SXSW Getting Exclusive First Look At Robert Rodriguez / Nimrod Antal’s Predators! Also Premiering 13 Tzameti Remake [SXSW 2010]

Exciting news everyone! SXSW just announced that we’re getting some remake action at this year’s SXSW Film Festival.

First off, we’re going to get a “First Look” at Nimrod Antal’s reboot of the Predator series, produced by Robert Rodriguez. This is a project close to Rodriguez’s heart, as he wrote the script back in the 90s! We’ve gotten various plot and casting details over the past year, and recently caught a glimpse of some on-set imagery courtesy of Facebook.

I’m really excited about this preview of the new Predators film, having had the first film burn such a deep brand in my brain at an early age. Personally, I like the second film, and the two Aliens vs Predators sequels don’t destroy the series for me. They’re obviously nowhere near as stylish or quotable or rewatchable as the first film, but I like how they expand on the mythology.

I was a little wary of the idea of Adrien Brody and Topher Grace as mercenaries capable of taking on the Predators, but I think having the likes of Danny Trejo alongside them will balance out the equation. Hopefully this preview will give us a glimpse of Brody and Grace in action.

The Predators First Look happens on Friday, March 12, at 10:15 at the Alamo Ritz Theater.

Back in 2005, a little film from Georgian director Géla Babluani hit the festivals, causing many a cautious spoiler avoiding conversation to be had. I’ve actually never seen 13 Tzameti, but had it’s twists spoiled for me on several film podcasts. As with most foreign films that generate any kind of buzz here in the States, a remake was quickly announced, with the likes of Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, and Ray Winstone to star.

13 will screen at Midnight on Saturday the 13th, at the Alamo South Lamar, courtesy of Tim League. I’m embedded the trailer to 13 Tzameti below, to give you an idea of the pacing and style of the original.

Below you’ll find the original press release from SXSW.

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ PRESENTS SPECIAL FIRST LOOK AT PREDATORS AT SXSW

RODRIGUEZ, DIRECTOR NIMRÓD ANTAL, TO APPEAR AT MARCH 12 EVENT

ALSO ANNOUNCED, WORLD PREMIERE OF 13

Austin, Texas ‘“ March 3, 2010 ‘“ The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival has announced Austin-based filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and director Nimród Antal will present a ‘First Look’ at their upcoming motion picture Predators, at SXSW on March 12, 2010.   SXSW also announced the world premiere of Géla Babluani’s 13, the previously announced Super Secret TBA as part of the SX Fantastic midnight section.   The 2010 event will take place March 12 ‘“ March 20, 2010.

The special presentation of Predators will take place at the Alamo Ritz Theater in downtown Austin, at 10:15pm. Doors open at 9:45pm, and the special event is only open to SXSW Badge-holders on a first-come, first-served basis. An audience Q&A follows the unveiling.   SXSW Badges are still available for purchase at www.sxsw.com/attend.

A bold new chapter in the Predator universe, Predators was shot on location under Rodriguez’s creative auspices at the filmmaker’s Austin-based Troublemaker Studios, and is directed by Nimród Antal.   The film stars Adrien Brody as Royce, a mercenary who reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they’ve been brought together on an alien planet’¦ as prey. With the exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers ‘“ mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members ‘“ human ‘predators’ that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators. In addition to Adrien Brody, the film stars Topher Grace, Alice Braga, and Laurence Fishburne.   Co-starring are Walton Goggins, Danny Trejo, Oleg Taktarov and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali.

Predators was written by Alex Litvak & Mike Finch based upon characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. The producers are Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellàn.   Twentieth Century Fox releases Predators in theaters everywhere July 9, 2010.

Commented Robert Rodriguez: ‘My director Nimród Antal and I are excited to bring this first look at Predators to Austin’s SXSW Film Festival, an event that’s become vital to the filmmaking scene. Austin is my home and I’m proud that Predators was conceived and filmed here.”

Said Film Conference & Festival Producer Janet Pierson: ‘Robert Rodriguez and Troublemaker Studios are a continued fountain of filmmaking creativity and innovation here in Austin, TX.   We couldn’t be more proud to present the unveiling of Predators at our 2010 event.’

Additionally, SXSW has revealed the identity of the Super Secret TBA in its SX Fantastic section ‘“ the anticipated world premiere of Géla Babluani’s 13 will take place at Midnight on Saturday, March 13 at the Alamo South Lamar Theater.

13, a remake of the 2005 French film 13 Tzameti, also directed by Babluani, stars Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Ben Gazzara, and Alexander Skarsgard. The thriller follows the story of Vince, who unwittingly becomes involved in a degenerate, clandestine world of mental chaos behind closed doors.

2010 marks the second year of the SX Fantastic section, a series of mind-bending international midnight films at SXSW programmed by Tim League, founder of the Austin-based Fantastic Fest.   This year features a diverse slate of five action, thriller, sci-fi and just plain fantastic films from all corners of the world.   For more information on the SX Fantastic section, as well as the rest of the Festival program, visit www.sxsw.com/film.

Over the course of nine days, the 2010 Festival will host a total of 134 features, including 64 world premieres, and will open with the world premiere of Kick-Ass, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Aaron Johnson, Cholë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Nicolas Cage. SXSW will also host more than 80 Film Conference panels, which will take place Friday, March 12 ‘“ Tuesday, March 16.   For the complete program of films and panels, as well as schedule information, visit http://my.sxsw.com.