Arnold Schwarzenegger, the action icon known for his roles in both the Terminator and Predator franchises, has made a surprise return to the latter after nearly four decades. While currently captivating audiences in the Netflix series FUBAR, Schwarzenegger is revisiting the cinematic world of the Predator, albeit in an unexpected manner.
Schwarzenegger's initial foray into the Predator universe occurred in the original 1987 film. He played Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer, the leader of a military squad pitted against a deadly extraterrestrial hunter in the jungles of Central America. The film's success spawned numerous sequels and the Alien vs. Predator spin-off series. However, Schwarzenegger only starred in the first instalment, leaving fans wondering if he would ever revisit the character.
A Comic-Con Revelation: Dutch Returns (In a Way)
At the recent San Diego Comic-Con, a surprising revelation emerged: Schwarzenegger, now 77, granted permission for his likeness to be used in an epilogue scene added to the end of Predator: Killer of Killers. This film, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, was originally released without this concluding scene.
The newly added epilogue depicts Predator warriors carrying coffins bearing the remains of several human characters from the franchise. These include Dutch, Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (played by Danny Glover in Predator 2, 1990), and Naru (portrayed by Amber Midthunder in Prey, 2022).
Trachtenberg confirmed that Schwarzenegger authorised the use of his likeness for this canonical addition to the franchise. Interestingly, this isn't Schwarzenegger's first involvement with the Predator world since the original film. Five years ago, he provided voice work for the Predator: Hunting Grounds video game.
The Future of the Predator Franchise: Will Schwarzenegger Be Involved?
The question on everyone's mind is whether this epilogue appearance signals a larger role for Schwarzenegger in future Predator films. A new film, titled Predator: Badlands, is scheduled for release on 7 November. This film stars Elle Fanning, whose character is said to develop an unusual connection with a young Predator. Whether Schwarzenegger will make an appearance in Predator: Badlands remains unknown, but the epilogue has certainly reignited speculation.
Schwarzenegger's Least Favourite Terminator Film
Away from the jungle heat of the Predator franchise, Schwarzenegger has also recently shared his opinion on what he considers to be the weakest link in another one of his iconic film series – The Terminator.
Schwarzenegger has been a mainstay of the Terminator franchise since its inception in the 1980s, appearing in five of the six films released between 1984 and 2019. The first two films, The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, both directed by James Cameron, are widely regarded as classics of the science fiction genre. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), directed by Jonathan Mostow, received mixed reviews. However, the final three films in the series – Terminator: Salvation (2009), Terminator: Genisys (2015), and Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) – are generally considered to be the least successful.
Schwarzenegger singled out Terminator: Salvation as his least favourite. This film starred Christian Bale and was directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol (McG). Notably, it is the only Terminator film in which Schwarzenegger did not appear, which he cited as the primary reason for his dislike.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the FUBAR star explained his reasoning. "I would say the worst was probably number four because that was done during the time I was governor [of California] and I was not in it." He remarked to host Andy Cohen, "How do you do a Terminator movie without me being in the Terminator movie? It doesn't make any sense."
Whether in the political arena, on the small screen with FUBAR, or through the unexpected return to the Predator franchise, Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to captivate and surprise audiences.
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