Summary

• Arnold Schwarzenegger has the potential to return to the Predator series after nearly forty years.
• Badlands, set in the "future," could reintroduce Schwarzenegger's character, Dutch.
• Returning to the Predator franchise may be a better move for Schwarzenegger than returning to the Terminator franchise.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has spent over four decades as one of Hollywood's most prolific franchise actors, but a newly announced Predator movie might be the best replacement for the mega-star with the Terminator movies being so hit or miss. While he's repeatedly returned to the latter franchise, to disappointing results, the Predator series is gearing up for new installments. This could potentially create the perfect opportunity for Schwarzenegger to return to the series he hasn't visited in nearly 40 years.

Disney has announced that the Predator series is returning with two new films, with the Prey 2 as well as Badlands, which will be set in the future. While there's been no indication or suggestion that Badlands will bring back any characters from prior films, it's potentially the best way for Arnold Schwarzenegger to return to the series that he helped establish. Revisiting the Predator series could even be the ideal franchise move for Schwarzenegger going forward instead of returning to the Terminator franchise.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Could Finally Return To Predator With New Movie

The confirmation that the next movie in the Predator series, Badlands, will take place in the future could easily allow Schwarzenegger's Dutch to return to the big screen. Although the "future" is a broad enough term that it could apply to all sorts of potential settings, placing it in the near future could allow characters from modern times to appear as major characters. Arnold Schwarzenegger is still going strong nearly four decades after the release of Predator, making it theoretically feasible that his character, Dutch, could still be alive as well.

In the original Predator, Schwarzenegger played Alan "Dutch" Schaefer. Sent on a military rescue mission in South America, his squad is steadily picked off by the titular alien hunter. Dutch was ultimately the only survivor of the soldiers, luring the Predator into a trap and besting the hunter in a one-on-one battle before escaping an explosion set off by the defeated alien. Subsequent Predator movies focused on separate characters or different periods, and never revealed Dutch's fate. Badlands could rectify that by bringing Schwarzenegger back to fight the aliens or even just as a seasoned expert on the Predators.

Predator Can Replace Terminator As Schwarzenegger's Main Action Franchise

Schwarzenegger's never been shy about returning to former franchises. Most notably, Schwarzenegger's appeared in numerous sequels to The Terminator over the years. Schwarzenegger has played many different versions of the time-traveling robot, but all of whom shared a general appearance and set of abilities. Overall, Schwarzenegger has only missed one film in the series, Terminator Salvation. Schwarzenegger has confirmed he won't return to Terminator and future films, leaving the door open for Schwarzenegger to shift focus to other franchises like Predator.

It's possible a returning Dutch could fill a Nick Fury-type role for the Predator franchise in Badlands.

The Predator series, by contrast, featured a larger revolving door of characters. Dutch's experience of combating and defeating a Predator makes him an ideal figure to lead the fight against the aliens. It's possible a returning Dutch could fill a Nick Fury-type role for the Predator franchise in Badlands. Even just getting a new rematch between Dutch and the Predators would be entertaining for fans. It would be the best franchise for Schwarzenegger to return to, especially after the diminishing returns found with the Terminator series.

Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Returning To Predator Is Better Than Another Terminator Movie

While Terminator movies spent decades revolving largely around Schwarzenegger's iconic performance (even to its detriment with films like Terminator Genisys,) Predator evolved to become a far more flexible franchise. The Predator films have been at the center of action films like Alien vs. Predator or the more horror-tinted The Predator. The 2022 hit Prey proved the concept works in different eras. Schwarzenegger returning to the series could establish more connective tissue with the history of the franchise, but the franchise's flexibility could allow it to avoid the faults of later Terminator films by not feeling repetitive.

Beyond the central concept of the Predator hunting people, Predator movies can be more adventurous in of story. That was never the case with the Terminator films, which are always rooted in the war between man and machines. Badlands could challenge Schwarzenegger (and audiences) in new and exciting ways, thrusting him into a new circumstance rather than simply playing another Terminator. Similar to how Prey reimagined the premise with a completely different perspective and setting, Badlands could embrace the sci-fi elements of the series or return to its horrifying roots. The possibility of Schwarzenegger returning to Predator with Badlands is exciting for fans of the performer who want to see him challenged in a way Terminator never could.

Prey is now streaming on Hulu.