The possibility of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s possible return as Dutch in the Predator franchise has gained momentum following the release of Predator: Killer of Killers, which introduces scenarios that may allow the iconic character to reappear. The new developments come as the legendary actor continues his active career, opening the door to both animated and live-action options for the revival of Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer.
Director Dan Trachtenberg Acknowledges Setup for Dutch’s Return
Dan Trachtenberg, director of Predator: Killer of Killers, has acknowledged that the film’s narrative could facilitate Schwarzenegger reprising his role as Dutch. During a recent interview with Polygon, Trachtenberg discussed how the animated movie’s storyline lays groundwork for this possibility. In Killer of Killers, audiences are introduced to a cast of survivors—a Viking warrior, a samurai heir-turned-shinobi, and a World War II-era U.S. pilot—all of whom survive deadly encounters with members of the Predator race. These individuals are eventually captured, placed in cryogenic sleep by Predators from another group, and brought to a gladiatorial arena to face a formidable, oversized Predator.
Killer of Killers Expands the Franchise’s Universe
As the film progresses, it is revealed to viewers that Naru, the protagonist from the 2022 instalment Prey, is among the captives held in suspended animation. Major Dutch Schaefer, originally introduced in the 1987 Predator film and played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is one of the franchise’s rare survivors after facing a Predator. The inclusion of characters like Naru and the thematic focus on survival against overwhelming odds suggest how Killer of Killers could create space for Dutch’s reappearance in the Predator saga.
Echoing this sentiment, Trachtenberg pointed out:
“So the movie was made under the code name Warehouse, as that end moment was in the original idea pitch to the studio, and it felt like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark,”
—Dan Trachtenberg, Director
He further explained:
“Certainly Arnold, like many others, was a survivor of his story, and one could easily imagine him up there in cryo, along with any other Earth champion or champion from other planets,”
—Dan Trachtenberg, Director
Potential Paths for Schwarzenegger’s Dutch
Schwarzenegger, who is now 77, continues to be an active presence in the entertainment industry with new films on the horizon and the second season of his Netflix series FUBAR expected in mid-2025. This keeps the possibility alive for him to take on the role of Dutch once more, either as an older version in a live-action format or as the voice of the character in an animated sequel, similar to his participation in Predator: Hunting Grounds in 2020.
As Predator: Killer of Killers expands the narrative possibilities by establishing a multigenerational, multi-era cast of survivors, the door remains open for Schwarzenegger’s return. Whether Dutch reappears in a future film or animated project, the franchise continues to find new ways to connect its storied past with the energetic prospects of upcoming installments.
