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During the back half of the 1980s, there was this glamorous, extravagantly talented actor who kept turning up in exploitation movies and pumping them full of an erotic verve they generally didn't deserve. There were any number of beautiful, desirable ladies who could provide the va-va-voom films like "King Solomon's Mines," "Above the Law," and "Action Jackson" required, but the path to stardom has always been different for women, so here was Sharon Stone blowing everyone else who shared a frame with her straight off the screen.

It took no less a cinematic genius than Paul Verhoeven to realize that Stone had supernova star power. After a test run in "Total Recall," he unleashed her on filmgoers the world over with the most stylishly sleazy studio movie ever made in "Basic Instinct." Stone's portrayal of Catherine Tramell is a femme fatale dynamo who belongs in the pantheon alongside Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis Dietrichson,...

Sometimes action movies aim to be serious genre offerings, yet ironically land in comedy terrain. These hilarious films that were never meant to be funny defy logic with their melodramatic line delivery and ridiculous stunts. Similar to a perfectly choreographed fight scene that ends up with the villain slipping on a banana peel, these films are absurdly funny and oddly unforgettable. Even the biggest franchises aren't immune to accidental hilarity, with unintentionally hilarious Marvel movie moments taking audiences by surprise.

Overblown action sequences and actors delivering lines with far too much gusto are just some examples of action films being flipped for comedy gold. For example, Nicolas Cage's unforgettable performance in Con Air is a perfect example. He channels over-the-top intensity into moments that stand out among most of the funniest Nicolas Cage movie moments that weren't intended to be funny, reminding audiences that even tense action films can...

Arnold Schwarzenegger fans are going to want to subscribe to Peacock before the new year. Two of the actor's most popular movies are set to drop onto the streaming service in January: Predator and Conan the Barbarian.

Beginning Jan. 1, Schwarzenegger fans will be able to stream Predator and Conan the Barbarian on Peacock. Conan the Barbarian was Schwarzenegger's first leading role of the 1980s and one of his most memorable, with the actor playing the popular sword-and-sorcery warrior created by Robert E. Howard. The 1982 movie follows Conan as he seeks vengeance for the death of his parents at the hands of Thulsa Doom (The Lion King's James Earl Jones), the leader of a snake cult. Conan was a commercial success during its initial run, grossing over $70 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. A sequel, Conan the Destroyer, was released in 1984.

Related Conan the Barbarian Release Date Announced for Mortal Kombat...

1992's "Batman Returns" was initially met with a reaction somewhere between confused and concerned, mostly due to it being a much darker affair than audiences and critics had expected. But it has since firmly established its standing as one of the great Batman interpretations. Even as Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy mostly dominates conversations about the greatest Batman movies, "Batman Returns" remains an inspired and beautiful expressionist nightmare that represents a full realization of director Tim Burton's artistic vision.

But it wasn't just Burton's direction and production designer Bo Welch's Art Deco-meets-Fascism set design that made "Returns" such an immersive and unforgettable experience. Danny DeVito's performance as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin stole the show — which, considering this was a movie that also starred Michael Keaton, Christopher Walken, and Michelle Pfeiffer, is a pretty impressive accomplishment. While Colin Farrell hated his costume for 2024's "The Penguin" series,...

The original Predator movie follows a paramilitary unit into the jungle, and they each bring their own unique skills to the table. In some ways, Predator is a typical 1980s action movie, concerned with big muscles and big explosions. However, the sci-fi element is the first hint that Predator is more sophisticated and nuanced than other action movies of the era. Predator also has elements of slasher horror, as the Predator gradually picks off the members of Dutch's elite unit one by one.

The original is still arguably the best Predator movie of them all. The formula seems simple enough, but it hasn't been easy to replicate the original. Part of the problem is that it's impossible to create suspense and horror once the audience is already familiar with the Predator, but another problem is that the characters in the original are all so distinct. From Jesse Ventura's musclebound...

Quick Links Arnold Schwarzenegger Brought McTiernan Onto Predator, and He Didn't Disappoint McTiernan Proved His Genius for Action Films with Die Hard The 13th Warrior Began a Career Avalanche for McTiernan McTiernan's Association with Anthony Pellicano Landed Him in Prison

Prison wasn't as tough as John McTiernan expected. It was a former college campus in the Upper Midwest, no bars, no barbed wire, nothing. The only thing that was a little weird was that the locals, if they saw you on a crosswalk, would speed up and try to hit you. McTiernan served 10 months in the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, after being convicted of lying to FBI agents about his involvement with Anthony Pellicano, the private investigator who served as inspiration for the show Ray Donovan. By then, McTiernan's once-enormous career as an action director was falling apart due to some enormous flops, and his latest film,...

While the home featured in the 1982 classic Poltergeist (watch it Here) sits on the market, looking for a buyer with more than $1 million to spare, Amazon MGM Studios is moving forward with the Poltergeist TV series we first heard about back in October of last year. Variety reports that the in-development project has just found the duo that will serve as the show’s writers, showrunners, and executive producers: Kalinda Vazquez and Robbie Thompson.

Variety notes that Vazquez has previously worked on the shows Fear the Walking Dead, Star Trek: Discovery, Once Upon a Time, Prison Break, and Nikita. She has also written for Marvel Comics, teaming up with Carlos Gomez for the comic book series America Chavez: Made in the USA. As for Thompson, he was a writer and co-executive producer on Supernatural and was also creator and showrunner of the prequel series The Winchesters. He has Marvel Comics experience of his own,...

Have you ever watched the 1982 classic Poltergeist (watch it Here) and wished you could live in the house that belonged to the Freeling family? Well, if you have around $1 million to spare, now you can! A Zillow listing reveals that the house used for the Freeling family home in Poltergeist, located at 4267 Roxbury Street in Simi Valley, California, is now up for sale, going for the price of $1,174,999.

Here’s the information from the Zillow listing: For the first time in 45 years, the legendary house from the movie Poltergeist is back on the market! Yes this is the home where much of the first movie of the series was filmed but “This house is clean.” Seriously, it is! Well-loved by its original owners, this charming 4 bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom home is ready to welcome a new family, without the ghostly antics, we promise! Enjoy a thoughtfully designed layout perfect for entertaining, relaxing,...

“There’s something out there waiting for us, and it ain’t no man.”

The typical slasher movie formula sees a group of people, often teens, stalked and hunted by a relentless killer with bladed weapons. Predator, released in theaters on June 12, 1987, retooled the slasher rules, swapping out vulnerable adolescents with a well-armed elite military squad prepared to take on guerilla camps in the jungle. Yet, not even they were equipped for the extraterrestrial threat that targeted them as worthy prey.

Seeing special ops so effortlessly dispatched in the grisliest ways is one effective way to increase the threat level of any horror antagonist, alien or otherwise, but director John McTiernan layers in gradual reveals about the eponymous hunter in a way that launched a franchise and clinched the creature’s movie icon status.

This movie monster has not one, but two major reveals.

The Setup

Vietnam War veteran Major...

Things were going badly on Saturday Night Live‘s 1980-1981 season, even before producer Jean Doumanian realized than the January 10, 1981 episode was headed towards disaster.

The previous season had seen the departure of Lorne Michaels and the entire cast, including founders Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Laraine Newman, as well as Bill Murray and Harry Shearer. Doumanian had tried to pitch her incoming group of comedians as the next generation for the hit series, but the performers quickly gained reputations as also-rans. Charlie Rocket was a less funny Chevy Chase, Gail Matthius an off-brand Jane Curtin, and so on.

But on that Jan. 10, 1981 episode, hosted by actor Ray Sharkey, things were going particularly badly. The skits went faster than anticipated and the show had five extra minutes to fill. So in an act of desperation, Doumanian followed the advice of writer Neil Levy and pushed 19-year-old featured player...

In 1989, the movie Best of the Best had a somewhat abbreviated run in theaters. Only grossing a mere $1.7 million, the movie was a major hit on home video and cable. That’s why, three years later, a sequel, Best of the Best 2, hit theaters… for a while. While the first film has maintained a certain cult status, the sequel, and the two more that followed, have been largely forgotten – until now on this edition of The Best Movie You Never Saw.

Best of the Best 2 came from the same creative team behind the original, including director Robert Radler and producer/ star Phillip Rhee. Intriguingly, it was co-written by a TV actor of the time named John Allen Nelson, who starred on Baywatch for a few seasons, played Paul The Wine Guy on Friends, and has shown up as a guest actor on most of the biggest shows on TV.

The original Predator film, released in 1987, sees Arnold Schwarzenegger and a squad of commandos facing off against a deadly alien in the jungle. A new image taken at Mad Monster Atlanta 2023 sees two members of this squad, Carl Weathers' Dillon and Jesse Ventura's Blain, having a friendly reunion. While John McTiernan's original film remains a beloved classic, 2022's Prey gives the movie a run for its money as the best in the franchise.

Predator stars Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura reunite in a friendly photo, 36 years after the release of the movie. Directed by John McTiernan, the 1987 film sees Arnold Schwarzenegger take on the role of Dutch, the leader of an elite squad of commandos who encounter a deadly warrior while on a mission in the Central American Jungle. The Predator cast includes Weathers as Dillion and Ventura as Blain, with Bill Duke appearing as Mac, Sonny Landham as Billy,...

Last year, Amazon closed an $8.5 billion acquisition of the film studio MGM, giving them ownership of the studio’s thousands of films and TV shows. Earlier this year, we heard that Poltergeist was one of the six MGM properties Amazon was most interested in doing something with… and now Variety has discovered that a Poltergeist TV series is in early development at Amazon MGM Studios! There are no plot details to share at this time, but Variety has been told “the show will be set within the world of the film”.

Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are set to executive produce the series for Amblin Television.

Tobe Hooper, who had previously made The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Eaten Alive, Salem’s Lot, and The Funhouse, directed Poltergeist from a screenplay Steven Spielberg wrote with Michael Grais and Mark Victor. Spielberg also crafted the initial story. The film has the following synopsis: Strange...

20th Century Studios deserves recognition for listening to fan demand, as not only has Prey received a physical media release — virtually unheard of for a Hulu original — but it’s an impressive one. Not only does it carry exclusive extras, but there are 4K Uhd and Steelbook options to boot. (Hopefully we can convince them to do Hellraiser next!)

An audio commentary with writer-director Dan Trachtenberg, star Amber Midthunder, director of photography Jeff Cutter, and editor Angela M. Catanzaro is included alongside a making-of featurette, a FYC panel with cast and crew, and more.

Here are eight things I learned from the Prey commentary…

1. The Predator originally infiltrated the 20th Century Studios logo.

The 20th Century Studios opening title card originally featured Predator’s laser target and the logo went invisible like the creature’s cloaking mechanism as the fanfare dropped out.

“We fought for it, and then they gave it to us,...

Prey director Dan Trachtenberg reveals that the original Predator movie was a major influence on his critically acclaimed prequel. Trachtenberg's film is praised for its simplicity and character-driven plot, making it the most successful continuation of the Predator franchise since the original 1987 movie. Unlike other sequels, Prey honors the original by returning to the simple hunter-and-prey dynamic, reigniting interest in the franchise and rescuing it from mediocrity.

Prey director Dan Trachtenberg reveals the major influence that the original Predator movie had on his critically acclaimed prequel. Set in the Northern Great Plains during the early 18th century, 2022’s Prey saw Amber Midthunder’s Comanche warrior Naru face off against a Predator centuries before Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Major Dutch Schaefer did the same in the jungles of Central America. Praised for its simplicity and character-driven plot, Trachtenberg’s film is widely hailed as the most successful continuation of the Predator franchise since the original 1987 movie.

How much sympathy do average working people have for Hollywood actors? Not much, I suspect. Fancy trailers, high-end catering, and eye-watering salaries are not the hallmarks of a tough gig. However, it's not all luxury and dollar signs, especially in the extravagant science fiction genre. On-set accidents have injured performers such as Charlize Theron, who was nearly paralyzed while making "Æon Flux," and Carrie-Ann Moss, whose botched cartwheel in "The Matrix" caused a nasty ankle injury

Such incidents remind us of why stunt people are needed to protect a production's cast and crew from accidents and injuries. But what about the threat of illness? Who is responsible for that and what danger does it pose to a multi-million dollar project with a tight schedule and a tighter budget? Well, a lesser danger than injury, it seems, but there is still a precedent for actorly illnesses -- and the causes range...

"Batman & Robin" has been derided enough at this point. We all know it's not a fondly-remembered Batman movie, let alone a comic book adaptation. Which is why it's strange to think that before director Joel Schumacher unveiled his infamously disappointing follow-up to 1995's "Batman Forever," there couldn't have been more excitement surrounding the project.

Once "Batman Forever" proved a huge hit, everyone wanted in on Schumacher's sequel — from actors angling for parts to company CEOs demanding their products be featured. As the director explained in a making-of-featurette:

"It was the opposite from 'Batman Forever' when we had to go around and convince everybody to come along with us, we were going to make a Batman movie. This was, 'How can we stop everybody?' It was everybody and their mother wanted to have their franchise in the movie and be part of it."

Schumacher went on to say that whereas,...

The action movies of the '80s were dominated by Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who developed an intense rivalry going back as far as the Golden Globes in 1977. The two actors found themselves seated at the same table and Arnie, the up-and-coming star who had already bagged an award for his role in "Stay Hungry," openly gloated as Sly's "Rocky" kept missing out on the big prizes. When Stallone's underdog tale finally came out of the envelope for Best Picture, he responded by throwing a bowl of flowers at the ungracious upstart.

Almost a decade later, the "Rocky" franchise unwittingly contributed to Schwarzenegger taking over for Stallone as Hollywood's biggest action hero. The story goes that, after "Rocky IV," a joke spread that the next logical step for the Italian Stallion would be for him to fight a visitor from outer space. That germ of an idea became the screenplay for "Predator,...

Predator is one of the most beloved action-horror films of all time. It is one of those ideas that is so cool, taking a classic alien invasion movie and having them battle none other than trained military soldiers. The film follows a group of special forces soldiers on a mission in the deep jungle who are stalked by an alien who hunts for sport.

The movie is a hugely entertaining adventure that has a continued impact on pop culture. It helped solidify Arnold Schwarzenegger as a massively successful action star. It kick-started director John McTiernan's career. Most importantly, it gave us one of cinema's best monsters. It also helped spawn a franchise that not only lived on its own but crossed over with the Alien franchise for a little monster-on-monster mayhem.

Updated on 13th January 2023 by Shawn S. Lealos: While the original Predator was a huge success and remains a beloved classic,...

In 1987, a hyper-advanced alien species known as the “Yautja” descended upon an elite military squad in Guatemala. Thanks to its memorable performances, quotable dialogue and inventive action set pieces, “Predator” became an American action movie staple. The film has spawned four sequels, including the new Hulu film “Prey,” and two spinoffs. Yet, the mega franchise all started with a piece of paper underneath a door.

“The Thomas brothers snuck the script onto the Fox lot and under somebody’s door,” says John Davis, who has produced all seven “Predator” movies. “We got there on Monday, and there was this script. I was an executive at the time, and I had been working with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was a really good friend of mine. We were always both trying to figure out how we could work together. And so I’m the executive on this movie at Fox, and what happened is I became a producer.

Click here to read the full article.

In 1987, Dan Trachtenberg was too young to see John McTiernan’s R-rated Predator, but the older kids in his karate tournament carpool insisted on telling him the whole movie anyway. And at the time, Trachtenberg distinctly remembers a story involving Sonny Landham’s half-Sioux tracker, Billy Sole, who died in a dramatic fight with the Predator. The only problem is that no such scene exists, something Trachtenberg would later figure out. Billy does decide to face the creature head on, but the scene cuts away, leaving the audience with only his blood-curdling scream to infer death.

Oddly enough, rumors have persisted for years that Billy Sole’s full death scene was included in rare VHS releases or TV edits, but there is no concrete evidence to support that such a scene is anything but a myth. Thankfully, a mere rumor led to something very real 35 years later.

With its dude-heavy cast that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, you might not be surprised to learn that the set of John McTiernan's sci-fi/action classic "Predator" was a daily test of macho mettle. The boys went for daily five-mile runs and hit Schwarzenegger's private weight room (which the former Mr. Universe had transported from Los Angeles) for daily workouts that, according to Weathers, apparently descended into muscle-measuring contests.

There was no let-up, especially for the "Predator" star, who felt he had to maintain his Alpha-Dog dominance over his co-stars. However, this prideful drive...

The post Predator Star Arnold Schwarzenegger Pooped His Pants While Working Out Before Filming appeared first on /Film.

What would it take to overpower the world’s toughest special forces soldiers? A hunter from out of this world, of course.

That’s the spark that ignited Predator (1987), one of the all-time great sci-fi action adventures. Released 35 years ago today, the film’s legacy is now secure: it has spawned three direct sequels and an upcoming prequel, plus two Alien Vs. Predator spin-off movies, along with a variety of comic book series, extremely cool action figures, and assorted other merchandise unusual for a gritty R-rated picture. Naturally we at Tfh felt it was high time to reflect on the original classic.

Cigar-chomping Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger at his most ‘roided-out) and his crew of military mercenaries are recruited by his former Vietnam War comrade Al Dillon (Carl Weathers), now a CIA agent, to purportedly save foreign government officials, taken hostage by a team of guerrilla revolutionaries in a Central American jungle.

Among the many memorable moments in "Predator" is the titular alien hunter's showdown with the Native American tracker Billy Sole (Sonny Landham). By this point, director John McTiernan's 1987 movie has seamlessly evolved from another Reagan-era exercise in machismo and jingoism to a sweat-soaked slasher, with Arnold Schwarzenegger as "Dutch" emerging as the Final Girl. In an effort to give the rest of his team time to escape, Billy stays behind to confront the Predator atop a fallen tree trunk hanging over a deep ravine. He even removes his protective vest and slashes his chest with his knife for good measure.

This ... does...

The post The Predator Scene That Inspired Prey Wasn't Even in the Original Movie appeared first on /Film.

Some movement on the inevitable as Disney's Predator Reboot has reportedly found its lead star in Legion star Amber Midthunder. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), this particular Predator project has been in the works for several years. Per a new report from DiscussingFilm, production will finally begin soon in Calgary, Alberta, with Midthunder starring in the lead role.

No details have been revealed about the plot or character the character Amber Midthunder will be playing, but the story will reportedly follow "a Comanche woman who goes against the gender norms and traditions of her tribe to become a warrior." Patrick Aison is writing the screenplay. His previous work includes Treadstone, Jack Ryan, and serving as a consultant for Midthunder's show Legion.

Midthunder is best known for her role as Kerry Loudermilk in Marvel and FX series Legion, though Roswell, New Mexico fans will also know her as Rosa Ortecho.

It's time for another 80s action movie classic to make it's way to glorious 4K. And this time we're getting Sylvester Stallone's Lock Up (1989), which is available for the very first time in this absolutely stunning format.

Behind bars, all bets are off when Lock Up arrives on 4K Ultra HD&#8482 Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray&#8482 and Digital) and Digital 4K Ultra HD September 10 from Lionsgate. Just in time for Academy Award&#174 nominee Sylvester Stallone's return to the big screen for the final time as his most legendary character in Rambo: Last Blood (in theaters September 20), Lock Up stars the action superstar himself as a down-on-his-luck convict who can't seem to escape the wrath of Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland). Experience four times the resolution of full HD with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes Dolby Vision&#174, bringing entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture,...

"If it bleeds, we can kill it." It was a rumble in the jungle between a muscle bound paramilitary team and one ugly alien. Cover yourself in mud, cause we're talking about Predator. Here we'll take a look at 10 things you never knew about Predator.

Call me the hunter.

The first Predator was originally called Hunter until after production was completed. In the DVD commentary, director John McTiernan says Predator was originally pitched as Rocky vs. Alien, 'though he personally saw it as more like King Kong. In the 2001 short documentary "If It Bleeds We Can Kill It: The Making of Predator", brothers Jim and John Thomas said they got their script idea from a joke about Rocky IV. The gag was that Rocky had no one left to fight, so he may as well fight an alien.

The original Predator.

The original Predator design was much lankier and insect like.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of 1987's action alien flick, 20th Century Fox and Park Circus have released a new trailer for John McTiernan's Predator. The action classic is even making a return to theaters in the UK.  

Back in 1987, Predator opened #1 at the box office in the middle of June. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of his many iconic roles, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Richard Chaves, and, yes, even Shane Black.

Fox has not announced any plans for a Us re-release yet. Predator will return to UK cinemas this November. Hopefully, the Us gets a 30th-anniversary re-release!

Here's the new UK trailer for the 30th anniversary of John McTiernan's Predator, from YouTube:

And if you need even more convincing of why Predator is such an awesome action classic. Take a look at this little tribute video I made a long...

"It came for the thrill of the hunt. It picked the wrong man to hunt." While we wait for Shane Black's new The Predator, set to hit theaters in 2018, we can all revisit the original. 20th Century Fox and Park Circus have released a new trailer for the 30th anniversary of John McTiernan's Predator, returning to theaters (in the UK) this November. The action classic was first released in 1987 and actually opened #1 at the box office in the middle of June, earning a total of $59.7 million during its Us theatrical run. Predator starred Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of his early iconic roles, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Richard Chaves, and, yes, even Shane Black. I wish this was a 4K restored re-release, but I don't think it is. Still, it's still awesome to see this film returning to theaters again. Here's the new...

Best known for starring in the original Predator film, actor Sonny Landham has passed away at 76.

He had a strength on screen that was both palpable and genuine, and although his memorable screen presence will live on forever, it is with great sadness that we share the news that actor Sonny Landham has passed away at the age of 76.

According to the Associated Press, Landham passed away from congestive heart failure on August 17th at a hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Landham's sister, Dawn Boehler, confirmed the sad news.

An actor and stunt man, Landham is perhaps best known for his role as Billy, one of the commandos who goes up against a vicious alien hunter in the seminal sci-fi action film Predator.

Landham also had roles in several movies that have gone on to become only more beloved with the passing of time, including The Warriors, 48 Hrs., Poltergeist, and Southern Comfort. Landham also worked behind the camera, directing 1996's Billy Lone Bear, in which he also starred.

Native American actor Sonny Landham, who portrayed Billy Sole in 1987's Predator, has sadly passed away at the age of 76. Landham was part Seminole and Cherokee and starred along side Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator as well as roles in 48 Hrs. where he portrayed Billy Bear, The Warriors, Poltergeist, and Firewalker where he starred alongside Chuck Norris and Louis Gossett Jr. In addition to being an actor, Landham was also a professional stuntman and ran for political office in Kentucky, following the lead of fellow Predator stars Schwarzenegger and Jessie Ventura who became the governor of California and Minnesota, respectively.

Variety reports that the Sonny Landham died on Thursday at the age of 76 from congestive heart failure in Lexington, Kentucky. The actor had pretty much stopped acting in recent years and dedicated much of his time to politics, but never succeeded in holding office after not being able to obtain the...

Sonny Landham, a veteran actor whose work included notable roles in such films as John McTiernan's Predator, passes away at 76.

Very sad news as actor Sonny Landham has passed away at age 76 from congestive heart failure. The Predator star also appeared in films such as The Warriors, Poltergeist, 48 Hrs., Best of the Best II, and Firewalker, amongst others.… Continue Reading →

The post Rest in Peace: Sonny Landham appeared first on Dread Central.

Sonny Landham, the film actor and stuntman known for his role as a Native American tracker in the 1987 film Predator, died Thursday of congestive heart failure at a Kentucky hospital, his sister Dawn Boehler tells the Associated Press. He was 76. Landham began his career in the movie business in the 1970s in several X-rated films before segueing into mainstream features. One of his first roles was as a subway policeman in Walter Hill’s 1979 thriller The Warriors. Hill…...

Sonny Landham, the muscular action-movie actor who co-starred in Predator and 48 Hrs., has died. He was 76.

Landham's sister, Dawn Boehler, said the actor died Thursday from congestive heart failure at a Lexington, Ky., hospital.

Landham was a brawny, deep-voiced actor and stunt man who played a bit part in Walter Hill's 1979 street-gang thriller The Warriors before the director cast him as the trigger-happy criminal Billy Bear in 1982's 48 Hrs.

Landham, who was part Cherokee and Seminole, was perhaps best known for playing the Native American tracker Billy Sole in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Predator.

Landham...

Sonny Landham, the brawny journeyman actor best known for tough guy roles in films like “48 Hrs.” and “Predator,” has died. He was 76. The actor died from congestive heart failure Thursday at a Lexington, Kentucky, hospital, his sister Dawn Boehler said, according to the Associated Press. Landham played a small part in Walter Hill’s 1979 street-gang thriller “The Warriors” before Hill cast him as the trigger-happy criminal Billy Bear in 1982’s “48 Hrs.” Also Read: Shane Black's 'The Predator' Pushed to Late Summer 2018 However, Landham who was part Cherokee and Seminole, is perhaps best known for playing the Native American tracker Billy.

Sonny Landham -- who played Billy the self-knifing military badass in "Predator" -- has passed away in a Kentucky hospital at the age of 76 from congestive heart failure.  Landham was part of Arnold Schwarzenegger's band of special forces soldiers in the 1987 flick -- and starred in the famous scene where he tried to go one-on-one with the alien armed only with a knife.  He lost ... but he went down in a frickin' blaze of glory.

I’m not sure a movie has ever had a cooler cast than John McTiernan’s Predator, packed with badass dudes carrying big ass guns. One of those actors who made a huge impression in the film was Sonny Landham, who we’re very sad to report has passed away at the age of 76 from congestive heart […]...

In advance of Shane Black’s forthcoming Predator revival (and the original film’s 30th anniversary), nostalgists around the internet have been revisiting what’s probably the most thrilling of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ’80s output. The latest is a comprehensive oral history of the film from The Hollywood Reporter, who talked with the screenwriter, cinematographer, visual effects supervisor, some actors, and a few more about how the now-iconic action film came to be.

There’s plenty of takeaways: intense heat, bulky costumes, and a shitload of red ants made filming hell; Sonny Landham, who played Billy, was terrifying and needed his own bodyguard; the cast couldn’t have cut it as real soldiers; and Schwarzenegger apparently took meetings in hot tubs.

Probably the most striking revelation, however, is that pretty much everyone THR spoke to had a different story regarding why Jean-Claude Van Damme, who was tapped to play the ...

When Shane Black took the reins as writer-director on 20th Century Fox's new project The Predator, which has been confirmed to be a sequel and not a reboot or remake, in many ways, it brought the franchise full-circle. Shane Black actually made his acting debut as Hawkins in the original Predator, which celebrates its 30th Anniversary this summer, and the same year that movie came out, another film he wrote called Lethal Weapon was released, making him one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood, whose films often showcased a dark comedic edge. With production continuing on The Predator, one of The Predator stars, Sterling K. Brown, spoke about how Shane Black is approaching this story with, unsurprisingly, a 'wicked sense of humor'. Here's what Sterling K. Brown had to say below.

"Shane has his whole take on it and it's very different than the original Predator. It's got a...

“If it bleeds, we can kill it.”

Director John McTiernan and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic 1987 sci-fi action film Predator has been newly restored in 2K for an upcoming theatrical re-release. I freakin’ love this film, and it's a movie I’ve never seen on the big screen. So, to think that one day I’ll be able to watch this newly restored version on the big screen is exciting! Its first stop is in France, though, where it will screen on August 17th. There’s no word on when or if the movie will get a U.S. release yet, but I hope it happens! It would be a bloody shame if it didn’t. Why go through all the trouble of restoring the film if you can't share the awesomeness with the world?!

The movie also stars Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, and Richard Chaves,...

God love the French, they've gone and restored Predator for a re-release. Originally released in 1987, John McTiernan's (who later went on to direct Die Hard and Last Action Hero) sci-fi horror hybird is now considered a classic from the era.

This new 2K restoration of Predator screens in France on August 17th. There is no plan to bring the film to the Us or Canada.

Synopsis:

A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.

The Predator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham and Richard Chaves.

[Continued ...]...

"There's something out there waiting for us, and it ain't no man." Who has time to bleed when there's a predator lurking around? Everything is getting re-released these days! Why not? France is preparing for a re-release coming up this August of a newly restored (apparently only in 2K, not full 4K though) version of John McTiernan's original sci-fi action film Predator. Originally released in 1987, Predator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham and Richard Chaves. Years after release it has become known as one of the best action movies made, and this trailer lives up to that claim with plenty of explosions. Of course this will make you want to see it again. Here's the new restored French re-release trailer (+ poster) for John McTiernan's Predator, from Vimeo: A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.

Stars: Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett Jr., Melody Anderson, Will Sampson, Sonny Landham, John Rhys-Davies, Ian Abercrombie, Richard Lee-Sung | Written by Robert Gosnell | Directed by J. Lee Thompson

Looking back now – three decades later – it’s hard to believe that the idea of an archaeologist as The go-to film hero was, oftentimes, a guarantee to bring in the punters and create a big-money blockbuster movie! Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, King Solomon’s Mines, etc. all graced the big screen to varying degrees of success during the mid-80s; and yes, it was Spielberg’s film that reignited the genre but it took Cannon Films – the purveyors of low-budget, high-concept big screen bonanzas – to really put the fun into this now-buried treasure of a genre.

After hitting it big with King Solomon’s Mines, they milked the classic character for another big-budget (at least for Cannon) movie before the flash-in-the-pan adventurer genre faded.

Yesterday, it was announced that the ultimate hunter from the 1987 hit sci-fi adventure thriller Predator was coming to Mortal Kombat X as part of the new Dlc Kombat Pack. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has now released a video, which introduces the playable character, who arrives with three other exciting additions to the game. Also included in the Dlc Kombat Pack will be classic Mortal Kombat characters Tremor and Tanya. And they arrive alongside Jason Voorhees, the iconic slasher from Friday the 13th.

More details have been released about this exciting Dlc Kombat Pack, which will cost $29.99 and is currently available for pre-sale before Mortal Kombat X hits retailers on April 14 for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. The Predator is included in 1 of 4 pieces of Dlc. The other three pieces add the previously announced Jason Voorhees, Tanya, and Tremor. All packs also include new skins for existing characters. The...

Ryan Lambie Jul 6, 2016

In 1986, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the title alien in Predator before he was hurriedly recast. Ryan looks back at what happened...

In the mid-1980s, Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in America with dreams of stardom. Possessing a finely-honed physique, thanks to years of training in (among other things) karate, kickboxing and ballet, he was ambitious and brimming with self-belief.

The acting bug bit Van Damme while he was still in his teens: he played “a bad guy with all the knives” in the 1984 French gangster movie Rue Barbare and, determined to further his goal of becoming an actor, hopped on a plane to Los Angeles. His first few years in America were, however, tough. He slept in a rental car for two weeks, and made money by teaching aerobics and martial arts, delivering pizzas, and working as a doorman at a restaurant belonging to Chuck Norris.

In 1986, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the title alien in Predator before he was hurriedly recast. Ryan looks back at what happened...

In the mid-1980s, Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in America with dreams of stardom. Possessing a finely-honed physique, thanks to years of training in (among other things) karate, kickboxing and ballet, he was ambitious and brimming with self-belief.

The acting bug bit Van Damme while he was still in his teens: he played “a bad guy with all the knives” in the 1984 French gangster movie Rue Barbare and, determined to further his goal of becoming an actor, hopped on a plane to Los Angeles. His first few years in America were, however, tough. He slept in a rental car for two weeks, and made money money by teaching aerobics and martial arts, delivering pizzas, and working as a doorman at a restaurant belonging to Chuck Norris.

I’d have to say that 1987 was one of my favorite years to be a young movie fan. Because we didn’t have a ton of money, my mom and I would spend most of our weekends at the drive-in taking in double features of all kinds of now-classic films, which included John McTiernan’s eternally badass Predator.

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, Shane Black, Sonny Landham and Kevin Peter Hall as the titular intergalactic hunter, Predator opened at number one the weekend of June 12th despite receiving a lackluster response from critics at the time. Predator’s theatrical success would continue for another six weeks, with McTiernan’s genre-bending blockbuster eventually taking in almost $60 million during its run that summer.

Predator’s run wouldn’t end there though- there was also the release of the successful 1990 sequel Predator 2 starring Danny Glover and Gary Busey,...

The big news item that surfaced yesterday was that Shane Black has come aboard to direct, produce and oversee the writing process on 20th Century Fox's Untitled Predator Reboot. The filmmaker will first write the outline before his The Monster Squad co-writer Fred Dekker takes over screenplay duties.

Naturally, no plot details were revealed in yesterday's story, but today, Shane Black revealed in a new interview that this project is definitely not a reboot, calling it an "inventive sequel."

"Why start over, when you've all this rich mythology yet to mine? (I can) really get behind inventive sequels, the idea of expanding and exploring the existing Predator mythology, rather than hitting the restart button."

The filmmaker also added that Fred Dekker is the "perfect" choice to write the screenplay for Untitled Predator Reboot, and that he "had a blast" working with the writer on The Monster Squad.

Shane Black actually...