Following on from their adaptation of William Gibson’s original Alien 3 script (check out our podcast review here), and their upcoming adaptation of Dan O’Bannon’s first draft of Alien, Dark Horse Comics are now turning their sights on Predator and adapting Jim and John Thomas’ original Hunters draft of Predator!
“There’s excitement in seeing what might have been. The bones of Predator are there, but the original idea was so different and in some ways, much deeper than what the movie became — and we lean hard into those differences. Turn all of that over to a pair of dynamic artists like Patrick Blain and Andy Owens, and the results are spectacular. Predator fans are going to lose their minds!”
Aliens vs. Predator: Thicker Than Blood scribe Jeremy Barlow will also be penning the five issue adaptation, and is joined by Patrick Blain and Andy Owens for the art, both of whom are new talent to the Alien and Predator franchises.
Judging from the cover art, this take on the Predator will not be using Steve Johnson’s previous Predator design but a completely new take on the creatures. The first issue is due to hit shelves on the 10th of June! You can also check out the Hunter script in our downloads section!
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Spoiler
Stuff like that's fairly superfluous though. The basic framework's the same, even if the fates of different characters are moved around a bit.
Mostly I remember the elaborate action scene in the canyon and the vastly expanded final duel between Dutch and the Pred as being the only notable differences.
To be honest, the one early Predator script I've read didn't really differ much from the finished film, so it'll be interesting to see what they come up with for this.
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/files/scripts/predator-1985-07-27.pdf
Interestingly the Smart Disc makes its appearance here (and is the weapon used to kill the Hunter).
Yeah that's what I'm thinking. Likely nothing that was developed outside of the original script is going to play a part in what we're going to see.
It would be cool to see a version that used the original suit design as well though, possibly adapting a later draft. Maybe something for down the road if this does well?
Hopefully 20th Century Fox. It's still too early for the "Studios" part to be as recognisable to most people. That and just for old time's sake.
His cameo was interesting though. It's still tech but it's like a sheath suit that is more akin to a chameleon as opposed to bending light. There is a great bit with a butterfly at the point he first appears.
I really enjoyed the nuances.
Some good descriptions in there for the creature. 3 fingers, toes, semi translucent skin, orange blood and so on.
The final battle seems to be really long in this screen play. I could see it taking up the entirety of Issues 4 and 5.
The more I think of it, I'm probably confusing the issue. Storyboards, concept art, Boss Films work, none of that should be applicable here. This is just an adaptation of the written page, the original script and its words and descriptions therein. Nothing external outside that script should/would be relevant.
In regards to its content, do I believe every version of the Hunter/Predator scripts are in public circulation? No, not at all, right? So probably in the formerly Fox library there are versions out there that perhaps reference the hunting party, the Predator bleeding orange versus green, shapeshift ability to appear like other animals, etc. everything we heard about and/or read in the novel. Suddenly I don't want to look into this further, and I'm just plain excited what we may discover within each issue!
Also:
I wonder if this will stay "20th Century 'Fox' Uncovered", or change to 'Studios' :
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/predator-the-original-screenplay-cover-art.jpg
Looks like I completely missed these storyboards. That's a good catch. Hmmm, makes the choice more odd. Unless they're going shapeshifter from the novel?
The artwork I was checking out by Andy Owens seems promising.
Good catch!
I don't know.... the storyboards say Matheny, not Dutch. That's pre-Schwarzenegger. That's 1985.
And Archie Vs Predator 2 concluded last month. In terms of releases this is the most Predator content released in a single year since the 90's! I'm loving it!
While it is mildly surprising they don't seem to be going with the Boss Film design, it makes sense since by the time that came about things were likely closer to what the final film ended up as than the version of the script they're basing this off of.
I've never read any of the early Predator drafts, but I'm assuming this will be more like the small, simian-like creature with prehensile feet that could climb and swing through the trees easily before they decided they wanted something bigger to look more physically intimidating?
Also was it something from the original script or just an idea that John McTiernan had about the team originally getting to the drop zone via a C-130 rather than choppers and getting buzzed by Peruvian Migs, which caused the pilot to want to turn back until Dutch held a gun to his head and forced him to keep going as planned, eventually running through the plane an grabbing a parachute as he jumped out?
They both seemingly have become somewhat of a recluse in the public eye. Especially John.
So I'm going through the ol' Predator archives, and these early Hunter storyboards with Matheny / pre-Dutch that were up for sale back in the day at the Propstore of London still featured the original Predator old Boss Films design. That rat head. Even those legs. So it would appear that's the design they still should be going with here.
https://i.ibb.co/YWH88ZH/IMG-20200220-131459.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/gtXbsGk/IMG-20200220-132719.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/BG5szVt/20200220-132904.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/vLWRPGd/20200220-132831.jpg
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/ckeditor_assets/pictures/2967/content_predator-original-design-3.jpg?1395801040
I would love to know their thoughts on everything past Predator 2. The only time I really heard anything from them was their excellent audio commentary for Predator 2 and their very small appearance in the making of from the original film. Have they ever talked about any Predator related stuff anywhere beyond that?
Maybe they could make a foreword for this comic.
Hmm. Bringing up the Thomas Brothers, I would truly love to know their thoughts about this... good, bad or indifferent.
And , who know , if it's good , ( it will be ) why not to consider a good prequel with Jim Hopper in it
S Black just lost his cell phone ...... Don't call him.
Can't wait for this comic book Thomas brothers , I salute you
Regards
https://i.imgur.com/MDUS0Kf.png
He also provides the upcoming variant cover for Predator Hunters III issue 3.
Really? cos I dig the idea.
Thanks for answering. I wish it had ended in the script though
Although I'm actively always researching to be strictly a complete Predator 2 historian rather than Predator, I do not believe the hunting party ever made it into a completed script draft. However, we should see the Predator's ship in the jungle this time though!
Avp Thicker than Blood
Predator Hunters III
Predator Hunting Grounds
Predator Stalking Shadows
Predator The Original Screenplay
Wow, what a stretch of months. We're just rolling in Predator content!
So F-img awesome. I'll be going through that script later.
I can't remember if that was in Hunters or not. Gonna have to have a re-read later.
Still pretty exciting
THAT
IS FREAK'N
AWESOME!!!