Black retains some semblance of genuine terror when the bullets inevitably start to fly.
Also starring Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane, Edward James Olmos, Alfie Allen and Yvonne Strahovski, The Predator makes landfall on September 14th, and there’s a good reason why Black ordered up so many reshoots during the final stages of production.
