'Predators' sneak peek set for SXSW

By Jay A. Fernandez

Hometown hero Robert Rodriguez ("Planet Terror") and director Nimrod Antal ("Armored") will treat SXSW film festival attendees in Austin next week to a sneak peek at footage from their upcoming actioner "Predators." The event will take place at the Alamo Ritz Theater during the kick-off of the 2010 fest, March 12.

Gela Babluani's "13" has also been added to the festival's feature lineup as part of the SX Fantastic midnight section of the program. It will be the film's world premiere.

SXSW runs through March 20.

The first look at "Predators," which Fox has scheduled for a July release, will take place Friday night after the SXSW world premiere of Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass." Antal and Rodriguez, who shot some of the film at the latter's local Troublemaker Studios, will stick around to field questions from the audience after the screening.

SXSW has made the surprise-footage gambit a semi-regular part of the fest in recent years, with early looks at Universal's "Bruno," with a video intro from Sacha Baron Cohen; Sam Raimi's "Drag Me To Hell," with a post-screening Q&A; and Rodriguez's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" becoming last-minute additions to the festival program.

"My director, Nimrod 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," said Rodrigez, who produced the film and wrote an early draft of the script. "Austin is my home and I'm proud that 'Predators' was conceived and filmed here."

Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne and Danny Trejo star in the next chapter in the "Predator" franchise, which follows a motley group of mercenaries and convicts after they're lured to an alien planet as prey in a vicious hunt. Alex Litvak and Mike Finch wrote the screenplay.

Babluani's "13," a remake of the director's own 2005 thriller "13 Tzameti," will first screen at midnight March 13 at the Alamo South Lamar Theater. Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Ben Gazzara and Alexander Skarsgard star.

SX Fantastic is programmed by Tim League, who founded the local Fantastic Fest. In its second year, SX Fantastic will feature five international genre films, including "13," in midnight screenings.

Comments

[Africa Franchises]

This is really cool information.Wish I could be there, but since I can't, I'll be hoping for that Predators footage to get released online shortly after!

[Chicago liposuction]

Thats the real question. If you're someone who lost interest in the books far before the end of the series and never was excited and never really fell for the movies, is this a movie worth watching for itself? Or only for a real fan who wants some life injected into their obsession?

[m3 zero]

Robert Rodriguez gave a speech last night at SXSW detailing his upcoming film, Predators, which sets a group of misfits on an alien planet as prey for the titular hunters. Among the highlights was a 'sneak peek' video showing off a little of the film's production.

[links of london]

prey for the titular hunters. Among the highlights was a 'sneak peek' video showing