The 1987 film “Predator” is an action-packed experience, largely due to its dynamic cast of rugged 1980s stars who take on an alien warrior. The ensemble includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, and surprisingly, Shane Black. Known more for his screenwriting and directing on projects like “Lethal Weapon,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” and “The Nice Guys,” Black also played a role in “Predator” as Rick Hawkins. Hawkins, a comic book enthusiast and the group’s youngest member, meets his fate early during a jungle rescue mission. His quick exit wasn’t a narrative necessity, but rather a production decision.

According to a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, producer John Davis shared that Black was initially included because of his impressive work on the “Lethal Weapon” script. The hope was that he’d contribute rewrites to “Predator.” Cast as an actor to lure him on set, Black, however, asserted he was there to act, not write. “We got him down there, and we asked him to do a rewrite, and he said he was an actor in the movie and not a writer,” Davis explained. Consequently, Black’s character was the first to be eliminated, just seven minutes into the film. Hawkins’ humorous elements serve as a prelude to the ensuing tension of the jungle encounters.

An overlooked aspect of “Lethal Weapon” is Shane Black’s initial desire to discard the screenplay. Thankfully, he stuck with it, transforming it into a hallmark of buddy cop cinema. His subsequent success opened the door to his part in “Predator.” In a 1990 conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Black recounts casually asking Joel Silver, a producer linked to both films, for a minor role in “Predator” while it was filming in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He doesn’t clarify whether he was aware of the request for script changes, but he enjoyed his downtime reading and mingling, contrasting the intense shoot.

Even amidst the tropics, Black couldn’t avoid his professional commitments. He revised “Lethal Weapon” during the “Predator” shoot upon director Richard Donner’s request, and he was concurrently developing “Monster Squad” with Fred Dekker, his college roommate. It may have been advantageous for Black to focus on these projects after his character’s prompt exit from the film. Eventually, Black came full circle with the “Predator” series by co-writing and directing the 2018 film, “The Predator,” ensuring that as long as Predators continue to visit Earth, there will be fresh stories to tell.