The Predator: Fox removes scene after learning actor is registered sex offender

Star Olivia Munn alerted the studio to Steven Wilder Striegel's history

Twentieth Century Fox has deleted a scene from the new Predator film after discovering it features a registered sex offender.

Steven Wilder Striegel appears in a scene that sees his character flirt with Olivia Munn, who later told the studio about Striegel’s history. He pleaded guilty in 2010 after being accused of attempting to lure a 14-year-old girl into a sexual relationship over the internet and served six months in jail.

Director Shane Black apologised for casting his “friend” Striegel, stating he had been “misled” about the conviction.

“Having read this morning’s news reports, it has sadly become clear to me that I was misled by a friend I really wanted to believe was telling me the truth when he described the circumstances of his conviction,“ he said. ”I believe strongly in giving people second chances – but sometimes you discover that chance is not as warranted as you may have hoped.”

He continued: “After learning more about the affidavit, transcripts and additional details surrounding Steve Striegel’s sentence, I am deeply disappointed in myself. I apologise to all of those, past and present, I’ve let down by having Steve around them without giving them a voice in the decision.

Fox states it wasn’t aware of Striegel’s background, telling Variety: “Several weeks ago, when the studio learned the details, his one scene in the film was removed within 24 hours. We were not aware of his background during the casting process due to legal limitations that impede studios from running background checks on actors.”

Black has previously cast Striegel in Iron Man 3 and The Nice Guys. He defended the casting decision in the past, telling the Los Angeles Times: “I personally chose to help a friend. I can understand others might disapprove, as his conviction was on a sensitive charge and not to be taken lightly.”

Striegel, however, claims Black knew the full details of his conviction, telling the Times: “I’ve known Shane Black 14 years, well before this incident, and I think it’s worth noting that he was aware of the facts. Shane can speak for himself, but I’m quite certain that if he felt I was a danger in any way to have around, he would not have.”

Munn said she found it “both surprising and unsettling” that Black didn’t share Spiegel’s history with the film’s cast or crew as well as Fox Studios at any stage of production. Responding to the scene’s removal, she said: “I am relieved that when Fox finally did receive the information, the studio took appropriate action by deleting the scene featuring Wilder.”

The Predator – which stars Sterling K Brown, Trevante Rhodes and Yvonne Strahovski – is released 14 September.