Arnold Schwarzenegger return to the Predator franchise gets an intriguing update from Prey director Dan Trachtenberg. Schwarzenegger famously helped to usher the franchise into existence with his role as Dutch in the original 1987 film from director John McTiernan.
Schwarzenegger hasn’t reprised the role in the flesh since, but the character did cameo as a frozen body in Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) next to Prey‘s (2022) Naru. As Trachtenberg prepares for the Predator: Killer of Killers release in November, questions remain about how Dutch could factor into the franchise moving forward.
During a recent interview with Empire (via ComicBook.com), Trachtenberg teases that Dutch’s cameo in Killer of Killers could be just the beginning. The director explains that he and Schwarzenegger have talked about that character’s future in the franchise, with some exciting storytelling doors now open. Check out Trachtenberg’s comment below:
“I met Arnold, and he said, ‘You’d think I get, “l’ll be back,” yelled at me most, but it’s actually, “Get to the chopper!” So, he’s well aware of the franchise’s staying power. He was excited to talk about what else we could do. Because there’s so much more story to tell now — you could tell how [Dutch and Naru] were captured, or what happens when they’re de-iced. Many possibilities.”
What This Means For The Predator Franchise
Predator: Killer of Killer reviews were glowing, and it’s currently the highest rated entry of the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes at 95%, just barely beating Prey‘s 94%. The film was also a viewership hit on Hulu. Though no sequel has been formally announced, one is certainly not off the table.
Trachtenberg’s comment suggests a Killer of Killers follow-up is where audiences could see Dutch again. This means, of course, that Schwarzenegger wouldn’t be reprising his role in live-action, but just doing a voice performance. Still, a voice-only return could help to pave the way for a live-action return down the road.
This latest tease about the Predator franchise’s future also speaks to Naru’s future. The Amber Midthunder character made quite a splash in the acclaimed 2022 prequel, and Prey 2 remains in development. Naru, then, could return not only in her own live-action film, but in a Killer of Killers follow-up alongside Dutch, which would serve as a Predator universe crossover of sorts.
Despite Trachtenberg’s comments, there is no concrete plan that has yet been made public regarding what will immediately follow Predator: Badlands. What the director chooses to focus on next could be determined by Badlands’ reception critically and commercially.
Our Take On Dutch’s Predator Return
Catching up with Dutch in a Killer of Killers prequel or sequel would be exciting given Schwarzenegger’s impact on the franchise. Prey was acclaimed and helped to revitalize a dying piece of IP, but, for many, the original 1987 film remains the favorite.
Though it would be interesting to see Schwarzenegger back as Dutch in a live-action project, the actor is now 78 years old, meaning animation might be the best path forward. It remains to be seen where the Predator franchise will go next, but audiences could be in for more Dutch in the years ahead.
Predator
- Created by
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Jim Thomas, John Thomas
- First Film
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Predator
- Cast
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Carl Weathers, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Peter Hall, Peter Cullen, Derek Mears, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Walton Goggins, Françoise Yip, Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers
- Video Game(s)
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Predator: Hunting Grounds, Predator: Concrete Jungle
- Movie(s)
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Predator, Predator 2, Predators, Predator, Prey
