MOVIE NEWS – “I won’t do this movie,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger, who passed on returning to this sci-fi franchise for a straightforward reason, the Predators script gave him a blink-and-you-miss-it part. It was not about grudges; it was about wanting more than a cameo and holding out for a role with real weight.

Fans still dream of the star stepping back into the world of Predator. There were chances, the most recent in 2018, but the pitch did not convince the former governor.

Schwarzenegger had no trouble suiting up again as cinema’s most imposing cyborg in recent Terminator entries, yet a little over five years ago he could have returned to another cult action-sci-fi series. He turned that offer down.

A Perfect Blend of Genres

Back in 1987, Predator delivered an unusually tight fusion of science fiction, action, and horror. Shot in the Mexican jungle, it introduced a creature that went on to become a pop-culture icon. Hollywood naturally tried to capitalize on multiple follow-ups, the latest of which hit theaters only days ago.

Even so, the collaboration between Schwarzenegger and director John McTiernan remains the actor’s lone appearance in the franchise. He was interested in reprising the role, and there were attempts to bring him back, first in Predator 2 (1990) and later in The Predator (2018). So why did he skip the latter?

“They asked me to participate, I read the script, and I didn’t like what they offered me. So I’m not going to do that, no. Unless there’s a chance, they’ll rewrite it or make it a bigger role. But as it is now, no, I won’t do that movie.” – Statements to Yahoo Entertainment

In short, Schwarzenegger did not want to come back for a glorified walk-on. He wanted substance, and 20th Century Studios, uncertain about where to take future installments, apparently did not commit. Could it still happen one day? “All I can say is there’s still time,” said the director of Prey and the more recent Predator: Badlands a few years back, but nothing materialized, even though hints of a return popped up in Predator: Killer of Killers. The character has expanded in other formats, though.

A Bittersweet Return for Fans

As for The Predator, the film proved disappointing for many who did not want the series to take that route. It had its upsides, offering a throwback to 80s action with violence, testosterone, and plenty of laughs, as our colleagues at Espinof noted in their review. Most viewers were unconvinced, which shows in scores like FilmAffinity’s 4.2 out of 10.

“From the farthest reaches of space to the forests of southern Georgia, the hunt is back in this explosive reimagining of Shane Black’s ‘Predator’ series. Now, the universe’s deadliest hunters are stronger, smarter, and more lethal than ever, and only a ragtag group of ex-soldiers and an evolutionary biologist can prevent the end of the human race.” – Synopsis of The Predator

The Predator, like the rest of the series (with the obvious exception of Predator: Badlands), is currently streaming on Disney+, an easy pick for tonight. If you watch it, drop a comment with your impressions of what is, in my view, a timeless classic.

Source: 3djuegos