'Predators' Finds Director

While Schofizzy was on vacation the short list of directors up for the job of directing "Predators" was shortened down to one. Nimrod Antal has been slected by 20th Century Fox to direct the sequel being produced by Robert Rodriguez. AICN broke the story and gave some further details on exactly what "Predators" will entail and why RR chose Antal for the director's role. Scroll down to see what RR had to tell Clint...

First up RR told AICN that the film will follow a group of soldiers marooned on a alien planet inhabitated by predators. "It still involves a very intense group of people stranded on a Predator planet discovering unspeakable horrors (that are not always from outside their group)." Robert Rodriguez also exclaims that the film will have a quality budget and won't rely soley on CGI. He said, "I can't wait to finally give them a real budget to make some really kick ass creatures. And we know we don't want to go crutching on CG for this, so I need people I can count on and that I know will go the extra hundred miles to deliver."

The director also confirms that the sequel will be filmed at RR's Troublemaker Studios in Texas. He told Clint at AICN, "Any stagework will be done here, and to take advantage of the new Texas incentive program, we'll need to shoot at least 60% of the movie in Texas." RR also spoke about why he wanted "Predators" filmed at Troublemakers Studios. He said, "I lobbied to have the movie done through my studios so I could oversee it in a stronger position than a producer usually takes on." He also pointed out how Alex Young at Fox was concern to not make a studio picture. He explained, "He felt right away that this is where the movie should be made and that doing it down here would be the best way to protect it from the studio system. He was keen on making a very "non-studio" picture."

Lastly Robert Rodriguez spoke about his selection of Nimrod Antal. RR said, "First of all, on a personal level I found him to be an outstanding presence, a great communicator full of ideas, and upon meeting him you can immediately understand how he is able to wrangle cast and crew and get the best out of everyone." Robert Rodriguez continued to give praise of his selection, "I always loved Kontroll, where he proved himself to be a very resourceful and original filmmaker. When I saw Armored, I could tell he's also great with action and has a keen eye for casting." The director producer next compared Nimrod to QT. He said, "He reminded me of Quentin with how he was able to work with a group of very strong, singular actor talents and make it look effortless." Finally Rodriguez gave his full blessing to Antal Nimrod. He said, "I know he'll be able to get the most out of what we want to be an outstanding cast. We really want to go with a character driven action movie, because that's what we all remember about the original Predator, and we want to take it even further with this."

While RR definately gives his blessing, I am still very skeptical of another Predator film. The AVP films left a terrible taste in my mouth that no matter how hard I try to remove the god awful taste, it refuses to leave. Ultimately leaving my anticipation for a "Predators" film sullied. I also have not seen either of the two films Kontroll or Armored Robert Rodriguez praises in his interview. I have seen Vacancy and based off that film alone, one could at best hope for a film that is only slightly better than the last two AVP films. RR exclaims that "Predators" will be a "non-studio" film and that by filming it at Troublemaker Studios he will be able to ensure just that. His statement goes noted, but I refuse to put any remote hope of anticipation in "Predators" until something more substantial surfaces than just aspirations and objectives.

What say you? Does hiring Nimrod Antal perk your interests in Predators? Strikeback...