Wikia

"I'm the one that got away. The one you don't fuck with."

―Noland (from Predators)

Ronald Noland

Biographical information
Date and place of birth	Earth
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Chronological and political information
Affiliation	US Army (formerly)
Notable Facts	Survived many years on Game Preserve Planet.
Status	Deceased^[1]
Portrayed by	Laurence Fishburne

[Source]

Ronald Noland was a former United States Army soldier from the 1st Cavalry Division who was kidnapped and dropped on the Game Preserve Planet long before Royce and the others. He managed to survive in the hostile jungle and avoid the Super Predators (and their dangerous prey) by hiding in an abandoned drilling platform.

BiographyEdit

Early historyEdit

At some point in his life Ronald Noland joined the United States Army Air Cavalry during the Vietnam War. While on a mission to overthrow a government that crossed the CIA, Noland was abducted by the Predators as the mission took a turn for the worse. He later awoke free falling towards a jungle.^[2]

HuntedEdit

When Noland was first dropped on the planet, he was injured in the fall and found by a hunter. The hunter spared Noland due to his injuries and Noland eventually recovered by using his military training to survive. He later ambushed and killed the hunter he first came across after he landed.^[2] He later attempted to go to the boundaries of the game preserve only to realize that there was no boundaries to the preserve.^[1] Noland has survived for 7 or 10 hunting seasons, and at least twenty years according to another soldier,^[2] by hiding and evading detection and salvaging weapons and gear.

Meeting DrakeEdit

After several years on the preserve, Noland came across a man named Drake, who inadvertently drew some Predators while he was scavenging.^[3] Noland and Drake ended up scuffling before Noland noticed that a hunter was in the area. He then took Drake back to his home and offered the man some food. Drake attempted to talk Noland into taking the fight back to the hunters, even going so far to question Noland's honor as a soldier. Noland then told the man that when he had the time he had here then he could question him on his motives. Frustrated, Drake left taking one of Noland's Smartdiscs he salvaged off a hunter.^[2]

Noland then chases down the man for stealing his salvage only to come across Drake killing the creature that attacked him. Noland then took back the weapon and took Drake back to his home. Drake then came up with a plan to take the fight back to the hunters with Noland's help. Noland went on ahead to prep for the trap while Drake drew one out. The plan worked and Noland knocked out the hunter when it crawled out of the pit with sharpened sticks and tying up the injured creature. Noland and Drake argued what to do with the captured hunter with Noland stating it would just be better to kill it. Unknown to both men and the hunter, a Predator Falcon watching the three.^[4] Noland later left Drake after the disagreement. He witnessed his death at the hands of the Super Predators^[5]

Meeting Royce and the othersEdit

Royce and the others are attacked by an insectoid creature, (another alien released onto the planet as game). Noland kills the alien and decloaks, getting the jump on the team. He later takes them to his hideout, where he explains the situation: the Predators have been harvesting worthy game from Earth and other planets for centuries, using them to improve their hunting skills. Noland explains that the Predators always come in groups of three and there is a blood-feud occurring between two different tribes - the "black" tribe, which is larger and more aggressive, and the "classic" Predators seen previously.

Later as the group rests Noland attempts to murder them by asphyxiation by smoke, in order to take their equipment as he believes it is every man for himself. Royce alerts the Tracker Predator by firing an explosive shell from his auto-shotgun so it can detect the heat signature. As Noland realizes this he attempts to make his escape only to be confronted by Tracker who has taken aim, charging his cannon for the kill. Noland smiling says "Finally found me ol big dog, what took you so long?" and Flusher fires blasting him into pieces and a large cloud of blood.

Personality & TraitsEdit

Noland is a scavenger and a survivor and through his means of staying alive has become mentally unstable, but at times shows enough stability to explain to the rest of the group his history on the planet and details about the Predators and their means of hunting as well as learning from their mistakes. He frequently speaks and argues with an imaginary companion, which apparently is in some form a manifestation of his conscience since it is the imaginary companion who seems not wanting to kill the group during Noland's attempt at causing smoke inhalation. Noland's "invisible" companion may be his deceased "partner" Drake. A way of not dealing with his death and now being alone again, or the result of feeling responsible for his death.

EquipmentEdit

He appears to be able to use Predator technology and armor. He is seen using the Predators' cloaking technology and made a weapon from whatever he can salvage. His armor and weapon are a combination of human and Predator technology. His armor uses ancient armor from Earth to patch his more advanced Predator technology. His gun appears to be pieced together from whatever parts he can find.

NotesEdit

Noland explains that he has managed to kill two (possibly three, due to him being unsure) Predators and acquire their armor and weaponry.
Noland could be very skilled at understanding the Predators' technology because his helmet and weapon have been modified and repaired using whichever salvaged parts he could find. This most likely stems from his many seasons on the planet.
Laurence Fishburne accepted the role after enjoying Nimród's directing on the set of Armored.
The directors have stated they would enjoy making a prequel movie about Noland.
Originally when the Predators story was written it didn't have Noland in it, instead it featured the main character from Predator 2. Harrigan's story would be nearly identical to Noland's except he was a cop that survived fighting a Predator in the city before being abducted by the Black Predators. Danny Glover, the actor who played Harrigan, declined the role in Predators for personal reasons. The character was eventually altered to become Noland .
The fact that the Tracker Predator killed Noland supports the speculation of the Black Predators possibly being Bad Bloods or at least a clan that does not follow normal predator customs, as Noland has killed three Predators, which usually means other Predators should respect him. ^{[citation needed]}
Even though he wanted the group's weapons he did want to work with them since he mentioned it to his invisible companion.