Why a 1990 sci-fi sequel traded the jungle for the streets of Los Angeles

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Arnold Schwarzenegger declined to return for the Predator sequel, writers Jim and John Thomas shifted the hunt from the isolated jungle to a sweltering, gang-ridden urban landscape. The result was a polarizing, hyper-violent spectacle that initially flopped with critics but eventually earned a dedicated cult following as an underrated classic.

Released on November 21, 1990, Predator 2 was directed by Stephen Hopkins, who was only 29 at the time. Seeking to expand the franchise, the production team moved the setting to a futuristic, heat-wave-stricken Los Angeles. The script, developed in just three weeks, aimed to explore the Predator's origins and motives, establishing that the extraterrestrial hunter had been visiting Earth for centuries. Unlike the first film, which focused on survival in the wild, this installment leaned into a gritty, urban aesthetic that production designer Lawrence Paull described as a mix of modern technology and a retrograde future.

The casting process was marked by significant changes. After Schwarzenegger opted out due to a salary dispute, producer Joel Silver brought in Danny Glover to play the lead, LAPD detective Mike Harrigan. While some critics, such as Roger Ebert, found the film's design choices and violence problematic, others praised Glover for bringing depth and warmth to the role. Glover himself felt the performance was a career highlight, noting he was in the best physical shape of his life at age 42 or 43, allowing him to command the screen during the film's intense, mano-a-mano confrontations.

Despite a worldwide gross of over $57 million, the film was the lowest-grossing entry in the franchise and received generally negative reviews upon release. However, retrospective analysis has been kinder, with many fans appreciating the film's bold, over-the-top energy. The production also left a lasting mark on the franchise's lore, including the introduction of the Predator's spacecraft and the inclusion of a Xenomorph skull as a trophy, hinting at the crossover potential that would later be realized in 2004's Alien vs. Predator. Today, the film is recognized for its unique place in the series, standing as a loud, bloody, and ambitious experiment in urban science fiction.

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