Rodriguez on Predator: "Remember That Spielberg/Hooper Thing with Poltergeist?"

Robert Rodriguez, who is handling the production on the new Predator remake/reboot/relaunch/re-re -ness, has chosen a director: Hungarian, Nimród Antal. Yes, really. Antal is best known (here, at least) for the 2007 suspense flick, Vacancy (with Kate Beckinsale and Hollywood's favorite boyfriend, Luke Wilson).

Of his production work, he said he would be taking "a more upfront role as a producer than would normally be the case in Hollywood." From where we sit and read, it sounds like Rodriguez is saying he's going to armchair direct. The title is a reference to the oft-asserted argument that producer, Steven Spielberg, actually directed classic ghost movie, Poltergeist (as opposed to actual director, Tobe Hooper).

According to an inside source, Antal impressed Rodriguez with his work on the upcoming Armored. Rodriguez told Ain't It Cool News that when he first got involved with the new Predators project (back in 1994!), it was only as a writer. He was later asked to helm the project, but could not, due to scheduling. However, Rodriguez and The Suit from Fox both wanted to get away from the recent AVP debacles, and both felt that meant getting away from the studio system. Rodriguez lobbied to get a larger hand in things and when Alex Young (née, The Suit) visited (Rodriguez') Troublemaker Studios, that fuzzy Predators concept suddenly became a distinct reality.

Rodriguez went on to say the film's SFX work was "doable" and would not be hack CGI. He also said the script takes place on the Predator home world and that stage filming would take place in Austin, TX.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009