10 Actors Who Quit Major Film Roles

Between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers, bulging biceps were in no short supply in Predator, but it almost delivered a couple of bonus ones via Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The Muscles from Brussels was originally hired to play the titular alien bounty hunter before creative differences forced him off the project. Exactly what his beef was depends on which version of the story you believe.

There have been conflicting reports about Van Damme's Predator exit, with some stating that his issue was around health and safety, or the lack of it when performing combat moves clad in an encumbering costume. Others claim he wanted the role to include more elaborate kickboxing choreography and wouldn't back down over that.

Either way, the actor's departure was for the best since his replacement Kevin Peter Hall brought such imposing stature to the role of the Predator, towering over Arnie in a way that Van Damme would have needed stilts to replicate.