ThePredatorfranchise is rising from the ashes of its troubled past, and while there have already been five mainline series alongside two crossovers with theAlienseries, it looks like the IP is making a return to form. Following the success of 2022’sPrey, Dan Trachtenberg is back to (hopefully) capitalize on the renewed interest in thePredatorname.
Alongside a‘secret’Predatormovie coming in 2025,Predator: Badlandsis giving sci-fi horror fans the treat of twoPredatormovies in one year. The 20-year gap between 1990’sPredator 2and 2010’sPredatorsfeels like a distant memory. While some are worried about series saturation,Predator: Badlandsis generating plenty of hype thanks to a unique premise.
Predator: Badlands Delivers a Franchise First
ThePredatorseries is constantly evolving. In addition to the lush jungles of the first movie and the concrete jungle of Los Angeles inPredator 2, it has also visited alien planets and the Great Plains in 1719 to show humanity’sfirst meeting with the Yautja (Predator) species. Details surroundingPredator: Badlandsare still sketchy, with a brief synopsis that simply says:
A groundbreaking film in which one of the two main storylines delves into the intricate bond of two very different sisters, their familial ties are put to the ultimate test as they pursue divergent paths and missions.
Continuing the franchise’s history of adding A-list talent like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover,Elle Fanning is taking the lead inBadlands.Little else is known about the plot, other than Fanning will be playing multiple characters and the fact that the Predator itself is tipped to be a protagonist.
Much like how theAlienmovies have featured a doomed group of humans being hunted by the acid-blooded Xenomorphs, thePredatormovies have consistently featured a human lead trying to evade being hunted by the intergalactic beast. Speaking toEmpire, Trachtenberg confirmed that the Predator itself will be the protagonist in this film:
The creature is front and center, leading the charge. 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.
While it’s unclear what this means for Fanning’s character and whether she’ll effectively be the villain of the piece, it suggestsPredator: Badlandswill lean into the trend ofsympathetic villains like the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Loki and Killmonger. TheAlien vs Predatormovies have typically depicted the Xenomorhps as the big bad, but in thePredatorstandalones, the Predators are usually portrayed as the villains. This is in contrast to the many comic books and bits of expanded media that have given a more nuanced take on the intergalactic hunters.
Even if fans are used to villainous Predators on the big screen, there was something of a sympathetic Predator inPaul W. S. Anderson’sAlien vs. Predator. Here, Sanaa Lathan’s Lex teamed up with the Predator to take on the Xenomorphs. Despite being the antagonists of their own series, the Predators aren’t specifically shown as bad. The original movie had the predator accept defeat with ritualistic suicide, while the Yautja ofPredator 2rewarded Glover’s Detective Harrigan after he killed one of their own. In 2010’sPredators, Adrien Brody’s Royce even worked with a Predator to try and get back to Earth.
The Predator Series is Back On Top
Though John McTiernan’sPredatorcame out in 1987, the franchise is often forgotten when compared toAlien. Even thoughAlienhas had some divisive outings, like 1997’sAlien: Resurrection, it was still better received than 2018’sThe Predator. Shane Black’s movie suffered from behind-the-scenes drama and had several confusing alternate endings that included proposed cameos for Schwarzenegger’s Dutch,Alien’s Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), and even Newt to make good onNeil Blomkamp’s cannedAlienssequel.
As well as middling box office returns, Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox cast the future of the franchise in doubt. Although there was some talk aboutThe Predatorleading into two sequels, Trachtenbergtook the Predators in a very different direction withPrey. Similar to how Ridley Scott breathed new life intoAlienwithPrometheusand then Fede Álvarez withAlien Romulus,Preyhas reinvigorated the IP.
DespitePrey’s runaway success, the fact it was released on Disney+ makesPredator: Badlandsanother important milestone. Marking thefranchise’s return to theaters for the first time sinceThe Predator, there are high hopes it can perform and get somewhere nearRomulus’ $350 box office. If it’s a success, there’s every chance it could follow inRomulus’ footsteps andquickly get lit for a sequel.
Alvarez has already expressed an interest in teaming up with Trachtenberg to deliver anotherAlien vs Predatormovie, tellingDeadline:
Maybe we should do like Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez did with Dusk Till Dawn. I’ll direct a half, and he’ll direct another half.
WithBadlandsand the ‘secret’Predatormoviecoming in 2025, it could be a big year for thePredatorfranchise. A return to the ‘near-future’ forBadlandsalso has some hoping that it could tie into the cliffhanger ending ofPredatorsif it revisits the Game Preserve planet when the species do their hunting. A lot of legacy horror franchises have tried to make a comeback in recent years, withCandyman,Halloween, andHellraiserbeing just a few of them. Others likeThe Exorcisthave been less successful, althoughPreyproved that there’s still plenty of love for the Predator series even after a run of increasingly disappointing outings.
There’s still an element of ‘classic’Predatorthanks to Fanning’s casting, which serves as the confirmation thatBadlandswill still have a human focus. Still, with promises that audiences will be able to view the movie through the eyes of the titular monster and"root for a hero we rarely get to root for,“it should offer a unique perspective. Despite all the love forRomulus, it was still a fairly classicAlienmovie where a small crew is hunted down by Xenomorphs.Preydelivered something wildly different, and it sounds like thePredatorseries will continue to try new ideas. In an era when experimental horror is proving popular, couldPredatoreven overtakeAlienin terms of popularity?
