'Predators' Cast Announced

We now have a clear picture of what "Predators" is gonna look like and I have some serious doubts. News broke last night revealing nearly the entire cast for the Nimrod Antal directed sequel. For the full details on "Predators" and it's recently announced cast below...

For some time now we have known that Robert Rodriguez wanted to take a whirl at the Predator franchise, a script has been penned, a director was chosen and now the cast is nearly complete. Adrien Brody has been selected to play the lead, Royce. A character described as a "hunter of men". Royce is kidnapped and flung into a deadly game on the home planet of the Predators along with seven other victims. Joining Brody in "Predators" as other kidnapped victims being hunted are UFC fighter Oleg Taktarov, I Am Legend actress Alice Braga, FX's cable hit The Shield actor Walt Goggins, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali from The 4400, Robert Rodriguez's go to guy Danny Trejo and in final negotiations is Topher Grace from That 70's Show and Spider-Man 3. Also announced is Derek Mears who recently dawned the Vorhees mask in Friday the 13th. Mears will play one of the Predators hunting the 8 elite warriors.

Below is a full description of each of the characters as described by Latino Review in their recent positive review of an early draft to "Predators" scripted by Rodriguez, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch.

Adrien Brody - Royce (A American Steve McQueen type)

Danny Trejo - Cuchillo (A Mexican enforcer from the Los Zetas drug cartel who carries twin uzi's)

Oleg Taktarov - Nikolai (A hardened Russian special operative who carries a four barreled rotary machine gun)

Alice Braga - Isabelle (A French sniper)

Walt Goggins - Stans (A violent prisoner from San Quenton who carries a prison shank and is considered a loose canon)

Mahershalalhashbaz Ali - Mombasa (A African Sierra Leone death squad member)

Topher Grace - Edwin (A unsuspecting American who is formerly one of the FBI's most wanted)

Still to be cast - Hanzo (A Japanese Yakuza enforcer who weilds a samurai sword)

Derek Mears - Predator

I can't say that this cast really gets me excited. I have a hard time seeing Adrien Brody as a badass who will (in the end) defeat the Predators. Don't get me wrong, I love Brody, he is an amazing talent. But as the man "inheriting the mantle of leader" against the vicious Predators is stretching it. I really want to be proved wrong here, but until I see some footage, I have some pretty big reservations on how well the film will turn out. Too many times I have invested energy in getting excited for further films under the Predator canon, but I have been let down every time except for the original.

"Predators" is set to begin shooting next month in Hawaii and will later shift to Austin Texas at RR's Troublemaker Studios. The film is slated for a July 9th, 2010 release. More news on "Predators" as it breaks...

Source: Heat Vision, Bloody Disgusting & Latino Review

What say you? Does this cast excite you? Strikeback...