PREDATOR: BADLANDS Director Reveals New Details As Elle Fanning's Character's ALIEN Connection Is Confirmed

PREDATOR: BADLANDS Director Reveals New Details As Elle Fanning's Character's ALIEN Connection Is Confirmed

Prey director Dan Trachtenberg has shared some new details on his next movie in the franchise, Predator: Badlands, which will follow one of the alien hunters as a protagonist for the first time...

By MarkCassidy - Apr 25, 2025 06:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Predator
Source: Via SFF Gazette.com

20th Century Studios debuted the first trailer for the next live-action movie in the Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands, earlier this week, and director Dan Trachtenberg - who also helmed Prey - has now shared some new details with Bloody Disgusting.

The filmmaker confirms that Badlands will at least partially take place on the Predators' home planet of Yautja Prime, as we follow a “runt” named Dek (played in costume and motion-capture by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) as he joins forces with a mysterious woman (Elle Fanning) after being exiled from his clan.

“One of the cool things about the movie is that we’re on Yautja Prime—there’s a lot in this movie from the extended universe. We insanely decided to treat [the language] properly like [Elvish] for Lord of the Rings or [Dothraki] for Game of Thrones, except for those there’s more precedent.”

As for Fanning's character, Thia, the trailer seemed to make it pretty clear that she was no ordinary human, and we now have confirmation that she is indeed a Weyland-Yutani synth (or artificial person, if you prefer).

“As inspired as I am by movies, I’ve been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection," adds Trachtenberg. "There’s a thing with a horse in Shadow of the Colossus that’s devastating when you play the game. And so [Predator: Badlands] was a little bit inspired by that in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else, this character who’s the opposite of him. He’s very laconic, [Fanning] is not. She’s capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she’s got a real thing that I’m so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself.” 

As it turns out, Fanning will actually play a dual role as twin "sisters" (we assume two versions of the same android model).

Finally, Trachtenberg makes it clear that this is going to be a very different kind of Predator movie. “It’s a big, crazy swing, and I think that’s what drives butts into seats. If you want the same old Predator experience, you can hit play on Predator or Prey or any other, whichever one is your fit.” 

Have another look at the trailer below in case you missed it.

Predator: Badlands is "set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary."

Trachtenberg directs and produces Predator: Badlands alongside John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor. The movie opens exclusively in movie theaters on November 7 in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens everywhere.

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bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/25/2025, 6:37 AM
Her being a synth from the Alien universe is both interesting, and a good excuse why a girl can stand against a Predator. Anyway, the dynamic sounds interesting
RedFury
RedFury - 4/25/2025, 7:10 AM
@bkmeijer1 - yeah I'm really happy to hear she is a synth for that very reason. It'll give her a leg up, and help her withstand the alien world she's on. Looking forward to how this one plays out. I just hope them changing the formula of typical Predator movies isn't shooting themselves in the foot. I really liked Prey though, so I have high hopes.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/25/2025, 7:24 AM
@RedFury - same

I liked Prey but I’m glad that Trachtenberg is going for a different and imo more interesting approach here
RedFury
RedFury - 4/25/2025, 7:34 AM
@TheVisionary25 - as long as this new approach pays off I'll be happy he's trying to open up the franchise to new ideas.

I kind of like the tried and true approach the Predator franchise has always gone. So I hope he's careful in crafting a new tale that still has the lifeblood of the franchise. But based on Prey I have no doubt it'll be a fun ride no matter what it is.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/25/2025, 7:41 AM
@RedFury - agreed.

Even if it doesn’t pay off (which I also doubt considering how well he did on Prey) , I’m still glad for him trying to do something different with this franchise

Plus if you or someone may not like this , there’s another more traditional Predator project also coming out this year.

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RedFury
RedFury - 4/25/2025, 7:47 AM
@TheVisionary25 - It's so true. I was actually going to mention that being a fantastic way to satiate that need for a more traditional Predator tale. I'm super excited for that animated project! Predator fans are getting quite spoiled.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/25/2025, 8:01 AM
@RedFury - same!!.

I actually recently got into the films and if I had to rank them from favorite to least , it would be….

1.Predator/Prey
2.Predators
3.Predator 2
4.The Predator

How about you?.
RedFury
RedFury - 4/25/2025, 8:10 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I'd absolutely have to agree with that list. I'd put predator above Prey just a bit because it's such a classic.

I definitely agree that Predators is better than Predator 2. It's just a better made film, that has a lot more fun with what it is. Predator 2 is great and all, but I think it was a victim of its time in that the budget, writing and direction were very late 80's feeling.

And then The Predator had the potential to be great, but felt way too much like a bro-satire of the franchise.

I'll watch them all over and over, but for sure watch Predator, and Prey the most.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 4/25/2025, 9:01 AM
@bkmeijer1 - How much you wanna bet she will be able to translate his language and we'll get subtitles for what the Predator is saying?
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/25/2025, 9:37 AM
@CorndogBurglar - think we'll be betting on the same thing then, because I can definitely see that happen
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 4/25/2025, 9:43 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Yeah. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/25/2025, 10:39 AM
@CorndogBurglar - really depends on how it's done in the movie.

It would be lame if they were just having normal conversations, but I can see it work if for example it's only if the Predator has to say something absolutely necessary and rest of the times just refuses to speak to her.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 4/25/2025, 11:50 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Didn’t a girl stand against a Predator in the last movie?
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/25/2025, 12:01 PM
@Ha1frican - she did. Movie did a great job at setting up and paying off how she outsmarted him, but can't really do the same again imo. Needs a new element, and the new girl being a synth is just that
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 4/26/2025, 8:47 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Isn’t that just exactly what Arnold did in the original Predator? Humans can’t physically stand against a Predator that’s why Dutch had to outsmart him by giving up all his weapons and lowering his body temperature. The fact that humans can’t go toe to toe with one has been a part of the series since the start regardless of gender
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/26/2025, 9:11 AM
@Ha1frican - yeah, it is. But each time they keep changing one or two things, so that's what they should keep doing. That's why Predators didn't work imo, because it just retreaded familiar ground
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 4/25/2025, 7:08 AM
The movie looks like a video game itself. The Predator looks pretty friggin goofy like that… is its name Jake Sully?
I will be watching it but visually the armored up Predators from previous films look way more bad ass.
defenderofthefaith
defenderofthefaith - 4/25/2025, 7:25 AM
I do not like the new look of the Predator.
dragon316
dragon316 - 4/25/2025, 8:47 AM
@defenderofthefaith - looks weird in face half practical and more cgi crap it looks weird thought it was female predator with strange looking head it’s another male like see making of this movie if there’s any practical effects on predator at all ?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/25/2025, 7:35 AM
𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐭.”

Yes , i wish fandom would realize this instead of bitching & complaining when someone tries to do something different with a franchise they love.

Anyway , it’s cool to see Trachtenberg being inspired by video games aswell as he mentions Shadow of The Colossus here or even God of War for Prey in regards to the shield that the Predator carries in that.

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Otherwise , this sounds cool and I am looking forward to it!!.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 4/25/2025, 8:03 AM
Guy who barely beat the original Predator:
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Girl who will likely easily beat the new Predator:
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Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/25/2025, 8:58 AM
@Feralwookiee - She's a synthetic so not really a girl or human at all
Floke
Floke - 4/25/2025, 10:11 AM
@Feralwookiee - To be fare, Arnulf didnt stand a chance in the fight with the predator. He only won because of being cunning and setting traps.
Predator head on against Arnold or Fanning would be like Arnold vs a 13 year old girlor a 6 year old girl. Both very different in size and strenght - but both still waaaay below Arnold.
And like already said, "she" is a synth. An it/that then I guess
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 4/25/2025, 10:52 AM
@Wahhvacado - Riiiight.
So a synthetic 98 lb. female beats the Predator. 🤪
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/25/2025, 11:29 AM
@Feralwookiee - Likely stronger and more durable than a human. But if you can't suspend your disbelief for higher future technology oh well
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 4/25/2025, 8:16 AM
Did he really call the Predator homeworld "Yautja" Prime
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MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 4/25/2025, 8:23 AM
would i prefer this be more in line the Predator and Prey, absolutely, but, ill give it a shot as i like that its different and not a retread of the same ole thing... but like others have said, not a big fan of the design.. hoping to see some classic looking Predators in here and maybe a nice surprise cameo of a live xenomorph that he needs to kill at the very end
grif
grif - 4/25/2025, 9:28 AM
movie already looks shit. a woman in it is what it needed


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