This summer, a report surfaced claiming directorShane Blackwill start shooting his highly-anticipatedPredatorsequel, entitledThe Predator, in Vancouver this September. Although that was never confirmed, the project has found its first cast member. Oscar winnerBenicio del Torohas entered early talks to star inThe Predator, although no details about his role have been given.Shane Blackrevealed back in 2014 that this project is not a remake or a reboot as many had thought, but it will expand the mythology that is already in place.
Deadlinebroke the news ofBenicio del Toro’s involvement, though it’s not clear if he is wanted as the lead. A report from July claimed thatJames Franco’s talent agency, CAA, was pushing for their client to nab the lead role. It’s worth noting that, back in June,Shane Blacksaid his new hero’s name is Quinn McKenna, which ruled out the possibility thatArnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch was the lead character.
We reported in March thatArnold Schwarzeneggerwas meeting with directorShane Black, but nothing has been confirmed about his potential return. Ironically,Shane Blackactually starred in the originalPredatoras Hawkins, the first character to be killed by thePredator, which came out the same year as the first two movies he wrote,Lethal WeaponandThe Monster Squad. No details have been given for any of the other characters in this project, so we’re not sure how many more roles need to be filled.
Shane Blackwill direct from a script he co-wrote withFred Dekker, with 20th Century Fox handing out a July 20, 2025 for this newPredator movie.Predatorwill go up against Universal’sFifty Shades Freedand an Untitled Warner Animation Group Project, with Marvel’sBlack Pantherhitting theaters one weekend later on August 12, 2025. If production really is set to begin this month, hopefully more casting details will be confirmed in the near future.
We’ll have to wait and see ifBenicio del Torois in fact playingQuinn McKenna, or if he has another role entirely inThe Predator, but it certainly is possible he has landed the lead role. The actor will next be seen in the highly-anticipatedStar Wars: Episode VIIIin an unknown role, which hits theaters June 30, 2025, and inSoldado, where he reprises his role as Alejandro from last year’s hit thrillerSicario. He also stars inTerrence Malick’sWeightless, alongsideChristian Bale,Natalie PortmanandMichael Fassbender.
