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Neil Marshall to Direct Robert Rodriguez' Predators Reboot?!

by Alex Billington
June 12, 2009
Source: Bloody Disgusting

For some odd reason, I thought Robert Rodriguez himself was going to direct the Predators reboot. But I was wrong. Bloody Disgusting has learned that British filmmaker Neil Marshall, of Dog Soldiers, The Descent, and Doomsday previously, will most likely end up being the director chosen to bring us more Predator mayhem. Rodriguez is still producing and developing the project at Troublemaker Studios with 20th Century Fox overseeing, but apparently Neil Marshall is in negotiations to direct (but hasn't officially signed on). He's very good with creatures and horror, I'll say that, but can he handle big sci-fi action?

Most people think of Neil Marshall as a great director primarily because he brought us one of the very best modern horror movies, The Descent, but those who saw Doomsday know that he can screw up, too. I know for certain that I'm not the only one who hated Doomsday, but there are others who enjoyed it quite a bit. Then again, I'd say Descent was better prep for Predators than Doomsday was. And as long he's not writing, then I'm confident that it will at least be in good hands. Right before Doomsday first came out, I wrote-up a feature on his techniques and shooting style, focusing on his passion for gritty and practical filmmaking.

Back in April, Rodriguez dropped some early hints at what we can expect to see in this reboot. "We'd create new otherworldly characters while not taking away from the draw our main Predator has. I think another reason I called it Predators was to mark it as a project that should be taken seriously by a filmmaker to make a worthy follow up to a classic, much in the way Cameron made Aliens a compelling work on its own, following Ridley Scott's Alien." So is Neil Marshall a worthy filmmaker for this new Predators movie?

Explore tags: Hype, Movie News, Opinions

zach

Ehhhh im not so sure about him directing i hated the decent just bored the hell outta me as for rodriguez: he needs to focus on Sin City 2. But i just know this movie will be packed with top notch effects and scenery
http://alexmasterson.wordpress.com/ Digital Metaphor

I'd say out of all his films, Dog Soldiers would be the best prep for Predator. Bunch of soldiers in the forest, cameraderie, being hunted by monsters, survival, gory death scenes, etc... I think this chap could do a great job!
usonnychiba1

Didn't rate Dog Soldiers at all, loved the Descent, enjoyed Doomsday for what it was (switch off the brain balls to the wall action) and think he'll do a awesome job with Predator.
Syphous

Terrible news. Nothing against Mr. Marshall, but I too thought Robert Rodriguez himself was directing and I was excited as hell for that. What a let down this news is.
xMort

I love Doomsday!
w00t!!!

Oh fuck me. There go my hopes and dreams. Some fans of Predator here... The Descent was as bad as its cast and the second, the plot already doesn't make sense. She goes back!?! The fuck. Doomsday was exactly what #3 said but I'll never watch it again unless while flipping, one of the decent action scenes is on. Then again, he didn't write them. Let's hope they bless it with a good script or this movie is screwed.
LINKFX

The Descent is one of the greatest horror films of all time, anyone one who says no oh it was boring oh it was slow the acting was terrible is not worth their sand. It was great and Doomsday well Doomsday was essentially Aliens meets Escape from New York...it was entertaining, that being said, I'm sure this will be great, just make sure it has an emotional screenplay with involving deep characters. Descent had that but characterization was definitely lacking in Doomsday. I have high hopes now, which I didn't have when Robert Rodriguez was rumoured to direct.
Robbie

I'd rather NOT see a Predator reboot! Why reboot?! IT AIN'T NECESSARY!!
ha1rball

YAY!!!! wait BOOOO. I'm not quite sure how i feel about this...
DarkSeb

Exactly what #8 said!! Why don't they just make a new one? Specially after what Rodriguez said: "a worthy follow up" and that he named it "Predators much in the way Cameron made Aliens a compelling work on its own, following Ridley Scott's Alien." Well, Aliens is the CONTINUATION to Alien (not a freakin' reboot!!).
Dan W

I don't know how I feel about it. I hated the last half of the descent, but all I can do is hope that they do not ruin Predator like the AVP movies did. I have faith in Rodriguez though
w00t!!!

Anyone that thinks teh Descent is horror is genuinely insane. How was it horror? Who cares about the acting...it was slow, boring, predictable, with nothing new or out of the box.
Nick S.

*fingers crossed*
http://www.twitter.com/gimmesumsuga Mathieu

I think, Alex, you need to expand your vocabulary to include the word 'sequel.' A proper reboot would be starting from scratch, retelling the original story in a different way, usually with the same title. A sly, modern term for remake, basically. Rodriguez has corrected himself and expanded upon what he meant since the announcement was first made. He uses the relationship between Alien and Aliens as the model for the relationship between Predator and Predators. So, it's not a remake/reboot... IT'S... A... SEQUEL!!! Sorry for 'shouting,' but all this reboot bollocks really annoys me. A sequel is infinitely more appealing. And, back on topic, Neil Marshall is a great choice. Dog Soldiers and The Descent were both excellent films, with great, traditional craftsmanship at their core. Marshall wrote both, so there's no need to question his screenwriting abilities. Doomsday was a disappointment, I'll admit, but it looked good and the action was well-staged. We all have our off-days; let's hope that was a momentary blip.
Joan Fett

Good news. Marshall is awesome!
snickers

As if this has any chance of being in the league of Aliens... This will be yet another shitty AvP-type movie for Gen-Ys.
John J

At least he doesn't need a Michael Bay sized budget to do a decent film. I thought what he achived with Doomsday on such a small budget was amazing.
Nothanks

I'm a big Marshall fan so I hope he does get the job!