The Shocking Truth Behind The Predator: Revealed by Prey Director
Discover why The Predator sequel directed by Shane Black failed to meet expectations, as the Prey director shares candid thoughts on what went wrong
Dan Trachtenberg, the director of Prey, recently revealed his candid thoughts on Shane Black's The Predator. While recalling his efforts to make his franchise prequel, Trachtenberg admitted that he found the 2018 sequel to be a risky venture due to its "bonkers" approach. Although he did not explicitly dismiss the movie, he acknowledged that it was met with mixed reviews from both critics and audiences.
The success of Shane's movie exceeded our expectations. We had only read the script and didn't realize the extent of its Shane Black-ness. It was a wild ride, and we were excited to have a more traditional and stripped-down version as a backup. However, if this movie does well, it opens up the possibility for even more over-the-top and bonkers Predator movies in the future. But if the audience prefers a simpler approach, this backup plan will be the perfect move for the next Predator film.
Where Shane Black's Predator Went Wrong
Fans of the Predator franchise welcomed the news of Shane Black's appointment as the director of the 2018 movie. Black, who had previously starred in the original movie and written several successful films such as Lethal Weapon and Iron Man 3, had plans to connect the new movie with the previous installments. This sparked curiosity among fans about the future of the franchise and what the 2018 movie would bring to the table.
The third act of The Predator was rewritten after receiving negative feedback from early test screenings, resulting in a polarizing ending where Holbrook's character discovers a "Predator killer" suit on the alien's ship. There were also potential endings that involved the return of Schwarzenegger's Dutch or a crossover with either Sigourney Weaver's Ripley or Carrie Henn's Newt. However, Black's attempts to positively represent those on the autistic spectrum received backlash, and the movie was criticized for having an unbalanced tone. Despite Black's high ambitions for the franchise, it seems that he was unable to fully grasp them all. With the success of Trachtenberg's Prey, audiences may be more interested in grounded takes on the Predator lore.
Source: Collider
