I had two thoughts when watchingPrey. The first was, “This is my new favorite Predator movie.” The second was after the ending, which was, “Oh my God, I NEED a sequel.” In case you forgot,Preyends with Naru (Amber Midthunder) finally defeating the feral Yajuta that stalked her tribe and killed her brother, bringing its head to her tribe. But the end credits showa horde of Predator ships descending from the sky, hinting that Naru and her tribe are in for the fight of their lives. The newest Predator movie,Predator: Badlands,is taking a massive leap forward into the future— which isnotwhat I expected. But looking at the setup forPredator: Badlandsand the upcoming animated filmPredator: Killer of Killers, which both come fromPreydirectorDan Trachtenberg, I’m genuinely excited about the future of the franchise.
‘Predator: Badlands’ Marks a First for the Iconic Sci-Fi Franchise
The descriptions of thePredator: Badlandsfootagethat streamed at CinemaConmark a major difference fromPrey’s story and setup. WhilePreywas firmly set in the 1700s, meaning that Naru didn’t have much weaponry to battle the Yautja with other than her tomahawk and arrows,Predator: Badlandswill feature hi-tech weaponry and a desolate landscape.Elle Fanning,who seems to be playing a robot of sort, comes across a lone Predator and forms an alliance with it. That’s the other big difference betweenPredator: BadlandsandPrey, and it marks a first for thePredatorfranchise:this is a story where the Predator will be the major focus. Dan Trachtenberg broke down this decisionin an interview withEmpiremagazine: “The creature is front and centre, leading the charge…He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.”
The Most Controversial Predator Movie’s Alternate Endings Included Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch… And ‘Alien’s Ellen Ripley!?
But is there a choppa?
I think this is a change that’s not only interesting, but more than welcome. There areso many of the Predator’s customs that remain a mystery: what drives the Yautja to hunt the strongest beings in the universe? Where do they get their armor and weapons? What led to their code of hunting only armed opponents? While previous movies — most notably the extremely underratedPredators— have made attempts to explorethe underpinnings of Yautja society, I think that Trachtenberg has come up with a genius approach. By putting the audience in a Predator’s shoes, he’s going to have us reconsider whether or not this particular Yautja is a monster, while also raising the question: what would a Predatorfear?
Dan Trachtenberg Has Found the Best Angle To Continue the Predator Franchise
The best part ofPredator: Badlandsleaping forward into the future is that it continues a train of thought thatPreyandPredator 2brought up:the Yautja have visited Earth at different periods of time, and different planets to boot. This was a seed that was planted inPredator 2, when Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) discovers a Predator spaceship full of trophies from different hunts, including the skull of a Xenomorph (which led to the creation of theAlien VS Predatorfranchise).
Harrigan is also gifted a flintlock pistol from a Predator, and that flintlock pistol ends up making an appearance inPreywhen Naru takes it from a fur trapper. Other Predator merchandise, most notably comic books and thePredator: Hunting Groundsvideo game, have explored different Predators coming to Earth at certain periods of time. Trachtenberg has decided to take it to the next level withPredator: BadlandsandPredator: Killer of Killers, exploring just how many Yautja have encountered human foes over the years.It’s a concept that will keep the core concept of the Predator franchise, while also making sure it’s fresh enough with new protagonists and new time periods.
‘Predator: Badlands’ and ‘Prey,’ Disney Is Making Good Use of 20th Century Fox’s Film Franchises
Having two Predator movies in the same year is solid proof that Disney is intending to make the best use of the franchises it acquiredwhen it bought 20th Century Fox. Many were wondering if 20th Century Fox — now 20th Century Studios — would continue to explore some of the films that made it a powerhouse studio. The past few years have seen new installments for these franchises, includingKingdom of the Planet of the Apes,Alien: Romulus, andPrey.(The X-Men franchise has also seen a resurgence thanks toDeadpool & Wolverine.) 20th Century Studios presidentSteve Absellmade the revitalization of those franchises a prime factor. “Job one was figuring out these franchise movies first and coming up with the right cadence ofAvatar,Apes,AlienandPredatorspecifically. Getting those right was the first part, which we’ve done now,“he told theHollywood Reporterlast year.Predator: Badlandsmight not be the sequel I, or otherPredatorfans, expected, but it’s proof that the people behind the Predator franchise want it to be at its best.
Predator: Badlandsis set for a theatrical release on August 25, 2025.
Predator: Badlands
