How The Predator’s Alternate Endings Could Have Transformed the Franchise (Including Alien)

Despite its shortcomings, 2018’s The Predator had the potential to disrupt the trajectories of both the Alien and Predator franchises—especially with its original scripted endings. This film was yet another attempt to replicate the thrilling blend of action, science fiction, and horror that characterized the 1987 classic, Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The original film delivered a captivating mix of suspense, humor, and horror, which none of its successors managed to recreate successfully. While Predator 2 offered some entertainment, it leaned heavily into campiness; the Alien Vs. Predator series struggled with coherence; and 2010’s Predators merely met the status quo of being ‘okay.’

It wasn’t until the 2022 reboot, Prey, that the Predator series received a much-needed revitalization. Nonetheless, The Predator initially seemed promising but ultimately fell flat with lukewarm reviews. The film’s conclusion introduced a “Fugitive Predator”who presented the surviving characters with a “Predator Killer”suit, purportedly designed to assist in their battle against extraterrestrial hunters. However, this outlandish ending did not pave the way for any sequels—a fortunate outcome considering the alternative endings that were considered.

The Predator’s Original Plan to Feature Dutch (Schwarzenegger)

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch Almost Made a Cameo

In an earlier draft by screenwriter Shane Black, Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s character, Dutch, was set to return in a helicopter at the film’s conclusion to congratulate the surviving heroes for their triumph over the Upgrade Predator. This overly sentimental scene would have featured Dutch urging McKenna, Bracket, and Rory to join him, hinting at adventures to come in future Predator hunts. However, this cheesy ending was never filmed, as Schwarzenegger was reportedly unsatisfied with both the concept and the script, prompting the writing team to pivot in a new direction.

Considering that The Predator is a sequel set chronologically after the original film, Dutch’s survival and continued predator-hunting endeavors could have feasibly fit into the movie’s framework. While his cameo may have felt forced, it nonetheless would have aligned relatively well within the established timeline. Contrastingly, other proposed endings appeared to be desperate attempts to resurrect iconic characters from various sci-fi and horror franchises, leading to confusion. Surprisingly, early concepts for The Predator also included cameos from Alien‘s Ripley and her youthful ally, Newt.

The Predator Considered Featuring Ripley and Newt

Ripley and Newt as Predator Killers

Initially, The Predator included an excised subplot that suggested the Fugitive Predator’s pod bore Weyland-Yutani emblems. However, this subtle reference evolved into a bizarre narrative twist where the identity of the Predator Killer was proposed to be none other than Ripley herself. Although Sigourney Weaver was never slated to appear, the character would have donned a mask, only to be revealed through a name tag on her uniform. This idea was riddled with inconsistencies, primarily as Ripley’s storyline from the Alien series unfolds in a far-distant future, while The Predator is firmly rooted in contemporary settings.

Moreover, the narrative would have necessitated an implausible time travel scenario for Ripley, contradicting her established fate, as she famously ended her life in Alien 3 to prevent the Xenomorph she carried from being exploited by Weyland-Yutani. The paradox of having Ripley appear in Los Angeles decades before her birth to confront Predators stretches credibility to its limits.

The Predator’s Intriguing (But Risky) Ideas

Radical Changes to the Alien and Predator Timelines

To add to the absurdity, an adult version of Newt from Aliens was also proposed as another Predator Killer. This concept would have presented an unconventional retcon of Newt’s and Hicks’ fates in Alien 3, a decision that many fans consider one of the franchise’s most controversial. The implications of Newt becoming an adult and serving as a combatant against predators would raise questions about the overall continuity of the Alien saga.

Every Alien Movie & Spinoff	Release Year
Alien	1979
Aliens	1986
Alien 3	1992
Alien Resurrection	1997
Alien vs Predator	2004
Alien vs Predator: Requiem	2007
Prometheus	2012
Alien: Covenant	2017
Alien: Romulus	2024

Reflecting back, the initial intentions for The Predator appear to have been a misguided effort to weave characters from the Alien universe into the narrative. Nevertheless, the effects of such a twist could have profoundly changed the evolutionary paths of both the Alien and Predator franchises. Introducing a timeline where Ripley coexists with the plot of The Predator would signify a seismic shift in the narrative arcs of both franchises.

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