Shane Black Addresses The Predator Reluctance and Schwarzenegger's Return

When it comes to The Predator, the new movie looking to revive the franchise, writer/director Shane Black didn't say yes right away.

"I was reluctant. I said, 'Look. You guys at Fox, I mean, I enjoy these movies, but we've been churning out these AvP whatever, they each cost a certain amount of money, they're okay, but there's no effort to elevate them or make them any kind of an event.' They're just sort of another Predator," he told Thrillist.

Luckily for fans of both Black and The Predator, Fox's response to the writer brought him on board almost instantly.

"They said, 'What if we said to you we want to reinvent this, and really treat it with as much of an event status, or as much hoopla as we would the Alien prequel, which is coming out also? We really want to make this something. The kind of movie that people line up for.' I said, 'Really, you'll spend a bunch of money?' They go, 'Yep.' I go, 'Make it really scale, spectacle?' 'Yep.' 'Shit, that sounds interesting,'" Black said.

He said that he'll look to the first Predator movie, and expand the "mythology of the Predator." Fox wants him to "treat it like it was Iron man III instead of just another little movie."

As for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Black says he's "Still in talks." He also said that the script is "still a secret.

As for Iron Man, and all things Marvel, "If they ever call me [again], I'll be happy to take that call," Black said.

The Predator is being developed to debut in theaters for March 2, 2018.