UPDATE 7/1: The project has since been reported as a sequel, not a reboot, to the Predator movie franchise.
Now this is one ugly mother Hubbard.
News emerged today about the Arnold Schwarzeneggar horror-action classic Predator, a story about a group of assasins who travel into the forest and get a picked off one by one by a strange creature known as “The Predator”. Since the debut of the 1987 film, Predator has been adapted into many other spinoffs and sequels, including the Alien V.S. Predator franchise and the Robert Rodriguez-produced Predators.
Now, the sequels are officially no more: Predator is getting remade into a new film featuring a new cast and crew.
Details regarding the production of the film are still developing, as the announcement of the project was just released earlier today. Only two concrete names were announced so far regarding the film’s production: Fred Dekker, writer and director of the widely-panned Robocop 3 and Shane Black, writer-director most known for Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Iron Man 3. Both writers are set to pen the script while Black is slated to direct the remake.
Few things I want to say on this. First of all, I like Shane Black a lot. His films always have a way of having clever, witty dialogue and very human, relatable characters. Even if he wasn’t known for the films he directed, he still wrote many 1980’s-90’s classics, including Lethal Weapon and The Long Kiss Goodnight. Little known fact: he’s also starred in a small part and contributed to the screenplay for the original Predator movie. I’ll clue you in on his role: he doesn’t last very long.
From face value, this is very exciting news, especially regarding his recent $1 billion success with Iron Man 3. But let’s take a step back for a second. First of all, he’s co-writing the script with Dekker, whose best work was writing for the 2001 science-fiction television series “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Everything else he’s made has been either critically panned or mostly forgotten. Example: how many here have seen (or heard) about The Monster Squad or Night Of The Creeps?
Not to mention the other pressing issue of this being a remake and not a sequel to the third film in the series Predators. What influenced this decision? Technical problems aside, Predators was a solid sequel, a series continuation that was much more spiritually faithful to the 1987 film than its dreaded Predator 2 was.
Which leaves me one question: Why on Earth would they want to remake Predator? What purpose does that serve, when you have so much potential material to pull from after the cliffhanger ending you got from Predators?
It just doesn’t make any sense. I make it no secret at how much I hate remakes, especially with how much Hollywood pushes them out every year or so. I just have two basic rules with remakes: 1) Only remake it if the original fizzed flat, and 2) Don’t do them. Neither one ever happens with these remakes, and as each year presses on, I continue to become frustrated by seeing Hollywood remake classic after classic with no new spin or perspective to make it different from the original. They just do it to consume more money and that’s that. I mean, come on: how on earth are you going to be able to replace Arnold Schwarzeneggar?
For that reason alone, I’m not keen on the project. Not because of Shane Black and not because of Predators. Because its a remake (NOT a sequel), and it chose to be the bigger of two evils.
What do you guys think? Are you excited that the scaly, vicious Predator is returning to theaters, or are you wishing someone else would hop on board as the director? I know quite a few of you disliked Iron Man 3, so many of you might be even less enthusiastic about this movie than I am.
Either way, comment below and let me know. And avoid the alien’s crosshairs while you’re at it.
-David Dunn
Source: The Verge, ComingSoon.net
DAVID DUNN 