Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Predator: Killer of Killers!

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator protagonist hasn’t returned since the original film, but Predator: Killer of Killers may have just set up his return in a future movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch was the protagonist of the 1987 film Predator, with him being the first character in the franchise to successfully kill one of the тιтular aliens. Despite him surviving the ordeal, the story of Dutch has not been continued in any of the sequel movies. While Dutch has appeared and been mentioned in Predator extended universe projects, Arnold Schwarzenegger has never reprised the role. However, Predator: Killer of Killers may change that.

Predator: Killer of Killers is the first of 2025’s two Predator movies, with it being the second film in the franchise directed by Dan Trachtenberg. The first animated Predator film is also an anthology film, with it telling the story of three different Predators hunting killers in three different eras: the Viking Age, Edo period Japan, and World War II. The three independent stories all cross over in the film’s final segment, in which the three champions are brought to a Yautja planet and forced to work together in order to escape another Predator fight.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch Could Be Held In The Yautja’s Archive Of Champions

Alongside Naru From Prey

Near the end of Predator: Killer of Killers, the three main characters attempt to make their way to the Predator Warlord’s ship in order to escape back to Earth. However, the Viking Ursa decides to sacrifice herself in order to help her friends escape. She is captured, with it later being revealed that the Predators have placed her in suspended animation. Her capsule is taken to a large room filled with tons of other capsules, many of which contain alien species. The film ends with the camera lingering on one capsule, which contains Naru, the protagonist from Prey.

The fact that Naru and Ursa are being placed in this Predator archive of champions implies that each one of the characters in the archive has successfully killed a Yautja. Since Predator: Killer of Killers confirms that four characters were all taken by the Yautja after killing their respective Predators, it is likely that this happens to every individual who kills one of the aliens. So, while it isn’t confirmed in Predator: Killer of Killers, it seems incredibly likely that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch could be in the room as well.

Since Dutch was never seen again after the original Predator, it is entirely possible that he was abducted by the Yautja and has been in suspended animation ever since. This would explain his absence throughout the many future Predator encounters. If he was still around, he would undoubtedly be warning people about the Yautja in Predator 2 and 2018’s The Predator. Instead, his absence hints that something happened to him after he was rescued by the helicopter, with a Yautja abduction being a likely option.

Killer Of Killers May Have Also Revealed A Much Darker Dutch Fate

The Warlord Could Have Killed Him

While it would be incredible if Dutch were still around to come back in future Predator projects, Predator: Killer of Killers may have also revealed a much darker fate for the Arnold Schwarzenegger character. When the three Predator: Killer of Killers characters are awoken, it is revealed that they must fight each other to the death in a gladiatorial arena. Then, the winner of this battle must face off against the Predator Warlord, someone who has probably never been beaten considering the fact that he is still alive.

Although the three characters escape before they have to kill each other, the existence of this gladiatorial tradition implies that Dutch may have gone through it as well. Dutch could have been forced to participate, with him potentially dying in the fight with the other human opponents. Even if he killed the other humans, he may have lost in the fight against the Predator Warlord immediately after. So, even if Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character was abducted by the Yautja at some point, there is no guarantee that he is still alive in the main Predator timeline.

Dutch Isn’t The Only Predator Protagonist Who Could Return Now

Any Predator Killer Could Come Back

While the return of Dutch is the most exciting possibility after the ending of Predator: Killer of Killers, the Arnold Schwarzenegger character isn’t the only protagonist who could return. In fact, any protagonist from throughout the Predator series could appear, with them being held in the Yautja archive of champions. Each Predator movie has a protagonist who successfully killed a Predator, meaning that they could all return in a Predator sequel and attempt to escape the Predator planet together.

Of all the Predator protagonists who could return outside of Dutch, Adrien Brody’s Royce from Predators is probably the most exciting option. Predator 2‘s Mike Harrigan could also be in the archive, setting up his potential return. Even characters from 2018’s The Predator or the Alien vs. Predator series could be in the room, with it being clear that most if not all of the galaxy’s Predator killers have been taken to the planet. Thus, the ending of Predator: Killer of Killers has some mᴀssive implications that span the entire franchise.

Will Arnold Schwarzenegger Return As Dutch After Predator: Killer Of Killers?

Could He Come Back In Predator: Badlands?

So, now that the possibility of Dutch’s return has been established, the question remains whether Arnold Schwarzenegger would come back. Schwarzenegger has expressed interest in a return, with him being attached to a 2011 Predator movie that went unmade. He also discussed a cameo in The Predator with Shane Black, although this fell through. However, this establishes a trend of the actor attempting to bring Dutch back, and the recency of the 2018 film means that this could still be on the table.

However, there are still a few problems. For one, Arnold Schwarzenegger is much older than he was when the first Predator was released. Since the animated movie establishes that the characters have been in suspended animation, Dutch should be no older than he was when he got kidnapped. So, Dutch’s return would either have to be animated, or Arnold Schwarzenegger would have to be digitally de-aged in live-action.

The other issue is the established future of the Predator franchise. Predator: Badlands is the next movie, and it follows a Predator protagonist on a different planet. This time around, the humans are not the focus, meaning that Dutch’s return is unlikely. However, there is always the possibility that Dek could go to the archive of champions, bringing back Dutch, Naru, and the protagonists from Predator: Killer of Killers.