Upgrade Predator: Profile Of The Assassin Predator

The Upgrade Predator, also known as the Assassin Predator, was a genetically enhanced Yautja who appeared in The Predator (2018). Standing much taller and stronger than traditional Predators, the Upgrade represented a new phase in the Yautja’s ongoing pursuit of physical perfection. Its actions on Earth centered around tracking and eliminating the Fugitive Predator, a rogue member of its species who had attempted to deliver stolen technology to humanity.

The Assassin Predator

The Upgrade Predator belonged to a faction of Yautja that conducted self-engineering to enhance their anatomy using the DNA of other species. Supposedly, this clan of Yautja did not extract spines for trophies, but to extract DNA instead. The Upgrade Predator was the most advanced example of this experimentation, incorporating DNA from multiple species, which granted it increased height, strength, and durability. It stood nearly eleven feet tall and had thick, plated skin that acted as natural armor, rendering most human and Predator weapons ineffective.

Arrival On Earth

The Upgrade Predator arrived on Earth in pursuit of the Fugitive Predator's ship. Both Yautja ships arrived through a "space wormhole", showcasing spaceship technology not elsewhere seen in Predator lore. However, the Fugitive was able to use its own wormhole, leaving Upgrade initially behind. Fugitive's ship was damaged from the Assassin's attack and crash landed in North America, while Fugitive himself ejected from a ship in an escape pod. When Upgrade Predator arrived soon after, he employed Yautja attack dogs to help him track down Fugitive.

Hunting The Fugitive Predator

The Upgrade Predator was dispatched to Earth with a single purpose: to locate and terminate the Fugitive Predator. The Fugitive had defected from the genetic-upgrade faction, stealing hybridization technology and bringing it to Earth as a gift (the Predator Killer suit) to help humans defend themselves. Fugitive was captured by the Stargazer organization at first, but escaped soon after, cutting through soldiers and infrastructure with little effort. With the help of Predator dogs, Upgrade Predator tracked the Fugitive to a small US town, where parts of his gear had ended up.

Killing The Fugitive Predator

The two Predators eventually confronted each other near the school of the small town. After missing with his shoulder cannon, Fugitive chose to engage in close-quarters combat with the much bigger Predator. The Fugitive, although a formidable warrior in his own right, was physically overpowered by the Upgrade. During the encounter, the Upgrade tore out Fugitive's head with its spine, demonstrating its superior strength. Instead of taking the trophy, he continued to pursue parts of the Fugitive's technology that fell into the hands of humans.

Fight With The Loonies And Stargazer

After killing the Fugitive Predator, the Upgrade turned its attention to the human soldiers known as the “Loonies,” a group of ex-military individuals who had become entangled in the conflict. Fugitive challenged the remaining humans, leading to the Loonies and Stargazer teaming up in the woods where Upgrade's ship was located. The Upgrade displayed resistance to gunfire, explosions, and direct attacks. At first, Upgrade used stealth attacks, even biting a human head with his mandibles from above. Despite the humans’ efforts, most of the team was slaughtered during a prolonged battle at night in the woods.

Attempted Escape With Rory McKenna

The Upgrade identified Rory McKenna, a young autistic boy, as a potential candidate for genetic harvesting due to his unique neurological traits. Viewing autism as a valuable evolutionary adaptation, the creature attempted to capture Rory to extract his DNA. The attempted abduction led to a confrontation with Quinn McKenna and the surviving soldiers, who fought to protect Rory. Upgrade took the boy to his ship and attempted to take off to Yautja Prime with his only prey. However, Quinn McKenna and Nebraska Williams caused the ship to crash, and the Assassin emerged from it.

Death Of The Upgrade Predator

The Assassin Predator endured significant damage during the final confrontation with Stargazer operatives and the Loonies at the end of The Predator. He was shot, stabbed, and set on fire, yet showed little reaction due to his exceptionally resilient skin, a result of genetic hybridization. His downfall began when Rory McKenna activated a ship’s defensive shield, severing his right arm along with the wrist gauntlet. Quinn McKenna then fired a wristblade projectile from the gauntlet, striking the massive Yautja’s leg and triggering an explosion that destroyed his remaining limbs. Finally, Quinn ended the creature’s suffering with a pistol shot to the face.

Weapons And Gear

Unlike most Yautja, the Upgrade Predator relied less on advanced technology and more on its biological enhancements. Its body armor was partially integrated into its skin. It possessed retractable wrist-mounted blades with a harpoon and energy projectiles shot from its gauntlet. The creature’s massive frame allowed it to use sheer strength to overpower enemies rather than relying on stealth. It did, however, employ tracking systems consistent with standard Predator equipment. While his ship was cloaked, the Upgrade did not use a personal cloaking shield.

Upgrade Predator Vision

Unlike other Yautja, Upgrade Predator did not wear a bio-mask, as both his eyesight and breathing were optimally enhanced. The Upgrade Predator’s vision mode resembled the traditional thermal imaging used by other Yautja but displayed fellow Predators with a distinct orange hue. This visual system was further enhanced by integrated sound analyzers, advanced scanners capable of capturing and replicating images such as maps, and even a built-in Yautja/English translation function. The film suggested that abandoning the use of external masks in favor of internalized optical enhancements could represent the next stage in Predator evolution.

Other Upgrade Predators

Although the Upgrade Predator acted alone, he was from a clan that had other Predators. Other Upgrade Predators appear only in Archie vs. Predator II, a crossover comic series. During a Halloween dance at Riverdale High, a trio of Upgrade Predators and their Predator dog allies launched a brutal assault. All the Upgrade Predators were killed when the Riverdale survivors ganged up on them. However, Archie remains a Predator/human hybrid at the end of the story.

Behind The Scenes

The Upgrade Predator was designed by the visual effects team to represent an evolutionary leap beyond previous designs. The creature combined elements of both practical effects (played by Brian A. Prince and Kyle Strauts) and CGI to achieve its immense scale and physical presence. A physical "stand in" was used in some of the ship-based scenes. Director Shane Black and the production team intended it to serve as the next step in the Predator mythos, embodying the concept of biological escalation. Shane Black even called this Predator a "cheater", indicating a Bad Blood status.

Conclusion

The Upgrade Predator was a genetically modified Yautja created to surpass the limits of its species through hybridization. It hunted and killed the Fugitive Predator, battled human soldiers and Stargazer operatives, and attempted to capture Rory McKenna for his genetic traits. Despite its immense power and resilience, the creature was ultimately defeated by Quinn McKenna and his team. The Upgrade Predator’s appearance aimed to create another "bigger and badder" Predator which ultimately failed.

Tag Categories: Individual Predators, Predators From The Movies