Rodriguez Confirms PREDATORS Sequel Is On The Way

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Obsessed With Film

It wasn't too long ago that only huge Hollywood blockbusters warranted sequels, now it seems that moderately successful ones do as well.

Robert Rodriguez's monster reboot "Predators" hasn't done too bad at the box office, $46 million so far, then again it didn't reach the much coveted $100 million plateau in it's opening weekend either.

So, one might wonder why Fox would be so inclined to shell out more money for a "Predators" sequel based on such average numbers? The answer is simple. True Rodriguez's film didn't blow people away, but it did turn a profit, making more than it's scaled back $35 million budget in returns.

So, Fox is very willing to see if yet another Predator film would be able to generate a profit from a relatively small investment, in Hollywood movie terms.

Rodriguez explains, “(FOX) said, ‘Let’s do some other ones. What other story ideas do you have?

Because it was like, let’s test out the market with this one. They really wanted it to be pretty contained, pretty scaled-back. They didn’t want to put too many of the ideas into it that we could save for a second one. So we could see what the appetite was, because the bigger movie would actually be what comes following that. That kind of sets up a new storyline, new location and world, and then you can really go crazy from there.”

Though the director is optimistic that he will be given a bigger budget for a bigger film this time, I wouldn't bet on it myself. Fox learned long ago, with the "Planet of the Apes" movies, that once you have a successful movie series, with an iconic character, a huge profit can be generated by a film with a low-budget. In other words, fans will pay to see the product, whether you sink a lot of money into it or not.

Hopefully the film maker is right, and the studio will be more inclined to go with a larger scale production next time around. I think that the fans would rather see a really hard-core sci fi action film than a watered down one

See Also: Meet The (New) PREDATORS / Will The Fans Buy Adrien Brody As An Action Hero In Robert Rodriguez's "Predator"? / Robert Rodriguez To Give Predator A Reboot / Dark Horse Resurrecting Alien And Predator Comic Book Titles / Aliens vs Predator Requiem (2007)

Meet The (New) PREDATORS

Source: 20th Century Fox (Press Material)

Having lined up an impressive (human) cast, it fell to the filmmakers of @0th Century Fox's, "Predators", to make their other-worldly "stars" worthy of the legacy of the original film. "I believe what really made 'Predator' great was that the human characters went hand-in-hand with the alien Predator, because they are the audience's entry point to the movie," comments director Robert Rodriguez. "They have to identify with the human characters enough so that if the humans show fear then they would show fear against what they're seeing. So, we really had to nail the human characters in order to make the Predator character actually stronger. One without the other doesn't work. So, we really concentrated on not just having human characters that were great, but then making our Predators actually also have terrific and distinct personalities so that they weren't just the 'others.' They are actually characters in their own right."

While the human stars bonded during the early weeks of shooting in Hawaii, the cast of Predators and other creatures were prepared by an extensive team of artists and technicians for shooting in Austin. Longtime Rodriguez collaborators Greg Nicotero and his partner Howard Berger, partners in KNB Effects Group, Inc. - were charged with creating the alien creatures and the special make-up effects. "This is a really exciting show for us. We're actually creating the title characters of the film, and multiples of them," comments Nicotero.

The surviving humans make the stunning discovery that the "original" Predator has fallen victim to this new "upgrade," whom they realize is out to be the supreme hunter... and the ultimate Predator. So, in addition to bringing back the affectionately-called "Classic" Predator, KNB created three new Berserker Predators - Dog Handler, Falconer, and Mr. Black. These represent bigger, longer, leaner, and deadlier versions of the species that audiences remember from previous films. Other creatures that expand the Predators mythology - including the alien Ram Runner and the Predators' Hunting Dogs - were also devised.

Rodney J. Brunet, Chris Olivia, and Alex Toader of Troublemaker Digital (TMS Digital), plus conceptual artist Joe Pepe, began early drawings that were fine-tuned by the designers at KNB. A team of sixty-two people at KNB - designers, artists, sculptors, mold-makers, and painters - worked for approximately 13 weeks at their 25,000 square foot facility in Los Angeles.

"Every single one of those people were 100% dedicated to bringing the best possible creatures to life," states Nicotero. "Shannon Shea, who was basically my lieutenant on this movie, had worked at Stan Winston's company on the original 'Predator,' so he was really invested in this project." (Shea and property master Tommy "Tom" Tomlinson were the two "legacy" crew members, who had also worked on the original film in 1987.)

"The time frame was pretty insane if you really think about the level of work," explains Nicotero. "Every single piece of about sixteen total creatures (including doubles) had to be created from scratch. Every single dreadlock, piece of jewelry, mandible... every single element of these creatures had to designed and manufactured and fit together."

The classic and new Predators are humanoid aliens who were created largely by practical state-of-the-art creature suits. "Being able to see the original Predator in our story had a nostalgia factor, because you hadn't really seen him like that since the first movie," comments Rodriguez. "We just wanted it to feel like it evolved - to bring back the original, plus a new updated, nastier, meaner breed."

"Robert and Nimrod were really specific about our Classic Predator being the 'cassette tape' version and the new Predator being the iPod version, so [the latter] needed to be sleek and elegant and fierce," comments Nicotero. "So instantly I had ideas of bringing the armor closer to the body and sweeping the dreadlocks back and elongating the head a little bit so that it wasn't quite as square-looking. It's not always 'bigger is better'; the new Predators are elegant-looking because they're tall, long, and lean."

Nicotero elaborates about the features of the new creatures: "We see their masks for most of the film and they have a lot of personality. The Dog Handler had tusks that he had taken off of one of the hunting dogs, The Falconer had a very specific mask design, and then Mr. Black had this weird alien jaw. Each has a unique personality. In addition, we also painted them a little differently so that they would stand out and you'd be able to visually differentiate between the different Predators." All the Predators feature the cloaking ability established in the first film, but the new ones also have high tech weaponry, including an airborne Predator Falcon and new Plasma Caster.

While many of the Predator effects were practical, the film's visual effects team provided key enhancements, including muzzle flashes, set extensions, a digital space ship, elements of the opening freefall and parachute sequence, as well as the iconic cloaking effects. "We're taking a new riff on the cloaking - we've made it a digital effect and it's more pristine than it was in the original film," says on-set visual effects supervisor Jabbar Raisani. "It's as if their technology's been updated now in the future. So it's a more invisible effect in this film."

In the Predator universe, timing is everything - especially the creatures' first appearance in each story. "In the original film, I think the way the Predator is revealed was such a success because they took their time and they made a meal out of it," comments Antal. "The terror was supported by the slow burn of the Predators' reveal. It was something that you hadn't quite seen. You don't see the Predator for the first half hour. In this film, we've tried to replicate that slow reveal."

Because the Predator characters would be performing stunts, Nicotero worked with stunt coordinator Jeff Dashnaw to cast the performers who would wear the Predator suits. Dashnaw also gave Nicotero some feedback on the designs to keep the performers safe. "The plasma gun and blades and such stick out from the suits, which could be dangerous during the fight performances," says Dashnaw. "So, Greg designed them so they could come off the suits when necessary and visual effects adds them back in during post."

Six-foot-five Derek Mears, who portrayed iconic screen monster Jason Voorhees in last year's hit "Friday the 13th" reboot, plays the Classic Predator, and Brian Steele and Carey Jones portray the three new Predators.

See Also: Will The Fans Buy Adrien Brody As An Action Hero In Robert Rodriguez's "Predator"? / Robert Rodriguez To Give Predator A Reboot / Dark Horse Resurrecting Alien And Predator Comic Book Titles / Aliens vs Predator Requiem (2007)

Will The Fans Buy Adrien Brody As An Action Hero In Robert Rodriguez's "Predator"?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: The Los Angeles Times

You would think that when it came to recasting the role of the hero in the upcoming reboot of "Predator", director Robert Rodriguez would tap into the mass of Hollywood hunks, like Hugh Jackman or Gerard Butler. But he hasn't. Instead the coveted role, made famous by present California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has fallen to Oscar winner Adrien Brody.

Adrien Brody? You mean the guy from the "The Pianist"?

Yep, that Adrien Brody.

The casting of the often 'quirky' actor is a major deviation from the type of actor normally attached to such a project. Let's face it, the lanky Brody is the exact opposite of the gym junkie Schwarzenegger. Though bringing in an actor with his talent does add a heap of credibility to a film like "Predator", fans and media alike are still sitting, jaws wide-open, wondering how anyone is going to buy him in an action role of this stature.

Add to the equation, the fact that Rodriguez has written a "Predator" film that is reportedly, "more intense" and "crazier", than the 1987 original, and then the casting of Brody really sounds odd.

In fact, here is how the director described his vision of "Predator" to a reporter from the Los Angeles Times back in July:

"The story is on the Predator planet and, well, it’s just crazy.

It takes place off-world which is great, and there’s a lot of them out there." And what about the prey? "Let's just say if there were no Predators, the humans in this story would probably kill each other."

Rodriguez also added, that back in 1994, when he wrote the original script for the film, the technology didn't exist to make the kind of film he envisioned. Now, however, he believes that the technology has finally caught up with his movie.

This just makes me wonder if fans will buy someone like Brody in this kind of a film? Certainly, he can act, and draw you into his character, but who really wants to see a skinny guy kicking ass?

See Also: Robert Rodriguez To Give Predator A Reboot / Dark Horse Resurrecting Alien And Predator Comic Book Titles / Aliens vs Predator Requiem (2007)

Barbarella Is On Again, Off Again, On Again?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Sometimes film makers just don't know when to give up. They keep trying to get a film made no matter how many obstacles are thrown in their path. They continue on, when most people would throw in the towel and walk away. Such is the case with the much maligned remake of the 1968 cult classic "Barbarella." The film has gone through, now, three directors, two leading ladies, faced financial troubles and has had to move shooting locations from the US to Germany. Obviously, there is a big red flag associated with this one, yet people still insist on pushing forward with the project.

Now, after director Robert Rodriguez had his fill with the project, yet another film maker, Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law), has jumped in to yet once again resurrect "Barbarella."

It is assumed that Luketic will simply take the production over from where Rodriquez left off.

News of a remake of "Barbarella" first surfaced in April of 2007, when producer Dino De Laurentiis had secured the rights to the film. At the time De Laurentiis had tapped director Peter Webber to head the project and "Casino Royale" writers Robert Wade and Neal Purvis to pen the screenplay.

The actress that they had lined up to play the sexy, space-hoping heroin Barbarella was none other than Scarlett Johansson.....or so the rumors were at the time.

By August of 2007 Webber and Johansson were out and Robert Rodriguez was in. The new director came under almost immediate scrutiny, when he announced that he had cast his girlfriend, Rose McGowan, as the lead. Studio executives scoffed at the idea of having the actress take on a title role after her last film, "Grindhouse", failed at the box office. The director's rock solid stance on McGowan lead to many a conflict between himself and the brass at Universal Studios, which eventually lead to them pulling their $100 million backing of the film.

After that Rodriguez spent the better part of a year looking for another studio and financial backing for "Barbarella." Eventually the director would find a taker, in Germany, but ultimately Rodriguez didn't want to make the film overseas, so he walked away from it.

Just before he washed his hands of the project Rodriguez told MTV, "We had all this artwork and screen tests of what it would look like. It was a really cool, R-rated, sexy version of a Star Wars movie... It was gonna be really great."

With both Rodriguez and McGowan now removed from "Barbarella" it is possible that the pair will begin production on the remake of "Red Sonja", which was announced last year.

See Also: Rose McGowan Goes From Barbarella To Red Sonja / Barbarella Derailed By A Rose / Rose McGowan As Barbarella? / 'Barbarella' Is A Go / Peter Webber Signs On For 'Barbarella'

Robert Rodriguez To Give Predator A Reboot

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source WENN

Sometimes monster movie franchises go off the rails. It happened to Godzilla and it as happened to both Alien and Predator. Many fans weren't all to happy with the last two "Alien vs Predator" films. Believing that the two monsters deserved better films.

Well it seems that director Robert Rodriguez has heard the cries of monster movie fans around the globe and is going to 'reboot' the "Predator" films, starting with a remake of the original 1987 film that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Reportedly Rodriguez has already written the script for the film, which is tentatively titled, "Predators." The director is ready to begin production on the film once he is finished filming his current film, "Machete."

Presently very little is known about the film. It is also unknown if Schwarzenegger will be cast in the remake.

See Also: Dark Horse Resurrecting Alien And Predator Comic Book Titles / Aliens vs Predator Requiem (2007)

Rose McGowan Goes From Barbarella To Red Sonja

Grindhouse star Rose McGowan and her director boyfriend are set to revive Brigitte Nielsen's Red Sonja in a new movie.

The actress and Robert Rodriguez have confirmed they're planning a major remake of the 1985 big screen adaptation of the comic book series, in which Nielsen played a bikini-clad, sword-wielding barbarian vixen.

And even McGowan, who played a one-legged zombie killer in Rodriguez's Planet Terror Grindhouse film, admits she's surprised the Red Sonja role is hers.

The script was sent to her and she admits she had no idea why she had been selected to play the new Sonja.

She tells USA Today newspaper, "I thought it was funny. I do have a body made for sitting on a veranda with mint juleps and a parasol. I don't know why I always have to save the planet."
But Rodriguez insists his partner is perfect for the role: "Rose is a pistol. She's whip-smart, has attitude to burn, is sexy, extremely strong, yet has a vulnerable side that would surprise her closest friends. That description also fits Red Sonja."

Last year McGowan and Rodriguez tried to work together on a remake of the 60s' sexy sci fi film "Barbarella." Universal pulled the financing for the film when Rodriguez insisted that McGowan fill the title role that Jane Fonda made infamous. The studio believed that the young starlet didn't have what it took to carry the lead role in such a big budget movie.

Apparently there is another studio out there that believes McGowan will be a bigger box office draw than Universal did.