Casting Bits: Thomas Jane Lands Unknown Role In Shane Black’s ‘The Predator’; Daniella Pineda Joins ‘Jurassic World’
Thomas Jane(The Mist) is in final negotiations forShane Black’sThe Predator. Once a deal is made, he’ll join an already impressive cast that includesBoyd Holbrook(Logan),Trevante Rhodes(Moonlight),Sterling K. Brown(This Is Us),Keegan-Michael Key(Key & Peele), andOlivia Munn(The Newsroom).
Another sequel in the works, directorJ.A. Bayona’s follow-up toJurassic World, has addedDaniella Pineda(The Detour) to the cast.
Below, learn more about theJurassic Worldsequel andThe Predatorcast additions.
The Hollywood Reporterhas learned Jane is close to signing on forThe Predator, but there’s no specifics on the part he might play. The film begins production in Vancouver next month, which is why there have been a few recent major additions to the cast. Black andFred Dekker’s (The Monster Squad) script follows a group of ex-marines, including Rhodes and Key, led by Holbrook. Brown’s character is “a government agent who jails Holbrook’s ex-Marine character, but later needs his help with the Predators.” As for Munn, she’s playing a scientist.
Black’s movie is not a complete reboot. According toThe Nice Guysdirector, John McTiernan’s 1987 film isa partof the story:
I think it has to stand on its own two feet, but our goal is to make sure it acknowledges that, yeah, it is 30 years later in the continuity of the story. In other words, Dutch Schaefer’s patrol, which was attacked and largely slaughtered, happened 30 years ago in the context of the story. It’s referenced, it’s part of the mythology.
We’re not used to seeing Thomas Jane these days in big studio movies, but him signing up for one, and one directed by Shane Black and featuring predators, is delightful news.The Mist,Stander,Boogie Nights, and61*, he’s given some excellent performances we perhaps don’t talk about enough. The actor currently stars in Syfy’sThe Expanse, which returns for season two next week.
Daniella Pineda is the star of TBS’The Detourand has appeared in two ofEdward Burns' films,NewlywedsandThe Fitzgerald Family Christmas.Varietyreports she’s been cast in a key role inJurassic World 2. The exact purpose her role serves we’ll have to wait to find out. She’s joiningChris Pratt,Bryce Dallas Howard,Rafe Spall,Toby Jones, andJustice Smithin the sequel, which is written byColin TrevorrowandDerek Connolly.
Here’s how Bayona described the film:
I was kind of surprised when he [Trevorrow] pitched me the story because it leads the story to a place that we’ve never seen before and it brings some of the most important elements from the other films and makes something with them. I thought that was very interesting. It’s the second chapter of a trilogy so it gets the story to a place that wants you wanting more and more.
TheJurassic Worldsequel is Pineda’s first major studio film. She’s also appeared in a few shorts and HBO’sHigh Maintenance, but she gives a small but memorable performance in 2011’sNewlyweds. She had this charisma that stood out in that film, despite how minor her role was, so it’s nice to see a few years later she’s been cast in a sequel to one of the biggest movies of all time.
The Predatoropens in theatersFebruary 9th, 2018, followed byJurassic World 2hitting theaters onJune 22nd, 2018.
