Jean Claude Van Damme as the Predator is as awkward as it sounds
You might not have known, but before the iconic Predator battled Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film the ugly monster looked pretty different. That’s the original design above, if you can believe it. Also, the Predator was originally going to be played by a fresh-to-the-acting-scene Jean Claude Van Damme. Nothing turned out as planned, as Van Damme hated working in the suit (thinking he’d be getting a chance to showcase his martial arts skills), and that chapter in the Predator book quickly closed and was forgotten. Luckily, interviews, screen tests, and unused film footage keep the memory alive.
After the jump you can check out two videos detailing the awkwardness and how it all went down.
Here’s a short video, comical video showing the original red suit used for the camouflage effects:
And here’s a longer video going into detail regarding Van Damme’s involvement and the early stages of the character: