‘The Predator’ Star Reveals the Shane Black Film Isn’t a Sequel

Whenever a classic film gets a remake that has the same name as the original, the discussion arises over whether the film is a direct remake, a reboot of the core concept with narrative changes or a sequel to the original property. Keegan-Michael Key, star of the upcoming Shane Black-directed The Predator, tried to clarify the film isn’t a sequel, nor a remake, which only makes matters more confusing.

“Predator was a real privilege to do, and if people think they’re going to see a remake of the original movie, they’re in for a surprise,” Key revealed when speaking with Entertainment Weekly. “A very pleasant surprise.”

He added, “It’s not a sequel,” but noted, “It certainly lives in the universe of the five films that were made. I think that’s probably the best way to say it and the only way I can say it right now.”

Additionally, Key promises the film contains “lots of elements of humor,” which is no surprise for a film starring a comedic talent like himself being helmed by the filmmaker behind The Nice Guys and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

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An interesting detail about Key’s comment is that it was recently revealed that Jake Busey would play a character in the film that is the son of a character his father Gary Busey played in Predator 2. This throws a wrench in the works of the concept of the film not being a sequel installment in the franchise.

Black himself chimed in about the upcoming film, explaining what he aims to deliver audiences while also pointing out the failings of some of the recent installments in the franchise.

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“Fox has been in the habit of making one of these Predator movies every couple years, and they put them out for a limited budget that kind of guaranteed return, but they’re not really something that’s an event,” confessed Black. “I want to try to get back to that. Because there was a freshness, I think, to the first one…it was special then, and I want to get back to trying to reinvent it in the sort of way that it acquires that event feel that makes people want to treat it like a big movie.”

The Predator is slated to land in theaters August 3, 2018.

The Predator is directed by Shane Black and written by Fred Dekker. The film stars Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay and Sterling K. Brown.

With Black having starred in the original film alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura, the filmmaker is intimately aware with how fervent the fanbase is and the pressures to make a successful film.

Photo Credit: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation