The girls are certainly taking over Hollywood as of late, with yet another big franchise handing over a lead role to an actress instead of one of her male counterparts. Only this time out, some may balk that Olivia Munn is playing the smart scientist instead of the ass-kicking Special Forces Commando. Can't she be a smart ass-kicking scientist commando? Perhaps, but not in the new Predator sequel.
Olivia Munn's character has yet to be given a name in The Predator, the forth film in the straight Predator franchise. She will be joined by Narcos star Boyd Holbrook, who is playing the other lead character, a Special Forces commando. His character name has yet to be revealed either. Shane Black is directing this 20th Century Fox soft reboot.
Shane Black wrote The Predator screenplay with his Monster Squad collaborator Fred Dekker. At this time, plot details are being kept tightly under wraps. But early leaked details point at a heavy military presence in the movie. What has been confirmed is that this next chapter in the sci-fi thriller will pluck the iconic Predator alien out of the jungle and plop him square into a much more harsher environment: Suburbia. This setting info comes direct from The Hollywood Reporter
It has been rumored that the Predators have been captured and are being used as weapons by the military. It has also been rumored for some time that Arnold Schwarzenegger will reprise his role as Dutch in the movie. While that may be true, it's rumored that he has very little screen time. Director Shane Black actually starred opposite Schwarzenegger in the 1987 original. It's not known if he'll give himself a cameo, though Black's character dies in the first movie.
The Predator is gearing up for a February 2017 start date, with the movie coming to theaters everywhere in 2018. It is said to be a big tentpole blockbuster that promises to pull out all the stops. The hope is that 20th Century Fox can revive the franchise the same way Universal did with Jurassic World. So if it does well, you can expect more follow-ups in the future.