The Predator

One of the most iconic creature designs mankind has been hunted by.

Predator (1987)

We are writing the year 1986, a new sci-fi/action/horror film is being in the works.

Screenplay is set, people behind camera are prepped, actors are ready to act, the director is about to shout "Action", but wait, what's wrong with the creature?

Predator (1987), The Rescue Team

Well production needed to halt, because the original Predator had one major design flaw, ... it's legs. They were bending backwards, like a dog's, which gave the actor a hard time to jump, run, let alone walk in that terrain. The rest of the design is up to a matter of taste. Some like it, others don't. Some spiraling effect might have taken place too. Bumping on one thing and ending up taking the whole design apart.

But I think that everyone is glad that it changed.

First Design of the Creature; Yes, planned to played by Jean Claude Van Damme

The change happened through Stan Winston Studios. It took a few sketches, partially on an airplane, to connect James Cameron's liking for mandibles and an inspiration of an artwork of a Rastafarian warrior, which gave birth to a very close resemblance of the final look.

First Re-Design Sketches by Stan Winston; Team Predator, which created the iconic creature in 6 weeks only

The Predator is a gigantic (7ish feet tall) humanoid creature, with a lizard-like head, arthropodic mandibles and hair-like appendages, which look like dreadlocks.

It is of extra terrestrial origin (Yautja species) and has super-human powers. Is stronger, faster, more intelligent, can jump higher, etc. ...

It is adorned with collected "trophies" to display their skill and possesses an arsenal of technologically more advanced weaponry and gadgets.

Predator (1987), Predator in all his glory

The Bio Mask

A helmet, which increases its ability to see in a variety of spectra, ranging from the low infrared to the high ultraviolet, and also filters the ambient heat from the area, allowing them to see things with greater clarity and detail.

To the left, the original bio mask, which got replaced by a more simple design in order not to give away the creatures facial features.

The Predator’s famous heat vision

The Plasma Caster a.k.a Shoulder Cannon

A long-range energy projector weapon. Capable of firing armor-penetrating plasma bolts at distant targets. The bolts fired by the weapon explode in a burst of plasma "shrapnel" upon striking a target, causing grievous wounds and potentially damaging other enemies near the point of impact.

Predator (1987), A closer look at its Plasma Caster

The Wristblades a.k.a. Gauntlet Knives

This signature armament takes the form of retractable, serrated blades between six and eighteen inches in length and two to eight inches wide that extend over the back of the hand from a gauntlet worn on the Predator's wrist.

The deadly blades are sharp enough to cut through bone and are intended for use against unarmored combatants or those who have been disarmed.

Different stages of retracted/extended blades

The Cloak

A technology, which is able to render the user (nearly) invisible to the naked eye. The Cloak warps light around the user's body in such a fashion that surfaces behind the creature are visible through the Predator's body. The effect is not perfect, often leaving a visible silhouette similar to heat haze, but in certain environments it can effectively help a Predator to hide in plain sight.

Predator (1987), The Cloak starting to malfunction after contact with water

The Predator creatures, Yautja, also appear in the following films:

Predator 2 (1990), the crossover films Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018)

There is also a new movie coming up, a prequel with the title Prey (2022)

The initial Predator design, which has been rejected in 1986, did get a comeback after all in Neca’s Predator toy line and was smartly integrated in a, so called, Alpha Predator collectible figure.

Kevin Peter Hall

No matter how kick-ass the Predator design is, it was Kevin Peter Hall who breathed life into this monster. With a whopping 7.2ft of height, Hall’s gracious moves were so fitting and characterized this creature even further. He set a high standard which unfortunately couldn’t be reached in this franchise, after Predator 2, ever since.

Kevin Peter Hall (1955-1991) with contact lenses for the Predator

To refresh our memories, this was how cool the Predator sounded like …

And lastly, here’s a snippet of probably the most famous scene of the movie - “One Ugly Mother***er”

Please jump over to Stan Winston School of Character Arts for an in-depth behind-the-scenes article on the production design of Predator (1987).
And some more information around the Yautja Universe at AVP Fandom.