The Predator takes on Santa in an official Holiday Special from Fox. The Predator proved to be a fun, but flawed revival of the iconic action franchise. Shane Black (Iron Man 3) wrote and directed the latest entry, which saw a group of outcast soldiers taking on a genetically upgraded Predator in the suburbs. Black’s flair for great characters and dialogue proved to be the highlight of the new sequel, but sloppy editing and odd tonal shifts spoiled the fun for many.

The Predator’s choppy pacing can be partly blamed on extensive reshoots that took place near the start of 2018, which dramatically changed the third act. The original edit featured a greater emphasis on the Predator’s tinkering with DNA, and this cut featured more hybrid creatures and two emissary Predators, who worked with Project Stargazer to help prepare Earth for a possible invasion. Following lukewarm test screenings, the studio decided to simplify the plot, leading to a more traditional final battle sequence in a dark forest and most of the hybrids being cut out.

Related: The Predator: New Video Reveals Artwork For Deleted Hybrid Creatures

Sadly, The Predator proved to be a box office disappointment, meaning a sequel is very unlikely. Fox has provided some solace to fans, however, by unveiling The Predator Holiday Special. This delightful short finds The Predator heading to the North Pole to hunt Santa and his reindeer – who are surprisingly capable handling assault rifles and with hand-to-hand combat.

The Predator Holiday Special is a loving tribute to the series and features all the classic tropes; macho bonding, skinned corpses, miniguns and numerous bloody decapitations. There’s even a literal Alien Easter egg, but sadly, the Predator doesn’t actually battle Santa himself. The Holiday Special is to promote the home release of The Predator, and while the movie itself may have been divisive among the fanbase, the short itself is receiving a much warmer reception.

With The Predator failing to kickstart a new series of movies, it will be interesting to see what happens with the franchise next. Both Predator and Alien will be controlled by Disney soon, and while there are rumors Alien is due to receive a TV series on a streaming service soon, there’s no sign of a new movie being in development for either series. Disney will likely focus on their family-friendly properties for now, which unfortunately means the R-rated Predator and Alien franchises will likely be taking extended breaks from the big screen.

More: The Predator Alternate Ending Had Alien Franchise Connections

Source: 20th Century Fox