The Predator has been throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks when it comes to their marketing, and it’s still not entirely clear what this movie will look like. The film’s first trailer was very light on action and seemed to center on Jacob Tremblay, with almost no Predators present. Then, an extended TV trailer changed tone completely and was very action-heavy, even featuring some Predator on Predator action. And now, we have the film’s first red-band trailer, which leans even harder into the action while revealing more of the plot.
In the new trailer, the focus is split between the film’s new team of soldiers (who engage in some vulgar ribbing that wouldn’t be out of place in the 1987 original) and the film’s new hybrid “Ultimate Predator.” The Ultimate Predator is bigger and more deadly than previous Predators, and may or may not have been created by Olivia Munn’s character. The trailer really emphasizes the upcoming standoff between the film’s soldiers, with Boyd Holbrook appearing to fill the Arnold-type leader role, and the Ultimate Predator.
While we’re generally not crazy about the idea of hybrids in our horror movies (cough, Jurassic World movies, cough), this Ultimate Predator looks undeniably awesome. A giant, invincible Predator who eats other Predators for lunch could provide just enough of a twist to make The Predator an intriguing reboot for the franchise, while still sticking to what these movies have always done best. That is, pitting a ruthless alien killing machine against some badass soldiers in the woods.
