The Predator ($160 Million Worldwide Box Office)

20th Century Fox announced a slew of new release dates this morning, including the superhero schedule shuffle that sees Gambit kicked off the 2016 docket, but perhaps most exciting of all, the studio has set release dates for their two major monster pics, Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant and The Predator.

Alien: Covenant is up first, landing an August 4, 2017 release date, a smart move given that the date is currently only held by Pitch Perfect 3 and the animated Blazing Samurai, which aren’t exactly targeting the same audience. The Prometheus semi-sequel, which is intended to be the second in a trilogy leading up to the events of Alien, Covenant will supposedly pick up 10 years after the events in Prometheus, and finds the crew of the colony ship Covenant headed for a remote planet, until they find a ‘paradise’ planet occupied solely by David (Michael Fassbender), the survivor of the Prometheus expedition.

Production on Alien: Covenant is rumored to begin this April in Sydney, Australia and that start date makes sense given the rate at which the sequel has been acquiring its impressive cast. In addition to the returning Fassbender, Scott has lined-up Katherine Waterston as the female lead (Noomi Rapace will not return for the sequel), Demian Bichir, Danny McBride, Jussie Smollett, Amy Seimetz, Carmen Ejogo, Billy Crudup and Callie Hernandez. Scott has also confirmed that, in keeping with the Alien tradition, Covenant will be rated-R.

As for The Predator, the highly-anticipated sequel from a script by Shane Black and Monster Squad director Fred Dekker will arrive in theaters on March 2, 2018; a date that is currently only populated by an “Untitled WB Event Film”, which probably means something superhero-y. Aside from the exciting screenwriting duo, and the recently debuted first poster, not much is known about the sequel, other than producer John Davis‘ assertion that it will “re-invent the franchise.”

Fox has also pushed up the release for their Eva Green-led adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which moves from a Christmas release to it’s new slow on September 30, 2016. The December release would have pitted the film against an insanely crowded month, including heavy hitters like Rogue One, Assassin’s Creed and Jennifer Lawrence/Chris Pratt vehicle Passengers, while the new September positions Miss Peregrine in a significantly less competitive release schedule.

detective392 wrote:Can't wait for this. Would love to see another AvP movie though, a good one.

WyldeMan wrote:

detective392 wrote:Can't wait for this. Would love to see another AvP movie though, a good one.

Who's your favorite?

detective392 wrote:

WyldeMan wrote:

detective392 wrote:Can't wait for this. Would love to see another AvP movie though, a good one.

Who's your favorite?

Gotta go with the Alien. I just love the design of them. Predators are kick ass though and I loved what Predators did with them. Just wish we saw more of them in the movie.

When it comes to The Predator, the new movie looking to revive the franchise, writer/director Shane Black didn't say yes right away.

"I was reluctant. I said, 'Look. You guys at Fox, I mean, I enjoy these movies, but we've been churning out these AvP whatever, they each cost a certain amount of money, they're okay, but there's no effort to elevate them or make them any kind of an event.' They're just sort of another Predator," he told Thrillist.

Luckily for fans of both Black and The Predator, Fox's response to the writer brought him on board almost instantly.

"They said, 'What if we said to you we want to reinvent this, and really treat it with as much of an event status, or as much hoopla as we would the Alien prequel, which is coming out also? We really want to make this something. The kind of movie that people line up for.' I said, 'Really, you'll spend a bunch of money?' They go, 'Yep.' I go, 'Make it really scale, spectacle?' 'Yep.' 'Shit, that sounds interesting,'" Black said.

He said that he'll look to the first Predator movie, and expand the "mythology of the Predator." Fox wants him to "treat it like it was Iron man III instead of just another little movie."

As for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Black says he's "Still in talks." He also said that the script is "still a secret."

The Predator is being developed to debut in theaters for March 2, 2018.

WyldeMan wrote:

Shane Black Addresses The Predator Reluctance and Schwarzenegger's Return

"They said, 'What if we said to you we want to reinvent this, and really treat it with as much of an event status, or as much hoopla as we would the Alien prequel, which is coming out also? We really want to make this something. The kind of movie that people line up for.' I said, 'Really, you'll spend a bunch of money?' They go, 'Yep.' I go, 'Make it really scale, spectacle?' 'Yep.' 'Shit, that sounds interesting,'" Black said.

He said that he'll look to the first Predator movie, and expand the "mythology of the Predator." Fox wants him to "treat it like it was Iron man III instead of just another little movie."

Shane Black’s The Predator is reportedly going to begin filming this October, according to AFP. That should give the movie plenty of time for its anticipated March, 2018 release date.

Black tells AFP that the film is going to be more of an event and will be “…significantly bigger” than the previous three, the first of which came out in 1987.

“To the best of my knowledge, the train is rolling. It took some convincing because they’ve been putting out these movies all along with a $50-60 million budget, and they all had a guaranteed return. But there was never the sense that it was an event picture. It was more like ‘I understand another Predator is coming out — maybe we’ll see it maybe we won’t.’”

Black has already stated that the film will take place in present day and that the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger is, “…something we’re looking into.”

ForeverBlu wrote:Arnuld needs to sit his ass down somewhere.

WyldeMan wrote:Today's latest breaking news out of the incredibly reliable Variety is that the always great Benicio Del Toro is now in talks to star. As if I wasn't already excited for another Predator movie.

No plot details yet, but according to THR the movie will be "an ensemble piece anchored by the character to be played by Del Toro."

Boyd Holbrook In Talks To Star

A month ago, Benecio Del Toro was said to be in early talks to star in The Predator, Fox’s reboot of the action-horror franchise. Scratch that. Sources tell Deadline that Narcos star and Wolverine threequel villain Boyd Holbrook is in negotiations for the role.

Holbrook will co-star opposite Hugh Jackman in Logan, the upcoming Wolverine film from Fox. He’ll play the villainous Donald Pierce, a cyborg with superhuman abilities who is described as a relentless, calculating and intense head of security for a global enterprise who is set against Jackman’s clawed Wolverine/Logan hero. Holbrook also stars in Netflix’s Narcos as Steve Murphy, the DEA agent tasked with bringing down Medellin Cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar. The actor’s other recent credits include Cardboard Boxer, Jane Got a Gun, Run All Night and Gone Girl.

ForeverBlu wrote:Come back Benecio!!

First Look At Shane Black’s ‘Predator’ Cast

The Predator director/co-writer Shane Black took to Twitter early Monday to offer the first look at the film’s cast. The photo features the team of new alien hunters, which includes Sterling K. Brown, Trevante Rhodes, Boyd Holbrook, Jacob Tremblay, Olivia Munn and Keegan-Michael Key.

“Partial cast… beautiful human beings, good people. Also, killers,” Black tweeted, adding that filming began today in Vancouver. In additional tweets, Black also confirmed that the sci-fi thriller will be rated R.

   Partial cast… beautiful human beings, good people. Also, killers. Cameras roll today. Follow me on Twitter for updates. Wish us luck. pic.twitter.com/vYGgGesW0Y

   — Shane Black (@BonafideBlack) February 20, 2017

Pictured below you’ll see Alfie Allen, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Boyd Holbrook, and Trevante Rhodes looking ready for battle on what looks to be a prison bus.

Tyger wrote:They're just hangin out on a bus. Wait, what kind of predator are they after?

Shane Black’s reboot of the “Predator” universe is spending six more months in the oven.

20th Century Fox announced Saturday that the Feb. 9, 2018 release of the Olivia Munn, Keegan-Michael Key and Boyd Holbrook starring vehicle has been changed to Aug. 3, 2018.

WyldeMan wrote:

‘The Predator’ Pushed to Late Summer 2018

Shane Black’s reboot of the “Predator” universe is spending six more months in the oven.

20th Century Fox announced Saturday that the Feb. 9, 2018 release of the Olivia Munn, Keegan-Michael Key and Boyd Holbrook starring vehicle has been changed to Aug. 3, 2018.

joey con carne wrote:Hopefully, the Predators will not genetically modify themselves with human DNA unless they want to go backwards in evolution.

I really liked Predators from 2010. I thought that was pretty damn good. I'll check this out for sure.

Tyger wrote:That trailer didn’t do much for me, not surprised to hear about reshoots, don’t have much faith in this

Rusty wrote:I've been dying to watch the original lately, but absolutely none of my streaming services have it.

I'm with you Wylde. That trailer looked great. Great cast too. Good to see Holbrook again.

The Predator director Shane Black has admitted the movie’s original finale didn’t work as he conceived - which is why it was completely reshot. The Predator’s release date was pushed back from February to September to allow time for reshoots, which added significant changes to the third act. Details about what exactly was alterd have started to emerge, revealing a number of hybrid creatures have been cut out and that the showdown with the hulking, upgraded Predator has been reconceived. The reshoots also added Easter eggs ties to previous movies.

The Predator’s story finds a group of soldiers going up against a new strain of Predators – who’ve been splicing their DNA with other aliens to make themselves better hunters. It turns out the government is also well aware of the hunter’s activities, and have even captured one for experiments. Jake Busey will also play the son of Peter Keyes (played by Busey’s real-life father Gary) from Predator 2, whose quest to capture the City Hunter ends very badly; Keyes Jr will continue his father’s work.

Shane Black is currently finishing up editing on The Predator, and in a new interview with Empire (via AVP Galaxy), he opened up about why the original ending had to be drastically overhauled. In short, it wasn’t spooky enough:

   "The first time we shot the third act it was daytime. It’s all this spooky stuff but then its bright sunlight. It just didn’t work. So I said ‘Ummm, can we do this again at night?"

There were also fan rumblings the reshoots would add a cameo appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, reprising his role as Dutch from the original movie. The actor previously turned down a scripted cameo in The Predator because he felt the part wasn’t big enough, so unless he had a change of heart it’s unlikely he’ll be appearing. Shane Black actually co-starred with Schwarzenegger in the first movie too, playing Hawkins, the radioman who is the first of the soldiers to meet a sticky end.

UltimateMarvel wrote:So a human is pretending to be the Predator until the REAL Predator shows up, you guys thinking the same thing? I think the trailer might have revealed too much but I will watch it regardless. I will be watching this for Olivia.

WyldeMan wrote:I was absolutely not thinking that.

Tyger wrote:I really want that to happen now just for how entertaining this thread would be