Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch is again in the world of Predator through an prolonged model of animated film Killer of Killers — and it’s despatched followers of the long-running sci-fi franchise down a lore rabbit gap that calls into query the endings of the unique films and what was thought to be a canon Predator online game.
This week at San Diego Comedian-Con 2025, present Predator custodian Dan Trachtenberg introduced a shock prolonged model of Killer of Killers that exhibits Dutch from the unique Predator and Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan from Predator 2 captured and frozen by the Yautja. Trachtenberg stated throughout a panel at Comedian-Con that Schwarzenegger had given his blessing to use Dutch in future tales, leaving the door open to a Killer of Killers follow-up that will see Dutch and co revived and pitted towards a Predator as soon as once more.
BRAND NEW PREDATOR KILLER OF KILLERS EXTENDED ENDING FEATURING DUTCH AND MIKE HARRIGAN pic.twitter.com/xoDYwLmLFP
— MOVIEDEATHS (@MOVIEDEATHBLOWS) July 26, 2025
The prolonged model of Killer of Killers is out now, so followers are already analyzing it to inside an inch of its life. Response seems to be combined. Whereas some are excited concerning the iconic characters’ return, some are dissatisfied with the concept the Yautja kidnap victorious people in the primary place. Let’s bear in mind the enduring scene on the finish of Predator 2 the place an elder Yautja rewards Harrigan with an vintage flintlock pistol as a trophy. The suggestion now’s Harrigan was later kidnapped and put in stasis, which some consider devalues the human victories seen in earlier Predator films.
“It simply appears like shit understanding your favourite human survivors are simply going to be kidnapped and in all probability killed in an area by one other human or by the Warlord,” said redditor Vector_Mortis.
“Why would the Yautja congratulate Harrigan, give him the pistol, and depart simply to come again, take the pistol, and kidnap him?” puzzled Slow_Obligation2286.
“I am not a fan of this in any respect,” added Hanesman12. “Harrigan and Dutch had good endings. Zero purpose this wanted to be accomplished. Purely nostalgia bait.”
“This removes all the pieces we beforehand knew about Dutch and Harrigan’s timelines after the films,” stated Originalname888. “This removes the distinction code. This removes all the pieces.”
Fans are actually latching onto a possible rationalization for what goes on right here: that the entire kidnap human survivors factor is the work of the Yautja tribe we see in Killer of Killers, which doesn’t characterize the Yautja as an entire. Maybe this explicit tribe has gone rogue and will ultimately be put in its place. On that we’ll have to wait and see, however what’s irrefutable is that it’s now canon that Dutch and Harrigan have been kidnapped quickly after the occasions of their films and stay in stasis at this undetermined level in the long run.
However there’s a further tough Predator lore query that revolves round Dutch. 2020’s Predator: Looking Grounds, developed by IllFonic, options Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his function as Dutch. Within the run up to the sport’s launch, the builders talked about working with individuals at earlier rights holder Fox (that is earlier than Disney purchased the corporate and its franchises) to cement Looking Grounds’ place inside the official Predator lore.
This was thrilling for followers because it meant Looking Grounds formally revealed what occurred to Dutch after the occasions of the primary Predator film — and there was no point out of being kidnapped by Yautja. Certainly, Looking Grounds exhibits an older Dutch in the 12 months 2025.
So, is Looking Grounds now not canon? Is Trachtenberg ignoring it? Is there one other rationalization? These are just a few of the questions followers are attempting to reply in the wake of Dutch’s return in Killer of Killers.
No matter Trachtenberg’s grasp plan, there stays large curiosity in the upcoming Predator: Badlands, the primary quarter-hour of which have been proven at Comedian-Con. The Alien franchise hyperlinks are clear, however will there be an AVP film afterwards? We’ll have to wait and see.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.