As 20th Century Fox gears up for Shane Black‘s return to the jungle in the new reboot of “The Predator,” they are going to have to switch gears a bit, as the film is swapping the lead actor.
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THR reveals that Benicio Del Toro has stepped out of the movie, and will be replaced by “Narcos” star Boyd Holbrook. That might seem like a step down in terms of star power, but there are a few things to remember. Firstly, this movie is being sold on brand foremost, so it doesn’t necessarily need A-list names to get people to buy tickets. Secondly, Holbrook is the villain in Fox’s upcoming “Logan,” and I’d wager they were pretty impressed to give him a leading shot here. And third, the studio is apparently planning to round out the supporting cast with more familiar faces, too.
There’s no official reason given for Del Toro’s departure, but scheduling was apparently a factor, as the actor has, among other things, the “Sicario” sequel “Soldado” to shoot. Basically, everyone keep calm, the movie is still moving forward and will be released on February 9, 2018.