Phil Roberts 
Dan Trachtenberg impresses the crowd at SDCC with new details, fresh footage, and a brand new poster for Predator: Badlands.
We are just days removed from the explosive new trailer for Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands, and the hype is building. The visionary director is the first filmmaker to ever tackle more than one Predator project following the success of Prey back in 2023. But after delivering another stellar entry in the Predator tapestry in Predator: Killer of Killers, fans are salivating at the prospect of his next big-screen addition to the franchise.
So when 20th Century Studios announced that the director would be making a presentation in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con this year, expectations began to grow. And yesterday, those in attendance were treated to a treasure trove of new details. The event started with a sizzle reel that detailed the events leading up to the new film, before one of the new Yatuja hunters took to the stage. After a brief banter with the host, Kevin Smith, Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi then took the stage.
SDCC PANEL
Trachtenberg began by addressing why he didn’t move on to a sequel to Prey after the release of Killer of Killers. But the director confirmed that he wasn’t just here to make “a cool sequel.” He wanted to do what had never been done – to tell a story that was never told. We recently learned that the new Yatuja hunter in this film, a juvenile named Dek, would be the protagonist in this outing. However, Dek may be the lead hero, but he is not a friendly monster. He’s an antihero.
In the exciting new trailer, we see Dek carrying Elle Fanning’s character, Thia, on his back—a scene inspired by the legendary George Lucas! Director Trachtenberg drew from a memorable moment in The Empire Strikes Back when Chewbacca heroically carries a damaged C-3PO. Elle Fanning shared that, while there are no human characters in this film, her synthetic character forms a deep and touching friendship with Dek. Plus, it’s fascinating that Elle portrays two characters, switching roles midway through the film!Â
Dimitrius, who plays Dek, brings to life a unique language crafted just for the film! Fanning shared how exhilarating it was to be strapped to his back throughout the adventure, giving a massive shoutout to the amazing stunt team, thanking them for a thrilling first experience.
ALIEN CONNECTIONS
We’ve known for a while that Fanning would be playing a Weyland-Yutani synthetic from the Alien franchise in this film. The inclusion of characters from the Alien franchise set the internet ablaze with excited chatter, but Trachtenberg refused to be drawn on its significance. He said it opens the franchise up to cool potential, but also noted that it’s not like he has a bunch of action figures he wants to mash together. He wants to do it with elegance. However, when Smith pressed him on whether he would be interested in helming a potential Alien vs Predator film, the director replied, “Wouldn’t that be cool!”
THE FILM
The official synopsis states that the film takes place in the future on a remote planet. It follows a young Predator who has been cast out of his clan. This Predator finds an unlikely ally in Thia (played by Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey to seek out the ultimate adversary. The film is produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor, with Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi portraying the lead Predator.
Trachtenberg confirmed that the movie is set on an alien planet where everything, even the grass, is trying to kill the Predator. The director also suggested that Dek is the Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) of the film. When asked about Dek’s costume for the film, the director confirmed that Alex Gillis, who has worked on six Predator movies and designed the creatures, was behind the new look. The suit is practical, allowing Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi to be in costume on set. However, in a franchise first, the Predator’s face has been created by WETA using motion capture CGI. This allows Dimitrius to give the Predator more personality than any previous Yatuja.
A NEW POSTER
After providing us with more insight into his cast, the director unveiled a brand-new poster for the film. It showcases Dek heroically carrying the legless Thia on his back as they brave a challenging landscape. Don’t miss it—check it out below!
THE FIRST 15 MINUTES
The panel climaxed with the first 15 minutes of the film being shown to those lucky enough to be in attendance. Sadly, the footage is limited to the event and not available to the public. However, we do have a description of what transpires (thanks to JoBlo). Although the footage was limited, it effectively set up the premise.
Dek is a young Predator whose brother initiates him into their clan. But first, he must choose a prey and capture it, or never return. He chooses an unkillable monster that is on a deadly planet that the other Predators fear, basically to impress his father, who is a legendary warrior. The father actually wanted Dek killed because he’s small and missing a fang. His brother refuses. But events soon put Dek on the fringes of his tribe, an outcast, and a Yatuja anti-hero.Â
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.
As the panel came to a close, Trachtenberg announced that the post-credits scene in Predator: Killer of Killers, in which Naru is revealed to be incarcerated in ice deep within the confines of a Predator vessel, would be updated. The new climax would now reveal that Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan from Predator 2 had suffered the same fate and is now locked in cryo-sleep alongside her. But perhaps the most shocking revelation was the news that alongside them would be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Major Dutch Schafer. Trachtenberg wrapped up the panel by announcing that Arnold Schwarzenegger had approved the footage and “more is coming,” suggesting some very special on the assembly line.
RELEASE
The film sounds like another winner on the strength of these new details, 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 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!
