In an inspired bit of sci-fi synergy, Dan Trachtenberg’s latest film, “Predator: Badlands,” drops a “Stranger Things” Easter egg so perfect it could give Eleven a nosebleed. The Duffer Brothers make a vocal cameo, lending their pipes to Kwei’s ship in Trachtenberg’s ferocious foray into the “Predator” universe.
What happened
According to ScreenRant, Trachtenberg and the Duffer Brothers were tangoing with schedule conflicts. Trachtenberg was initially poised to direct an episode of “Stranger Things” before “Badlands” and “Killers” locked him in. Instead, he convinced the Duffers to lend their voices to the Yautja computer, making sci-fi dreams come true.
Trachtenberg describes the experience humorously, mentioning he handed the brothers a sheet of intimidating Yautja words. Despite working serious voice-mixing magic, the duo reportedly had a blast and freaked out over their linguistic assignment.
Behind the scenes
Trachtenberg is no rookie in the sci-fi game, having previously directed episodes of “The Boys.” While he never got to weave his style into “Stranger Things,” he continues to build out the “Predator” universe. Meanwhile, the Duffers are wrapping up with “Stranger Things” and have already lined up new projects like “The Boroughs” and “Something Very Bad is Going to Happen” for Netflix.
The slow build
Elle Fanning stars as the lead in “Predator: Badlands,” and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi takes on dual roles as Dek and Father. The film opens with a runtime of 107 minutes, promising enough time for plenty of alien mayhem alongside clever cameos.
Trachtenberg also has plans for a “Waterworld” TV adaptation, though that ship has yet to leave the dock. This doesn’t spell the end for the director on the small screen; his fate in TV might still be as adventurous as his “Predator” outings.
“Predator: Badlands” offers a bold new chapter with a nod to “Stranger Things” lore. For fans, it could be a match made in pop culture heaven, even if it’s through an alien’s translation book.
