Never Knew About the Original Predator

[kevtk135]

I'm sure bigger Predator fans know all about it, but this was news to me.
And Jean Claude VanDamme... isn't he a little short to be a predator?
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/ ... the-scenes

[Heavy Metal Spike]

Yeah - old news - GREAT new article though (thanks Kev!)

Thank goodness the original design was scrapped - even Narin couldn't have done anything with that (not that he'd want to)


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[belrog999]

The Predator was inspired by the alien in WITHOUT WARNING. Instead of "sport", though, he hunted for food.

[temperflash]

The design of the finalized Predator may have evolved from creatures I saw in a very old Creepy or Errie B&W Horror magazine.

I can't remember issue or story title and can only make a WAG that Esteban Maroto did the artwork.
The creatures were primitive Hominids perhaps an offshoot of evolution making them pure carnivores. The heads were seldom visible but nothing like the predator's alien features.
They were depicted mainly in a jungle setting dappled by shadow. Very muscular humanlike forms with only G-sting and a one piece full body covering of netting used to hang tools and weapons and act as camouflage netting they would tuck bits of foliage into.
On a narrow rope belt they carried skulls and spinal columns as trophies.

Don't remember much of the story but something had flushed them out of their South American jungle hunting grounds and every where explorers went they found villages and mining camps had been attacked and all humans butchered and eaten.

I'm sure the story was in print in the late 60's or early 70's. Unfortunately almost all my books from that time were destroyed along with the storage building by a windstorm and heavy rains long ago.

[Heavy Metal Spike]

The design of the finalized Predator may have evolved from creatures I saw in a very old Creepy or Errie B&W Horror magazine . . .

You posted something to this effect in "The Predator" movie thread.

I wish you (or someone) COULD remember this as I'd love to see any similarities first-hand.

Sound interesting for sure.

Ian/Spike.

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[Tim Fortuna]

The Predator was inspired by the alien in WITHOUT WARNING. Instead of "sport", though, he hunted for food.

Also played by Kevin Peter Hall.

The inspiration for the Predator design came from a piece of artwork in Joel Silver’s office, a painting of an otherworldly Rastafarian warrior.

I'd love to see this artwork if anyone knows which one he is talking about.

[Heavy Metal Spike]

I'd love to see this artwork if anyone knows which one he is talking about.

I think THAT artwork may have been in the Stan Winston book OR the "Making of AVP-R" book.

I'd check, but I haven't got access to either of them right now.


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