Keegan-Michael Key Trades Comedy For Sci-Fi, Joins ‘The Predator’ Cast

Keegan-Michael Key has exchanged his comedic chops for a more action oriented role. The comedian and actor has joined the cast of The Predator.

The Key & Peele star is now a part of a cast that includes Moonlight breakout Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn and Boyd Holbrook. The fourth standalone film a part of the well known science fiction series The Predator is set in suburbia. Holbrook and Rhodes portray ex-Marines, while Munn is a scientist.

As for Key, he will play a man that teams up with the two ex-marines to fight the Predator creatures. Not much else is known about the plot of the film. Director Shane Black has described the movie as an “inventive sequel” instead of a reboot, considering that it will reference the events that took place in both Predator and Predator 2.

The Predator is slated for a release on February 9, 2018.

In other Key related news, the actor will be making a guest appearance on a forthcoming episode of The Simpsons. The episode, which will be an hour long hip hop themed show, has Key portraying Jazzy James, a washed up rapper who now sells high end candles.

Titled “The Great Phatsby” after F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s classic novel The Great Gatsby, the episode will feature appearances from Snoop Dogg, RZA, Common, Taraji P. Henson, Key and more. Snoop Dogg, RZA and Common will play themselves, while Henson will play a character named Praline. Music producer Jim Beanz (of Empire fame) will also provide original tracks for the episode.

The hour long “The Great Phatsby” special, which is split into two separate parts, will air on January 15.

Key also reprised his role as President Obama‘s angry translator Luther for one final time, on last night’s Daily Show. Unlike previous Luther portrayals, Key was able to be a little more expressive than usual, even throwing some shade at President-elect Donald Trump.