Illustrator William Stout Reveals Early Concept Art for "Predator" including a G

[Voodoo Magic]

I think "overthinking little" is probably the most accurate here.

Has anyone just left a comment on Stout's posts and asked him for an interview .. ?

I emailed Mr. Stout for clarification. We'll see where it goes.

[Gilfryd]

More tidbits -

I was not the sole designer of the Predator creature. I heard there was some trouble with the suit after they began shooting in the jungle. Other special effects make-up designers were brought in who made some great design enhancements to the monster suit.

The great Robert Short came up with those cool high tech-style dreadlocks.

Someone on Stan Winston's talented team created that super cool four-pronged mouth.

"Success has many fathers; failure is an orphan."

Also some 'recent interpretations' (not concept art) of the Predator by Stout -
https://www.williamstout.com/news/journal/

[Immortan Jonesy]

This stunningly-made article is to get lost among so much breathtakingly content. Although I still not sure how I missed all this.Thanks Voodoo. I am so thankful for what you did, because I love everything from Giger.

[Voodoo Magic]

This stunningly-made article is to get lost among so much breathtakingly content. Although I still not sure how I missed all this.Thanks Voodoo. I am so thankful for what you did, because I love everything from Giger.

*Giger smile emoji*

[Biggles]

I am confused. I was under the impression that Winston's team created the final Predator creature from whole cloth after the Boss insectoid thing was ditched. This is the version of events that SWS still gives (without any mention of Stout); https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/predator-30th-anniversary-behind-the-scenes

Clearly Stout did several concepts for the movie, and I presume created the final insectoid version? According to him though, he also designed the final form, minus the mandibles;

I designed The Predator (My friend Rick Baker brought me in on this. I was really happy to get the gig; not so much because it was designing a monster but because it was my first work on a union film, a nice breakthrough, career-wise). Stan's people built the suit based on my designs and plussed it by adding that cool four-pronged mouth idea.

Source: https://www.williamstout.com/news/journal/2008/06/17/stan-winston-r-i-p/

Does anyone know the actual timeline here? He doesn't even mention the Boss version.

[Voodoo Magic]

I am confused. I was under the impression that Winston's team created the final Predator creature from whole cloth after the Boss insectoid thing was ditched. This is the version of events that SWS still gives (without any mention of Stout); https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/predator-30th-anniversary-behind-the-scenes

Clearly Stout did several concepts for the movie, and I presume created the final insectoid version? According to him though, he also designed the final form, minus the mandibles;

I designed The Predator (My friend Rick Baker brought me in on this. I was really happy to get the gig; not so much because it was designing a monster but because it was my first work on a union film, a nice breakthrough, career-wise). Stan's people built the suit based on my designs and plussed it by adding that cool four-pronged mouth idea.

Source: https://www.williamstout.com/news/journal/2008/06/17/stan-winston-r-i-p/

Does anyone know the actual timeline here? He doesn't even mention the Boss version.

It would appear Stout was brought in on Hunter (Predator) in 1985 based on his post, but definitely before filming when John McTiernan was still wanting a design similar to the Giger painting, a creature with the American Football shaped head (which is what he got with the Boss Films design.) I do find it interesting that McTiernan, when knocking the first Predator design, doesn't seem to mention his partial culpability or perhaps he was the catalyst of the design.

But here is roughly what we know about whom was in involved in fixing the Predator:

PREDATOR: Fixing the Creature - Robert Short Productions & John McTiernan
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=62388.0

But I'm glad you shared that link regarding "Invaders From Mars". It's creating a disheartening pattern of Stan Winston taking credit sometimes for other people's work, which appears to have happened somewhat on Predator.

[SuperiorIronman]

Been meaning to post this but I do find it interesting Illfonic's "Haze" helmet does bear a resemblance to Stout's take on the Predator. A combination yes but I couldn't help but notice that.

[Biggles]

Thank you Voodoo Magic; I remember reading your excellent post on that; it's partly why I was confused about Stout's contribution as it doesn't appear. Although Winston clearly had a thing about credit, it looks like Stout is forgetting/glossing over the contributions of others; I can't see how we jump from his concepts to Winston's mandibles. And it still looks to me that SWS at least did a full redesign on the head, not just the mandibles.

[Voodoo Magic]

Thank you Voodoo Magic; I remember reading your excellent post on that; it's partly why I was confused about Stout's contribution as it doesn't appear. Although Winston clearly had a thing about credit, it looks like Stout is forgetting/glossing over the contributions of others; I can't see how we jump from his concepts to Winston's mandibles. And it still looks to me that SWS at least did a full redesign on the head, not just the mandibles.

Happy to help!

Stout did at least credit Robert Short's team in one of his blog posts to some degree. I just wish Stan Winston did, considering the masked Predator was already pretty much designed before Stan Winston Studio got the job.



May 22, 2022, 09:34:52 AM

Been meaning to post this but I do find it interesting Illfonic's "Haze" helmet does bear a resemblance to Stout's take on the Predator. A combination yes but I couldn't help but notice that.

https://forum.predator.illfonic.com/uploads/default/original/2X/7/7b90691792be9e0e5b795fbbb5aad9bed00586ba.jpeg

Good eye!