Meet Dek, the new Yatuja Hunter in Predator Badlands, a character Dan Trachtenberg says reminds him of outcast heroes like Conan the Barbarian and Mad Max.
Predator fans are eating well right now. Just weeks after we immersed ourselves in Dan Trachtenberg’s impressive Predator: Killer of Killers, the director has opened up about his next adventure: Predator Badlands. The futuristic flick is emerging from the hunting grounds this November, but aside from some tantalizing trailers and glorious posters, we still know very little about the movie. But thankfully, that is all about to change.
After Trachtenberg delivered a masterclass with Prey and put the Predator franchise back on the map, the director has been putting pen to paper and expanding the Predator universe on our screens. With Badlands, the director is changing the formula by making the alien hunter the protagonist of the film. The movie follows a juvenile Predator, banished from its clan and forced to fend for itself. Along the way, it meets Elle Fanning, and together, the duo tries to survive against overwhelming odds.
MEET DEK
However, talking to Empire Magazine, Trachtenberg offered more information about the young Yatuja hunter, aptly named Dek! If you’re a fan of Mad Max, you’re in for a real treat.
“Yes, meet Dek, a Yautja who – by the brutal standards of his tough-as-nails race – is seen as the ‘runt of the litter,” Trachtenberg says. Cue a mission to prove himself. The filmmaker puts Dek – played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi – in the lineage of stoic outcast heroes like Conan the Barbarian and Mad Max. “He’s a thing of few words, pretty blunt,” Trachtenberg teases. “He cuts straight to the point. Literally and figuratively.” Since that’s Dek’s father wielding that weapon in our exclusive image above, you can guess how our protagonist has ended up that way.
But what awaits us after Predator Badlands brings the hunt back to the big screen? Thankfully, Trachtenberg has that covered, too.
“After Prey, I had three ideas,” he explains. “One was Killer Of Killers, one was Badlands and one… I haven’t done yet. So, there are other awesome ideas and time periods it’d be exciting to explore, and all that’s been part of our discussion for [what’s next].” Who’s up for another hunt?
PREDATOR BECOMES PREY
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.
RELEASE
The film looks like another winner on the strength of this first look, and we’re 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 November 2025
Are you excited about Trachtenberg’s new direction for the franchise? Post a comment and join the conversation.
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!
