Narcos’ Boyd Holbrook instead takes the Benicio del Toro Predator role
Although the Academy Award winner was previously said to be in talks for the film, The Hollywood Reporter today brings word that Benicio Del Toro has exited 20th Century Fox‘s new Predator movie. The Benicio del Toro Predator role will instead go to Narcos star Boyd Holbrook. Holbrook is also starring in the studio’s upcoming Marvel Comics film, Logan. No reason was given for Del Toro’s exit. It is easy to imagine that his upcoming schedule is quite busy, however, as he now has potentially recurring roles in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and in the Star Wars saga. That’s in addition to his upcoming return as Alejandro in the upcoming Sicario sequel, Soldado.
Titled The Predator, the sci-fi action franchise sequel/reboot is to be directed by Iron Man 3 and The Nice Guys’ Shane Black from a script by his Monster Squad co-writer Fred Dekker, and based on a story that the pair wrote together. Filming is expected to begin in February 2017.
Details on the film are still under wraps, but producer John Davis previously said: “The writing is so fresh, the perspective is so fresh. I’m telling you, you’re going to get something you don’t expect and you’re going to say, ‘This is the most entertaining way to reinvent a franchise.’”
Black also previously confirmed that the film remains in the continuity of the first two movies and isn’t a full reboot of the series. He said there is a reference in the script as to why the film has a singular title.
The original Predator was directed by John McTiernan and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of a United States special forces team that comes under attack from an alien entity that prizes the thrill of the hunt above all else. It was followed by a direct sequel, Predator 2, in 1990 before crossing over with Fox’s Alien franchise for two additional sequels, Alien vs. Predator and AvP: Requiem. In 2010, Nimrod Antal helmed a reboot with a new feature, Predators.
The Predator will be released in theaters on February 9, 2018.
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(Photo Credit: WENN.com)