After about eight years of being dormant, the Predator franchise has finally returned with Shane Black’s The Predator hitting theaters this very weekend. Sadly, if you’re a longtime franchise fan, you won’t be seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character pop up anywhere near it, as originally intended.

If you may recall, some time ago, that very fact was revealed that Schwarzenegger wouldn’t be returning. However, speaking with Digital Spy, director Shane Black finally opened up as to why he couldn’t make a meatier role for the veteran actor:

“The studio wanted a fresher movie that featured an evolving cast. They didn’t want to hinge the movie on the re-emergence of Schwarzenegger. It would probably be more of a matter of his showing up briefly and just participating at the very end, at the climax of the movie.”

“Understandably – and believe me, I completely get it – he said, ‘Look, that’s kind of a small part, and I don’t really think I want to do that. I’m off to do Terminator with Jim Cameron, basically. Or for Jim Cameron’.”

“So I totally got it, you know? If I was Schwarzenegger, I’d want to be one of the stars of a film, or nothing.”

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Honestly, I think this was the best way for them to go about it. As much as I love Arnold, the fact is he’s not a box-office draw. Just take a look at his recent film outings, and that is clear. As such, the studio was right to have a more ensemble cast that didn’t rest on any one person. All the same, I can’t blame Arnold for wanting a little more to do.

But does this rule out a potential role in the future?

“So you know, if there’s another movie, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be either in it, or the star of it, or whatever someone decides at a future date.”

Translation? Go see the damn movie so you can get Arnold to return in the next film!

Do you want to see Schwarzenegger’s Dutch return to the franchise? Let us know down below!

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SOURCE: Digital Spy