Disney’s 20th Century Studios is moving forward with plans to revive thePredatorfilm series with a fifth installment of the franchise. Now, the studio has enlisted10 Cloverfield Lanedirector Dan Trachtenberg to helm the project.
ThePredatorfranchise launched with the 1987 science-fiction horror classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger asMajor Alan “Dutch” Schafer, the leader of an elite paramilitary rescue team that finds itself being hunted by a technologically-advanced alien in the jungle of Central America. In addition to receiving three sequels and a handful of crossovers with theAlienfranchise,Predatorspawned a successful media franchise consisting of related books, comics, and video games.
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Deadline reports Trachtenberg will direct the newPredatorfilm a script written byKingdomandJack Ryanscribe Patrick Aison. Although plot details for the next entry in the franchise are not being divulged, the outlet notes that Trachtenberg’s film will not continue the storyline established by 2018’sThe Predator. Directed by Shane Black, who co-starred with Schwarzenegger in the original film,The Predatorconcluded with the U.S. government obtaining technology capable of killing the extraterrestrial hunters. While 20th Century Studios handled the distribution of all four previousPredatorfilms, Trachtenberg’s entry will be the first produced sincethe company was acquired by Disneyin 2019.
10 Cloverfield Lane, a psychological thriller starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and the second installment of theCloverfieldfranchise, marked Trachtenberg’s directorial debut. Before then, Trachtenberg was best known for directing short films, includingPortal: No EscapeandMore Than you may Chew. He has since added episodes ofBlack MirrorandAmazon’s The Boysto his directing resume.
ThePredatorfranchise isn’t the only 20th Century Studios IP being revived by Disney. AHome Alonerebootis currently in production and will be released exclusively on Disney+ on a yet-to-be-determined date.
TheAlienfranchise, on the other hand, appears to be having more difficulty getting back off the ground. Director Ridley Scott has already stated that he may have torethink his plans for theAlienfilmsas recently as September.
