New Predator Film Simply Set Up Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Return

Warning: Incorporates SPOILERS for Predator: Killer of Killers!

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator protagonist hasn’t returned because the authentic movie, however Predator: Killer of Killers could have simply arrange his return in a future film. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch was the protagonist of the 1987 movie Predator, with him being the primary character within the franchise to efficiently kill one of many titular aliens. Regardless of him surviving the ordeal, the story of Dutch has not been continued in any of the sequel motion pictures. Whereas Dutch has appeared and been talked about in Predator prolonged universe initiatives, Arnold Schwarzenegger has by no means reprised the position. Nevertheless, Predator: Killer of Killers could change that.

Predator: Killer of Killers is the primary of 2025’s two Predator motion pictures, with it being the second movie within the franchise directed by Dan Trachtenberg. The primary animated Predator movie can also be an anthology movie, with it telling the story of three totally different Predators searching killers in three totally different eras: the Viking Age, Edo interval Japan, and World Battle II. The three impartial tales all cross over within the movie’s ultimate phase, during which the three champions are dropped at a Yautja planet and compelled to work collectively in an effort to escape one other Predator struggle.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch Might Be Held In The Yautja’s Archive Of Champions

Alongside Naru From Prey

Close to the top of Predator: Killer of Killers, the three foremost characters try and make their technique to the Predator Warlord’s ship in an effort to escape again to Earth. Nevertheless, the Viking Ursa decides to sacrifice herself in an effort to assist her buddies escape. She is captured, with it later being revealed that the Predators have positioned her in suspended animation. Her capsule is taken to a big room stuffed with tons of different capsules, a lot of which include alien species. The movie ends with the digital camera lingering on one capsule, which incorporates Naru, the protagonist from Prey.

The truth that Naru and Ursa are being positioned on this Predator archive of champions implies that every one of many characters within the archive has efficiently killed a Yautja. Since Predator: Killer of Killers confirms that 4 characters have been all taken by the Yautja after killing their respective Predators, it’s seemingly that this occurs to each particular person who kills one of many aliens. So, whereas it is not confirmed in Predator: Killer of Killers, it appears extremely seemingly that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch could possibly be within the room as nicely.

Since Dutch was by no means seen once more after the unique Predator, it’s completely potential that he was kidnapped by the Yautja and has been in suspended animation ever since. This is able to clarify his absence all through the various future Predator encounters. If he was nonetheless round, he would undoubtedly be warning individuals concerning the Yautja in Predator 2 and 2018’s The Predator. As an alternative, his absence hints that one thing occurred to him after he was rescued by the helicopter, with a Yautja abduction being a possible possibility.

Killer Of Killers Might Have Additionally Revealed A A lot Darker Dutch Destiny

The Warlord Might Have Killed Him

Whereas it could be unbelievable if Dutch have been nonetheless round to come back again in future Predator initiatives, Predator: Killer of Killers could have additionally revealed a a lot darker destiny for the Arnold Schwarzenegger character. When the three Predator: Killer of Killers characters are awoken, it’s revealed that they have to struggle one another to the loss of life in a gladiatorial enviornment. Then, the winner of this battle should face off in opposition to the Predator Warlord, somebody who has most likely by no means been overwhelmed contemplating the truth that he’s nonetheless alive.

Though the three characters escape earlier than they should kill one another, the existence of this gladiatorial custom implies that Dutch could have gone by means of it as nicely. Dutch might have been compelled to take part, with him doubtlessly dying within the struggle with the opposite human opponents. Even when he killed the opposite people, he could have misplaced within the struggle in opposition to the Predator Warlord instantly after. So, even when Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character was kidnapped by the Yautja in some unspecified time in the future, there isn’t a assure that he’s nonetheless alive in the primary Predator timeline.

Dutch Is not The Solely Predator Protagonist Who Might Return Now

Any Predator Killer Might Come Again

Whereas the return of Dutch is probably the most thrilling chance after the ending of Predator: Killer of Killers, the Arnold Schwarzenegger character is not the one protagonist who might return. In actual fact, any protagonist from all through the Predator sequence might seem, with them being held within the Yautja archive of champions. Every Predator film has a protagonist who efficiently killed a Predator, that means that they may all return in a Predator sequel and try to flee the Predator planet collectively.

Of all of the Predator protagonists who might return exterior of Dutch, Adrien Brody’s Royce from Predators might be probably the most thrilling possibility. Predator 2‘s Mike Harrigan may be within the archive, establishing his potential return. Even characters from 2018’s The Predator or the Alien vs. Predator sequence could possibly be within the room, with it being clear that the majority if not all the galaxy’s Predator killers have been taken to the planet. Thus, the ending of Predator: Killer of Killers has some large implications that span the complete franchise.

Will Arnold Schwarzenegger Return As Dutch After Predator: Killer Of Killers?

Might He Come Again In Predator: Badlands?

So, now that the opportunity of Dutch’s return has been established, the query stays whether or not Arnold Schwarzenegger would come again. Schwarzenegger has expressed curiosity in a return, with him being connected to a 2011 Predator film that went unmade. He additionally mentioned a cameo in The Predator with Shane Black, though this fell by means of. Nevertheless, this establishes a development of the actor making an attempt to convey Dutch again, and the recency of the 2018 movie signifies that this might nonetheless be on the desk.

Nevertheless, there are nonetheless a couple of issues. For one, Arnold Schwarzenegger is way older than he was when the primary Predator was launched. For the reason that animated film establishes that the characters have been in suspended animation, Dutch needs to be no older than he was when he obtained kidnapped. So, Dutch’s return would both should be animated, or Arnold Schwarzenegger must be digitally de-aged in live-action.

The opposite subject is the established way forward for the Predator franchise. Predator: Badlands is the subsequent film, and it follows a Predator protagonist on a distinct planet. This time round, the people are usually not the main focus, that means that Dutch’s return is unlikely. Nevertheless, there may be at all times the likelihood that Dek might go to the archive of champions, bringing again Dutch, Naru, and the protagonists from Predator: Killer of Killers.

Predator: Killer of Killers

5/10

Launch Date

June 5, 2025

Runtime

85 minutes

Director

Dan Trachtenberg

Writers

Micho Robert Rutare, Dan Trachtenberg

Producers

John Davis, Lawrence Gordon, Marc Toberoff, Stefan Grube

• Louis Ozawa

  Kenji / Kiyoshi (voice)

• Lindsay LaVanchy

  Ursa (voice)