More Victims! More Mutilations! An Interview with Predator 2 Director Stephen Hopkins

We have just uploaded the 121st episode of the Alien vs. Predator Galaxy Podcast! And we're starting 2021 off with a bang! For our 121st episode Corporal Hicks and Voodoo Magic are joined by none other than Predator 2's director, Stephen Hopkins!
Stephen talks about his experience as a newer director working on Predator 2, how the film would have differed had Arnie been involved, where exactly Peter Keyes torso went, the legendary NC-17 cut of the film and plenty more!
There appears to be some issues with Hicks video feed being out of sync with the sound, but everyone else seems fine.
What did you think of our latest episode? Be sure to let us know down below! You can also watch our previous episodes on the Podcast playlist on the channel! • Designing Nightmares -...
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[@davefrancis4529]

Hopkins is massively underrated, shame he was really lost to TV. Love Predator 2 and regularly revisit. I am in the camp that I prefer Predator 2’s 3rd act over the original. The biggest contribution not discussed much is the score, Alan Silverstri needs much credit for not only the original score but the very clever reinterpretation in the sequel. Thanks for the great interview, loved it.

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Lay off the crack

[@hntr-j2323]

Stephen came across as a really good guy. Really enjoyed his thoughts on the Alien franchise.

[@yarmen1268]

The Pred 2 anniversary episode blew my mind, I wonder what further secrets await in this instalment

[@huejazz6939]

I downloaded both films through Apple. They look absolutely stunning. I’m pretty sure both are the updated 4K versions, if not the quality and colour is superb.

[@jediknightgeo]

I've always liked most of Stephen's work. Predator 2, The Ghost & The Darkness, Judgment Night & Blown Away are awesome flicks. He's also produced and directed a lot of good television shows like House Of Lies, Californication, Shameless, 24, 24: Legacy, and The Fugitive among others. He seems like a really cool down to earth guy.

[@thermonuclearcollider4418]

Not only he's an incredibly talented filmmaker, he's also a very nice guy!

[@samfisher2306]

Predator 2 was such a great film. I bought it and the first together last month. "Danny Boy" lol

[@noahlittle1219]

I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you, gentlemen!

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

Much appreciated, Noah!

[@spinksy173]

Great watch - nice down earth to guy and a great interview. Predator 2 is one of my favourite films, fond memories of watching it as a kid. That final scene with grey back and lost preds blew my mind!

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

Yeah, he was such a chill dude. Was real easy to talk to! Glad you enjoyed it, spinks! Thanks for watching. :)

[@ImSuperVince]

That was brilliant. He seemed to enjoy the depth of the questions.

[@stanswitek]

One of your very best episodes, and very best interviews! Well done!

[@NoelWesley]

I didn't like Predator 2 when I first saw it as kid. Probably because Arnold wasn't in it but I saw it again on tv a few years later and saw it in a completely different way and understood that Arnold didn't need to be in it. I also read a couple of the original Dark Horse comics. I got it on DVD just because of all the extras and really fell in love with the movie. Nowadays I educate people on what a "misunderstood masterpiece" this film really is. They watch it again and agree. A lot of the points Stephen made, I've made myself about the many reasons this film is great. I'm glad I got it right. Awesome interview. Thank you so much for this.

[@dancingdog60]

Thank you for this amazing interview! I love Predator 2. It's actually my favorite of the series. In regards to Die Hard 2 one of the reasons it had problems is that Renny was busy shooting Ford Fairlane. He had to be yanked off of that production in order to come and do Die Hard 2. Yet he still had Fairlane to finish. So he was being pulled in a couple of directions by Fox. Harlan was quite the studio darling until Cutthroat Island derailed his career.

[@yarmen1268]

Great show guys. I can't believe the next podcast will be on Thicker Than Blood. I think it may be the best AVP story ever written!

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

It's certainly in my top 3 and Jeremy was another fantastic guest! Looking forward to releasing that one!

[@nikolaia_kiev_guy8735]

Thanks for this amazing interview guys! I've been looking forward to this and it certainly didn't disappoint!

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

Thank you for the kind words, Nikolai! Glad you enjoyed the episode. Stephen was a great guest!

[@mkultra8729]

Predator 2 is one of the greatest films ever made.

[@samfisher2306]

I truly enjoyed it just I did the 1st one

[@darkwolf3591]

Yes

[@huejazz6939]

AvP 2004 was such a disappointment. I couldn’t understand how they managed to fuck the Predator up. That film made Predator 2 look like a Godfather film

[@huejazz6939]

Not saying AVP R was any better.

[@AshleyThomas88]

Great interview guys!! Loved it! A great start to 2021 and look forward to your future content. You asked all the questions I wanted asked and was surprised by some of the answers, mainly the one with the movie we got is pretty much it with no major scenes cut... Thanks for this video, it didn't disappoint.

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

Thanks, Ashley! Glad you enjoyed it! :D

[@allezhaven]

That was such a nice chat! I remember watching the movie when I was a kid on TV and immediately feeling something special that I couldn't properly explain until way older, like that it was both an excellent sci-fi and a superb action movie. Special mention to its diverse cast, from the lead Danny Glover to María, Rubén, Calvin Lockhart (King Willie), Henry Kingi (Scorpio) and the rest, they all did a terrific job. Predator 2 is one of the best sequels of all time!

[@Sardaukar_7]

Thank you Stephen Hopkins for making the second predator look different with spear, smart disk, net gun and many more. One of my favourite film 👊🏼

[@gammaplayer1]

Brilliant Interview. Thank you for this. What. a great guy Stephen Hopkins is & to spend time with fans like yourselves & share with us all his experiences. Totally engrossing. Congratulations!

[@entennstudio]

Love his work. Such an underrated director.

[@krypton7853]

Well for getting stephen

[@fred_derf_]

Great interview folks, I still think Arnie wanted to be in Predator 2 and couldn't due to schedule problems, he tried to postpon the filming of Kindergarten Cop but it was not possible.T2 was yet to be made at the time and its filming started only in October 1990, Stephen Hopkins stated it in during the interview with Marc Toullec ( magazine Impact,issue 32 in 1990.)

[@DrQuagmire1]

not to mention, that he also filmed "Total Recall" right around that same time as well

[@dougmasters4579]

I heard Arnold didn't like the script. I think the film was fine without him, though.

[@fred_derf_]

@@dougmasters4579 He lied, and he was eventually happy to not be involved afterward because the critics hated it and the domestic box office wasnt big.He lied about it permanantly since then so people think he hated it.The script was different and Arnold was a co star.

[@dougmasters4579]

@@fred_derf_ He probably did lie. Arnold was against the city setting from day one, it seems. In his book he said the city "already has enough predators". If he was in it, the film would've grossed a lot more. He trashed this film, the director and even the cast (strange considering he acted with Maria Alonso and Bill Paxton), but thats because he's not in it. The film was ultimately fine without him, although he was a miss. I don't think he would've fit into Predator 2's style that well, but that's just a guess.

[@PredatorGodPaya]

1:09:28 :'D that would have been hilarious

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

Wouldn't it have just?! lol

[@MonsterHunterPV]

They have got to bring back Arnold old an just about retired but still smart,sharp, n badass, but the twist is there are different types of Preds...his job can basically be Dillons ole job, putting elite teams together for missions an not screwing em over tho, an hes highly respected by his military peers. 1 of his teams out in the field runs into something(Predator) familiar. Since it was highly classified b4, no one under Dutch knows of a Predator. That's when the doors open an right into Arnold's office walks a commander of the new division they created to monitor alien type of stuff like from 1 of the more recent films. The commander says they have weapons an tech to help see 1 an to help from being seen by 1. Just some ideas, but I'd love to see it happen.

[@jimbowlan5804]

The predator in the original was supposed to have a spear in the beginning but was cut but I shot was still In the film blains orginal scene the predator when it was still jcvd through a spear that grazed his shoulder

[@Hollowshape]

Awesome interview. Have you guys tried to reach out to John McTiernan?

[@AlienvsPredatorGalaxy]

We haven't tried. Hopefully he'll be open to it if we ever do get to connect with him. :) Glad you enjoyed.

[@zraj4701]

Sir tell them that there is another movie left on Predator in 2021

[@shadowrage2593]

Predator 2 is way better that than 1. Badass!

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Predator 2 dvds are worthless except as coasters

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Predator 2 is so bad its terrifying

[@shadowrage2593]

@@blackjackhearts9593 Predator 1 is worse.

[@shadowrage2593]

@@blackjackhearts9593 Predator 1 dvds are just worthless

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Danny glover couldn't fight his way out of a kindergarten

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Danny glover is the worst actor in history

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Stephen hopkins is the worst director ever