Instead of suiting up for Terminator 7, Arnold Schwarzenegger should finally return to the Predator franchise. Despite the first Predator movie being one of Arnie’s most popular films, he’s proven remarkably reluctant to return as Dutch. In fact, Schwarzenegger pᴀssed on four Predator movies in the past.

Dutch was meant to be a co-lead in Predator 2; he was offered cameos in the third and fourth entries, in addition to Alien vs Predator. In most cases, Arnold didn’t return because he was unhappy with the size of Dutch’s part or the story involved. He finally broke his embargo to voice Dutch in video game Predator: Hunting Grounds.

Contrast that with the Terminator movie franchise, where Schwarzenegger appeared in five out of six entries. Even the outing he skipped (2009’s Salvation) featured his CGI likeness. The star is inextriably tied to the character and his loyalty to it makes sense. It also, no doubt, made financial sense to Arnie too.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator Return Is Closer Than Ever

In 2025, the animated spinoff Predator: Killer of Killers did something real interesting. The original ending revealed the Predators had captured Naru (Amber Midthunder) after the events of Prey. Killer of Killers was later updated with an extended ending, revealing the hunters also had Danny Glover’s Harrigan and Dutch in cryo pods.

This stinger was obviously teasing an animated return from the Predator heroes, with both actors signing off on their likenesses. In a September 2025 interview with ComicBook.com, director Dan Trachtenberg revealed he had discussed with Arnold how Dutch could return.

I met Arnold, and he said, ‘You’d think I get, “I’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.

With the success of Prey and Killer of Killers and growing excitement for Trachtenberg’s upcoming sequel Badlands, the series is more popular than ever. Whether Schwarzenegger would be willing to return for a live-action sequel is unknown, but Dutch appearing in a Killer of Killers sequel feels very viable.

Plus, Arnold and Danny Glover both coming back to Predator would be a major event. Neither actor has reprised their roles in a movie sequel, and now the franchise is expanding in new directions, it feels right to catch up with the franchise’s past protagonists.

Bringing Back Dutch Isn’t As Problematic As Another Terminator Appearance

James Cameron has said he’s developing a Terminator 7, which sounds like a reboot from the ground up. That’s smart, since the mythology of the saga has become so convoluted that it’s time for a total reset. Arnold also ruled out another Terminator return to THR, which also sounds like the right call.

The Terminator series peaked with the second instalment in 1991, and everything since then has been diminishing returns. Later sequels largely sidelined Schwarzenegger, who became comic relief as old man versions of the T-800. It’s good news Arnie has left the series behind, as there’s nothing fresh to be mined from his take on the T-800.

After nearly 40 years, it would also be way more exciting to see Dutch come back to Predator. Fans have always wanted to see Schwarzenegger make a Predator return, which looks closer than ever.

Disney certainly seems to hope so, as a movie updating its ending to include a cameo indicates big plans. Arnold dipped his toes into the Terminator well once too often, which is why there would be little enthusiasm if Terminator 7 announced his return. On the flipside, news of his comeback to Predator would light up the internet.

How & Why Schwarzenegger’s Dutch Could Return In The Predator Franchise

All of that leaves the question of how Dutch could come back to Predator. Presumably, a Killer of Killers follow-up would ignore his return in the Hunting Grounds video game. Given Dutch’s absence from past sequels and his relatively youthful appearance in the Killer of Killers, he may have been frozen shortly after Predator.

As Trachtenberg mentioned, there may be a flashback revealing how Dutch was taken in the first place. This might have been on another mission – or maybe Dutch had been waiting for them to come back for him. Either way, if Killer of Killers sequel has another anthology format, Dutch’s capture is one likely chapter.

The next adventure could become The Expendables of the Predator series, and see Dutch team up with Harrigan and Naru to take on the hunters. That sounds like the most logical option, since nearly every outing in the series has revolved around a team working together.

Of course, there are some risks involved. Bringing back such an iconic character after a 40-year break needs to be handled carefully. Dutch may have been one of Arnie’s more vulnerable characters, but he’s still a larger-than-life figure. Dutch’s comeback will require both epic one-liners and action scenes worthy of the original.

With Trachtenberg overseeing the current phase of the Predator saga, it’s hard not to have faith though. He’s just as much a fan as anybody watching, so he’ll want to make Dutch’s comeback a true event. Time will tell if he succeeds, but if nothing else, Arnie’s potential return is quite exciting.

Source: ComicBook.com, THR