Arnold Schwarzenegger should return to thePredatorfranchise after his final appearance in theTerminatorfranchise received mixed reviews.The Terminatorwas one of the bestArnold Schwarzenegger action movies, and he has appeared inall of theTerminatormoviesso far. While the T-800 is one of his best-known and most popular roles, theTerminatorfranchise lost its way, and his performance inDark Fatereceived mixed reviews (though the movie became a sleeper hit.) While Arnold Schwarzenegger has acted in several different movie genres, his most iconic roles are muscular, pun-making warrior characters.
Predator’s Major Dutch Schaefer is a typical Arnold Schwarzenegger character and one of the most memorable inthePredatormovies. He is a tough and moralistic leader, whose team is tasked with rescuing a cabinet minister whose helicopter was shot down over the Central American rainforest. The mission becomes a fight for survival when the team finds themselves being stalked by an invisible hunter who is not from this world. The original movie’s success is partly due to Schwarzenegger’s performance, and his epic showdown with the Predator is one of the most tense scenes in any of his films.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Still Needs To Play Predator’s Dutch One More Time
Dutch Survived At The End Of Predator, Making A Sequel Possible
Predatorshows Arnold Schwarzenegger at the peak of his bodybuilding success, but there is more to the character than an imposing physique.Dutch is the most dangerous of his team inPredator, but he is not just an efficient soldier - he is resilient, has excellent problem-solving skills, and has a sense of humor. The character plays to Schwarzenegger’s strengths and, after givingTerminatorfans closure by returning toDark Fate, it would be an exciting move for thePredatorfranchise if Arnold Schwarzenegger played Dutch in anotherPredatormovie. As Dutch survived the first movie, a return is possible.
Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the Predator, but due to logistical issues, he was replaced with the 7'2" Kevin Peter Hall.
Dutch uses his wits to fight the Predator, setting up several different traps but eventually using a counterweight to crush the creature, who then uses a self-destruct button to remove any trace of itself. Dutch just manages to escape the massive explosion and is picked up by helicopter.The ending ofPredatorshows Dutch bloodied and traumatized, which is unusual for many of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies, likeThe Terminator, which often portray him as indestructible. Dutch is visibly changed by his experience, and a sequel would give an interesting insight into what he did next.
Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Never Played Dutch Again After Predator
The Original 1987 Movie Is Still The Best In The Predator Series
Predator 2was going to star Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as Dutch, but he was written out of the movie, with his role given to another actor and minimized. According to the producer, John Davis, this was due to a salary dispute. Davis toldVariety,“The studio was negotiating with him, and the whole deal fell apart… Joe Roth, who was the head of the studio at the time, just said, ‘I won’t go past this number’ and Arnold wanted this other number.”Predator 2would have seen Dutch teaming up with an LAPD police officer.
1987
80%
87%
1990
29%
44%
2010
65%
52%
2018
34%
32%
2022
94%
74%
2025
TBC
Both thePredatorandTerminatorfranchises have struggled with sequels. WhileDark Fateis the bestTerminatormovie sinceJudgment Day,according to Rotten Tomatoes critics and audience scores, the other sequels have been confusing, getting mixed reviews. ThePredatormovies went downhill immediately after the original film, with the first sequel getting a 29% Rotten Tomatoes critics' rating. WhilePreyredeemed the franchise with its exciting new take on the concept and Amber Midthunder’s excellent performance, audiences preferredPredator, giving the movie an 87% positive rating compared toPrey’s 74%.
How Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch Could Return After Multiple Predator Movies
The Predator Franchise Has An Advantage Over The Terminator Franchise
WhilethePredatorcomics teases a grim final fate for Dutch, the movies might change this, allowing him to return. If Dutch survived after the events ofPredator, his view of the world and its dangers would certainly have changed. This could make Schwarzenegger’s character similar to the T-800, aka Carl, inDark Fate, with both using their experience to assist younger characters joining the battle.An older Dutch could also resembleDark Fate’s Sarah Connor, becoming jaded, bitter, and determined to destroy the enemy at all costs. Either versions would be a compelling idea for thePredatorfranchise.
Dutch could be brought back in many different capacities, without the need for unnecessarily complicated storylines.
One of the problems with theTerminatorsequels is the constant retcons and timeline adjustments. These changes can meantheTerminatorfranchise is extra confusing, undoing previous successes and even creating paradoxes.ThePredatormovies do not include the time travel element that is central to theTerminatorfranchise, and this gives thePredatorfranchise an advantage. Dutch could be brought back in many different capacities, without the need for unnecessarily complicated storylines and retconning canonPredatordetails. A simpler story similar to the originalPredatormight be a better idea, bringing back the best things about Schwarzenegger’s character.
Predator Doesn’t Need Schwarzenegger Right Now (But It Could Definitely Work)
Dark Fate Was Schwarzenegger’s Last Terminator Movie, But He Hasn’t Ruled Out Predator
While theTerminatorfranchise appeared to focus more on nostalgia than creativity, thePredatormovies have been embracing new ideas. MakingPreya prequel, offering a Comanche language version, and following a female Native American warrior rather than a muscular military hero was a completely new direction, and the move paid off.The upcomingPredatormoviesare set to continue this, with the possibility of animated versions in the same vein as theAnimatrix Matrixspin-off. While having Dutch return would be exciting,there are plenty of ideas being used in thePredatorfranchise, without needing to bring back Schwarzenegger.
I Rewatched The 1987 Predator, And It Has Aged Surprisingly Well (For The Most Part)
Predator is one of the best movies of the 1980s, and the 1987 action flick holds up surprisingly well. But there’s one aspect that’s aged poorly.
It has been confirmed thatDark Fatewas Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finalTerminatormovie, but there is still the possibility that he could star in a futurePredatormovie.Prey 2is on the horizon, but it looks certain to be another prequel and could potentially focus on a different historical group of people. While Schwarzenegger could appear as another character or be the focus of an Easter egg,there would be no way for Dutch to appear inPrey 2. That said, Schwarzenegger has not ruled out anotherPredatormovie, so it could happen one day.
Predator
Cast
A team of elite commandos led by Major Dutch Schaefer is sent on a rescue mission deep in the Central American jungle. However, they soon find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior with advanced technology and a penchant for collecting human trophies. As the creature picks them off one by one, Dutch must rely on his wits and combat skills to survive the ultimate test of man versus alien.
