Nicotero elaborates about the features of the new creatures: "We see their masks for most of the film and they have a lot of personality. 

"The Dog Handler had tusks that he had taken off of one of the hunting dogs, The Falconer had a very specific mask design, and then Mr. Black had this weird alien jaw. Each has a unique personality. 

In addition, we also painted them a little differently so that they would stand out and you’d be able to visually differentiate between the different Predators."

All the Predators feature the cloaking ability established in the first film, but the new ones also have high tech weaponry, including an airborne Predator Falcon and new Plasma Caster. 

While many of the Predator effects were practical, the film’s visual effects team provided key enhancements, including muzzle flashes, set extensions, a digital space ship, elements of the opening freefall and parachute sequence, as well as the iconic cloaking effects. 

"We’re taking a new riff on the cloaking we’ve made it a digital effect and it’s more pristine than it was in the original film," says on-set visual effects supervisor Jabbar Raisani. "It’s as if their technology’s been updated now in the future.  So it’s a more invisible effect in this film."

In the Predator universe, timing is everything, especially the creatures’ first appearance in each story. "In the original film, I think the way the Predator is revealed was such a success because they took their time and they made a meal out of it," comments Antal. 

"The terror was supported by the slow burn of the Predators’ reveal.  It was something that you hadn’t quite seen.  You don’t see the Predator for the first half hour.  In this film, we’ve tried to replicate that slow reveal."

Because the Predator characters would be performing stunts, Nicotero worked with stunt coordinator Jeff Dashnaw to cast the performers who would wear the Predator suits. 

Dashnaw also gave Nicotero some feedback on the designs to keep the performers safe. "The plasma gun and blades and such stick out from the suits, which could be dangerous during the fight performances," says Dashnaw. 

"So, Greg designed them so they could come off the suits when necessary and visual effects adds them back in during post."

Six-foot-five Derek Mears, who portrayed iconic screen monster Jason Voorhees in last year’s hit 'Friday the 13th' reboot, plays the Classic Predator, and Brian Steele and Carey Jones portray the three new Predators.

Predators is out now.

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