Future-Cast: Casting Predator (1987) If It Were Made Today

After 2018’s disastrous pseudo-sequel The Predator was critically panned by reviewers and fans alike, it seemed like there would be a lot of work to get the Predator franchise back on track. Yet, there’s talk of a new Predator reboot film in the works, and it remains to be seen whether the filmmakers can turn it around. Until then, the 1987 original is still the de facto standard for the franchise.

All of this leads one to consider what Predator would look like if it were casted today. The world has lost many of its bulging-bicep action movie heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger capable of delivering a host of awesome one-liners, which means it would difficult, but not impossible to cobble together a good cast. However, with a little foresight, Predator could be a success, thanks to the talents of some of Hollywood’s most famous, and non-famous, actors.

10 General Phillips (Dale Dye)

R.G. Armstrong portrayed the gruff General Phillips in the original Predator film, and his military-style demeanor had a lot to do with it. He looked the part, even if he wasn’t an actual military man. If Predator were casted today, an actor like Dale Dye would be an excellent fit, for that exact reason.

Dye has a long and distinguished military career, and he’s been playing military men in movies for a long time now. He knows the ins and outs of combat and what goes into a mission, which would make him a perfect General Phillips leading Dutch’s commando strike unit into the jungle.

9 Hawkins (Miles Teller)

Miles Teller has the acting sensibilities that would make for an interesting take on the Hawkins character. Originally, the role was filled by future Iron Man 3 and The Predator director Shane Black. In one of the more interesting behind the scenes facts about Predator, Black was brought on specifically to perform script rewrites, whilst keeping an eye on director John McTiernan on behalf of the studio.

Black looked like he could pass as a soldier with a specialty under his belt, even though he wasn’t the most physically fit for the role. Miles Teller has played military men before, specifically in 2017’s Thank You for Your Service, so he’d have a better understanding as to the mind of a combat soldier. Plus, he’d look the part.

8 Billy (Justin Rain)

In the original Predator, Sonny Landham portrayed the solemn and analytical tracker Billy, who meets his end defiantly, with a knife in his hand. Landham was part Cherokee Indian, and that factored subtly into his character, which means an actor of similar background would best fit the role today.

Canadian actor Justin Rain is a relative unknown who is quickly gaining traction for his stints in the Twilight franchise, and Fear The Walking Dead, where he got to showcase his indigenous heritage. He possesses the kind of steely physicality and deep voice that fits perfectly with the character of Billy, and it’s hard to imagine a more fitting actor for the role.

7 Blain (Dave Bautista)

For all intents and purposes, Blain was designed to act as the comic relief quotient of the film, and his mannerisms and tongue-in-cheek delivery made it happen. Best known for carrying the mini-gun, one of the coolest weapons of the Predator franchise, Blain was given larger than life stature by actor/politician Jesse Ventura.

It’s hard to find an actor of his type these days, but Dave Bautista has proven that he’s got what it takes. His outrageously funny and over-the-top performance as Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy is a virtual audition, all by itself. He’d be able to carry the mini-gun, and he’d definitely have the humor chops to go along with it.

6 Poncho (Jerry Wolf)

Jerry Wolf has been involved in acting ever since he made appearances as a young Cheyenne boy in the popular and highly detailed Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman TV series. Since that time, he hasn’t starred in a lot of films, but he did make waves with the projects Four Winds, The Paramour and Last Patrol on Okinawa.

Still relatively unknown, Jerry does have the physicality, the draw, and the Native American heritage to handle the role of Poncho, previously played by part Cherokee actor Richard Chaves. The two share the same ability to sell emotions with a simple gaze, which greatly benefits the Poncho character.

5 Mac (Chiwetel Ejiofor)

Chiwetel Ejiofor is no stranger to action movies by this point. He’s starred in everything from Serenity and American Gangster to Salt and Doctor Strange, where he played the future Baron Mordo. All he’d need is a crash course on how to be a U.S. Special Forces soldier, and he’d slide right into the role of Mac, previously played by Bill Duke.

The character of Mac is traumatized by his encounter with the Predator, to the point where he becomes impulsive and erratic. Chiwetel Ejiofor has a knack for portraying psychologically disturbed and upset characters, and his range would no doubt sell a stable Mac, and a loose cannon alter ego at the same time.

4 Anna Gonsalves (Eiza González Reyna)

Eiza González has been making inroads into the pop culture community for the last few years now, getting her first big break in the TV series adaptation of From Dusk Till Dawn. Since then, she’s leapfrogged into hits like Baby Driver, Alita: Battle Angel and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. She’s got skills, and they show.

Original actress Elpidia Carrillo charmed audiences as Anna, a sly guerrilla insurgent who reluctantly joins forces with her U.S. Special Forces captors to escape the deadly Predator. Eiza can easily tackle this kind of role, and judging by her resumé thus far, she’d no doubt relish the opportunity.

3 Dillon (Michael B. Jordan)

Few actors these days have the pomp and presence to handle a role like Dillon, especially given the large shoes left by veteran action movie star Carl Weathers. Michael B. Jordon would be the best fit for the film, and he’s already followed in Weathers’ footsteps once by portraying Apollo Creed’s son in the Creed spinoff franchise, one of Jordan’s best roles.

Michael’s got the beef to play Dillon, as well as the attitude. As one of the two main stars of the Predator film, he’d have enough weight and cinematic history to draw audiences in. Plus, he’d deliver the kind of action movie bravado necessary for a role like Dillon, which requires deception, as well as physicality.

2 Dutch Schaefer (Stephen Amell)

It’s practically impossible to find an actor who can match Arnold Schwarzenegger’s might these days, but that’s alright, given that the modern Special Forces soldier Dutch Schaefer is not the stereotypical bodybuilding He-Man type. Still, Schaefer would need to be played by someone who can throw down, with the physicality to show for it.

That role would be best served by Arrow actor Stephen Amell. He’s already proven that he has the strength and physical presence to tackle an extremely demanding role, plus he’d look the part in relation to Schwarzenegger. He’d have to channel more Green Arrow and less Oliver Queen, but that undoubtedly would not be a problem, given the popularity of some of Arrow‘s best storylines.

1 The Predator (Derek Mears)

At 7’2″ tall, Kevin Peter Hall was a virtual giant, and the perfect fit for a guy in a rubber suit. He brought the Predator to life by dwarfing strongman Arnold Schwarzenegger, and one-upping him in his own movie. For the first time, audiences truly believed that Schwarzenegger was the prey.

At 6’5″, Derek Mears isn’t quite as tall, but he’s no slouch, either. Known for playing huge characters such as Jason Voorhees and Swamp Thing, Mears is no stranger to the sci-fi/horror realm. He even played a Yautja warrior before in the 2010 sequel Predators, so he already knows what’s involved in donning the costume.

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