Trevante Rhodes Cast To Fight THE PREDATOR

The Predator has claimed a new victim with Trevante Rhodes, cast to play opposite Boyd Holbrook in Shane Black’s reboot of the 1987 film.

Rhodes is best known his role in Moonlight, one of three actors playing Chiron who battles the monsters of poverty, an abusive childhood and complicated relationships. However, now he will be fighting a different type of monster. He is the best friend of Holbrook’s character, both ex-Marines spurred into action when the meet the creature.

In November, Olivia Munn joined the cast and will play a scientist. She was in this summers’ X-Men: Apocalypse and recently in the Comedy Office Christmas Party. Holbrook replaced Benicio del Toro when he left the project due to scheduling conflicts.

With the announcement of Rhodes, it reopens the door for the rumor of the story taking place in the suburbs which had been denied by Shane Black this past fall. Fans were interested in this twist because it’s is not what is expected for the franchise, which has seen fights in the jungles, concrete jungles, frozen wastelands and alien plants. So why not the harsh environment of suburbia? If there was a director that could make it work, it would be Black, who’s past work includes directing and screen writing both Iron Man 3 and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Other writing credits include the Lethal Weapon franchise and The Long Kiss Goodnight.

The plot for The Predator has been kept under wraps. What is known is that the main character is not Dutch Schaefer. Black has made it clear that this movie will be a soft reboot, a sequel that is a definite continuation of the franchise. The original was released in 1987 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (and co-star Black). The sequel, Predator 2 released in 1990 starred Danny Glover and was set in Los Angeles. The monster reappeared on screen in 2004 and 2007 in the Alien vs. Predator series.

Black stated, “I think it has to stand on its own two feet, but our goal is to make sure it acknowledges that, yeah, it is 30 years later in the continuity of the story. In other words, Dutch Schaefer’s patrol, which was attacked and largely slaughtered, happened 30 years ago, in the context of the story. It’s referenced, it’s part of the mythology. In that way, it’s more of a sequel than a reboot.”

Black, who wrote the script with his Monster Squad partner, Fred Dekker, has confirmed the film will be R-rated. He feels The Predator movies have moved away from the typical sci-fi, missing the thriller aspect. “I think it should be scary, I think it should be funny, and I think ultimately it should be wondrous and about perceiving things that human beings very seldom get a chance to see.” This should appeal to the mass audience, especially since last year’s Deadpool success.

Shooting for The Predator will begin in February with a March 2018 release date.