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Arnold Schwarzenegger may soon make a long-awaited return to the 'Predator' franchise. Director Dan Trachtenberg, who helmed the upcoming instalment 'Predator: Badlands', revealed during a Comic-Con 2025 panel that there are early plans for Schwarzenegger’s possible comeback as Major Alan ‘Dutch’ Schaefer, the character he originated in the iconic 1987 film.
While Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn’t appeared in any of the subsequent 'Predator' films, Trachtenberg hinted at future collaborations. The director recently met with the action star and shared that he's working on new ideas involving the original character, suggesting that Dutch's story may not be over yet.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
The 'Predator' universe has grown to include nine films—ranging from sequels to 'Alien' crossovers—but Schwarzenegger’s Dutch has remained absent since the original. That could change, especially after Trachtenberg received the actor’s approval to use his likeness in an epilogue scene in 'Predator: Killer of Killers'. The sequence shows predator warriors honouring fallen humans, including Dutch, Danny Glover’s Lt. Mike Harrigan, and Naru from 'Prey' (2022), played by Amber Midthunder.
What Will 'Predator: Badlands' Offer?
Set to release on 7th November, 2025, 'Predator: Badlands' flips the traditional predator-versus-human story. This time, a young Predator—played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi—is the protagonist. He joins forces with Thia, a mysterious android portrayed by Elle Fanning, to battle a nearly unstoppable creature on a distant planet.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
The film promises high-stakes action with a twist, as the outcast Predator and his unlikely companion face a powerful enemy described as unbeatable. The trailer teases the intensity of their mission, with Thia warning that their prey "can’t be killed."
Off-screen, Arnold Schwarzenegger remains active in the spotlight. His son, Patrick, recently appeared in 'The White Lotus', leading to renewed public conversation around the concept of “nepo babies.” The actor firmly defended his son’s independent career, emphasising that Patrick never relied on family connections or requested help breaking into Hollywood.
As the 'Predator' saga evolves, fans are hopeful that Arnold Schwarzenegger will once again step into the jungle—this time, to rejoin a franchise he helped define nearly four decades ago.
