Belgian-born actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme, known for his action film roles, experienced dissatisfaction while working on the set of the 1987 film Predator.
Van Damme, also referred to as the “Muscles from Brussels,” had always dreamt of becoming an actor and eventually made his way to Hollywood after leaving Europe.
His big break came in 1988 when he starred in the martial arts film Bloodsport.
However, the year prior, Van Damme was excited to join fellow action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura in Predator.
To his disappointment, Van Damme was not cast as a member of the special ops team but rather as the Predator itself.
He expressed frustration with the monster suit, claiming it was too hot and caused him to pass out.
Additionally, he was dissatisfied with the fact that his face would not be visible on camera while wearing the suit.
These grievances ultimately led Van Damme to walk off the set.
Interestingly, Van Damme's experience with the Predator costume did not end there.
In an audition for the role, he impressed producer Joel Silver with his martial arts skills, leading to his selection as the alien creature.
However, when asked to put on the costume, Van Damme became agitated and destroyed the $20,000 chicken head that accompanied it.
Some speculate that this act was intentional, driven by his desire to have his face seen in the film.
Van Damme's complaints about the Predator suit extended beyond the discomfort caused by its heat.
He revealed in an interview that he had been misled by the production, who initially informed him that he would only be wearing a leotard.
Instead, he found himself in a bulky outfit equipped with cables to control the creature's head and jaws.
He described the costume as repulsive and eventually reached his limit, leaving the film after just a few days.
The role was later given to Kevin Peter Hall.
Conflicting reports surround Van Damme's departure from the set.
Actor Bill Duke claimed that he was fired due to passing out from dehydration twice, while special effects supervisor Joel Hynek alleged that he was fired for insisting on kickboxing during filming, despite the Predator character not being a kickboxer.
Regardless of the circumstances, Van Damme has stated in subsequent interviews that he holds no regrets about missing out on the role and appreciates his time spent working on Predator.
