The Predator franchise has evolved over the decades, gifting us a gallery of human heroes brave enough to face the ultimate hunter. We’ve seen Arnold Schwarzenegger’s muscle-bound commandos take on the challenge in the original film, Danny Glover’s determined LA cop in the sequel, the band of misfits in Predators, and, most recently, Amber Midthunder’s fierce Comanche warrior, Naru, in Prey. But for his next outing, director Dan Trachtenberg is turning the tables in an unexpected way: 2025’s Predator: Badlands brings the Predator to the forefront, as the hero of its own story.
Unlike a direct follow-up to Prey, Predator: Badlands is set to break new ground. This isn’t just another earthbound survival story. The film catapults the action to an alien planet sometime in the future, with a twist that places the Predator itself in the protagonist role. “The creature is front and center, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg revealed in an interview with Empire magazine. “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.” If Trachtenberg nailed the human element in Prey, this time he’s pushing us to empathize with the very monster we’re used to fearing.
The idea behind Predator: Badlands stemmed 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,” Trachtenberg explained. This time, instead of rooting for a courageous human against impossible odds, audiences are being asked to cheer for the Predator. It’s a bold pivot, and Trachtenberg hints that there’s more beneath the Predator’s monstrous exterior this time around, perhaps something even touching. For a franchise that’s all about survival and hunting, it looks like Badlands is about to switch things up by giving us a Predator with depth. Looks like this ugly mother-effer’s day has finally come.
But don’t worry—there will still be some unlucky humans thrown into the mix. Enter Elle Fanning, who will be playing more than one character in Badlands. Talk about upping the ante. “She faced intense challenges on this movie — dramatically, physically, logistically,” teased Trachtenberg, clearly holding his cards close for now. One Predator, multiple Elle Fannings, and a fresh new setting? Sounds like the kind of wild ride that could re-energize this franchise, and we’re more than ready to see where it goes next. Get to the chopper—Badlands is looking like one hunt we won’t want to miss.
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