Over the past few weeks, 20th Century Fox has been assembling a strong cast for itsPredatorsequel, recently adding breakoutMoonlightstarTrevante Rhodesand comedy superstarKeegan Michael Key. With directorShane Blackplanning a February production start in Vancouver, the sequel has added yet another cast member, withThomas Janein final talks to star. No details have been given for his character at this time, but hopefully we’ll get more details about the story and these characters when production gets under way in just a few weeks.
The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news on the casting, with the publication still presumably standing by their earlier report that the story takes place in the suburbs. Shortly after that report surfaced in November, directorShane Blackclarified that the movie won’t be set in the suburbs. Today’s report claims that this movie will feature “an array of the alien hunters” seen in the firstPredatormovie from 1987, but this story will be featured in a, “more domestic setting.”
Boyd Holbrookcame aboard to star inThe Predatorin October, replacing the departingBenicio del Toro. Writer-directorShane Blackrevealed in a Q&A that the hero of this movie is named Quinn McKenna, and it is believed that is whoBoyd Holbrookis playing.Olivia MunnandSterling K. Brownhave also recently come aboard to star inThe Predator, but nothing about their characters have been revealed yet. It isn’t quite clear how many additional roles still need to be filled before filming starts next month in Vancouver, although an exact production date has not yet been revealed.
Shane Blackis directing from a script he co-wrote withFred Dekker, who he co-wroteThe Monster Squadwith 30 years ago. During a May interview,Fred DekkercomparedThe Predatorto the 1986 hit sequelAliens, if you think of the firstPredatormovie as the 1979 classicAlien. The writer teased that their story is much deeper, exploring the “bigger picture” of why these soldiers were called in, teasing there is a lot more to explore in this story than in the previous movies. 20th Century Fox has set a July 19, 2025 release date forThe Predator, putting it up against Universal’sFifty Shades Freedand an untitled Warner Animation Group project.
There have been rumors thatArnold Schwarzeneggermay come back as Dutch, but we haven’t heard anything official about his involvement inThe Predator.Thomas Janemost recently starred in the Syfy TV seriesThe Expanse, and filmsBefore I WakeandUSS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. He also hasHot Summer Nights, alongsideMaika MonroeandEmory Cohen, and1922, alongsideNeal McDonoughandMolly Parker, in post-production.
