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After seemingly months of rumors and movie-blog speculation Robert Rodriguez has finally announced who’ll be directing the reboot of the Predator franchise.

AICN reports that Nimrod Antal will be directing Predators with Rodriguez serving as a very hands-on producer.  (Credit goes to Latino Review for breaking the story first last month.)  Antal’s third film, Kontroll, brought him international attention which he quickly parlayed into his first Hollywood gig with the dark and underrated Vacancy.  His follow-up, Armored, is due later this year.

Rodriguez spoke with AICN and provided some more info as well.  The film will be shot at his Troublemakers studio in Austin (Reject HQ!) and they’ll be using his original script from 1994 as a starting point.  It’s being re-written of course, ”but it still involves a very intense group of people stranded on a Predator planet discovering unspeakable horrors (that are not always from outside their group). So like the original movie, the title does have a double meaning.”

Regarding his choice for director, Rodriguez says Antal reminds him “of Quentin with how he was able to work with a group of very strong, singular actor talents and make it look effortless. I know he’ll be able to get the most out of what we want to be an outstanding cast. We really want to go with a character driven action movie.”  He’s apparently seen an early cut of Armored and was very impressed with Antal’s action sensibilities as well.

And on a very promising note, Rodriguez says KNB will definitely be involved on the effects side.  “I can’t wait to finally give them a real budget to make some really kick ass creatures,” he says. “And we know we don’t want to go crutching on CG for this.”

Color me a little more optimistic now than I had been previously. Plus, since Reject HQ is also in Austin you should expect some top secret, midnight set incursions from Neil Miller and Cole Abaius.  (With arrests, mug shots, and anal incursions to follow.)

Excited about Predators?