Phil Roberts 
Prepare for a groundbreaking new adventure in the Predator universe. Director Dan Trachtenberg brings the Predator to the forefront as the protagonist in Predator: Badlands.
At long last, we have a new Predator movie to talk about. Following the success of PREY, Dan Trachtenberg made history as the first director to commit to another installment in the beloved franchise. He’s set to helm a sequel to his groundbreaking film but will also take audiences into the future with an exciting new adventure titled PREDATOR: BADLANDS. Although the project, starring Elle Fanning, has been in the works for a while, details have remained quite limited. However, thanks to the fantastic team at Empire Magazine, fresh information about the film is beginning to surface, and they’re setting the stage for us to cheer for the villain!
That’s right, according to Trachtenberg, the Predator will be the protagonist in his new movie. In a revealing interview, the director opened up about the film and promised to put his creature front and center. What’s more, he will try to achieve what no other director has managed to do in the franchise’s history: make the audience connect with a Predator!
TRACHTENBERG’S VISION
“The creature is front and center, 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 idea, he says, came from a desire to “find another essential piece of cinema that does what Prey did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting us root for a hero we rarely get to root for — but in a different way. And that transformed into this big idea of rooting for the Predator.”
Trachtenberg’s premise is a daring one. The franchise is filled with larger-than-life heroes who have faced off against the alien hunter and emerged victorious. Arnold Schwarzenegger showcased his strength in the original film. Danny Glover relied on his street smarts to outwit the City Hunter, and Adrien Brody triumphed over three evolved hunters in Robert Rodriguez’s outstanding third installment. In his previous film, Trachtenberg had the alien hunter go up against a fierce Comanche warrior, and we all know how that played out. So, it’s a pretty bold, creative move to shift the spotlight and make the hunter the protagonist this time around. But it’s an enticing prospect, let me tell you.
Empire magazine has unveiled the first behind-the-scenes image from the film, which seems to showcase a new take on the alien hunter. The traditional mask resembles the City Hunter from Predator 2, while the skin tone resembles the Berzerker from Predators. Additionally, the Predator’s frame looks more sleek in this film, suggesting the creature may be the first female of the species. Take a look at the image below.
RELEASE
Speculation will continue until Trachtenberg reveals more details about the film. But on the strength of this first look, the film sounds like another winner, and we are here for it 100%. Fortunately, this time, Trachtenberg is getting the recognition he deserves with a full theatrical release, so fans can finally look forward to seeing the Predator back where it belongs on the big screen. So assemble your team, brush up on your hunting skills, and get ready to face off against the alien hunter again. If it bleeds, we can kill it!
Predator: Badlands brings the hunt to cinemas in 2025
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
