'Predator: Badlands' Success Fuels Buzz Over Action Icon’s Return

The box office success of Predator: Badlands has shown that the long-lived franchise isn’t slowing down. That success has also sparked talk of the very real possibility that the franchise’s original star might return to the role that started it all.

Producer Ben Rosenblattconfirmed that director Dan Trachtenberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger have actually talked about bringing his iconic Predatorcharacter Dutch back to the big screen.

This isn’t just a tease or a throwaway line in an interview. Rosenblatt said “the holy grail of Predator movies” would be getting Schwarzenegger to reprise the wildly successful role from 1987, and that conversations have already happened (more than once, in fact) between the actor and Trachtenberg about what that could look like.

Dutch is one of those rare characters that has stayed in the cultural imagination long after the original film. “Get to the chopper!” still gets shouted as people try to mimic Arnold’s distinct accent. Hearing that Schwarzenegger is not only open to talking but genuinely interested in what the Badlands team has done with the franchise, is great news for longtime fans.

Related: James Cameron Gives Shocking Update on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Future in ‘Terminator’ Series

Now let’s be clear: nothing is set in stone. Rosenblatt made a point of saying these conversations are likely to continue, and that everyone involved is excited about possibilities without promising a confirmed cameo or starring role. There’s genuine enthusiasm, though. Arnold reportedly has been “really interested” in the direction the movie universe has taken since Prey reignited the franchise’s mojo.

If you caught the animated epilogue of Predator: Killer of Killers, you might have spotted a brief glimpse of Dutch in stasis alongside other franchise figures. That little return wasn’t accidental. Trachtenberg got Schwarzenegger’s blessing to include his likeness in that scene, a small but impactful nod to where the character has been even when he wasn’t on the live-action screens.

While Killers glimpsed an animated Dutch, Badlands also weaved in some of the franchise’s Alien V Predator lore. What this all adds up to is a feeling that the Predator universe is finally being stitched together in a way that keeps its history while looking ahead. And while we don’t know exactly when (or how) Schwarzenegger might reappear, the fact that real conversations are happening has fans hoping that Arnold will get back in that chopper.

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