Dan Trachtenberg Is Building an "Avengers-Level" Predator Universe, And It's Not Stopping at Badlands

Forget everything you thought you knew about the hunt. What if, for once, you weren't rooting for the human prey, but for the towering, thermal-visioned hunter? That's the bold new territory director Dan Trachtenberg is plunging us into with Predator: Badlands, hitting theaters this November. But this film is just one piece of a much larger, interconnected puzzle he's meticulously assembling.

TL;DR: The Hunt Continues to Evolve

• Dan Trachtenberg is expanding the Predator universe beyond Prey and Killer of Killers with Badlands and a mysterious third project.
• Predator: Badlands breaks tradition by featuring a Predator as the protagonist, journeying with an android companion on an alien world.
• Trachtenberg envisions an "Avengers-level" interconnected universe, prioritizing individual character stories before a massive crossover, potentially including the Alien franchise and even Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch.

From Feral Hunts to Galactic Sagas: How Dan Trachtenberg Reshaped the Predator Story When Prey dropped in 2022, it felt like a jolt of pure adrenaline for the Predator franchise. Fans and critics alike celebrated its return to raw, primal horror, injecting fresh life into a series that had seen its share of ups and downs. That film, set in the early 18th century with a Comanche warrior named Naru as its defiant lead, proved that the Yautja — as the Predators are known — still had plenty of terrifying tales to tell. But according to director Dan Trachtenberg, that was just the appetizer. He recently shared that his creative momentum post-Prey wasn't a singular spark; it ignited an entire constellation of ideas. Rather than developing one film at a time, he explored multiple Predator concepts in parallel. Source: [Collider, "Dan Trachtenberg Reveals Predator: Badlands & Killer of Killers Were Developed at the Same Time, Teases Third Idea", November 5, 2025]. This includes not only the acclaimed animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers and the upcoming Predator: Badlands, but also a "third idea" he's keeping under wraps for now.

Unveiling the Unique Premise of Predator: Badlands

So, what exactly makes Badlands such a "ginormous" leap for the franchise, as Trachtenberg describes it? This time, the focus shifts entirely. For the first time, audiences will be rooting for a Predator as the lead character. The story centers on Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, a young Yautja exiled to the monstrous planet Genna on a mission of redemption. Here, he's not the apex hunter; he's the prey, tasked with hunting an unkillable creature known as The Kalisk, a formidable beast described as a cross between King Kong and a porcupine. Dek isn't alone in his perilous quest. He finds an unlikely ally in Thia, a damaged synthetic played by Elle Fanning. Trachtenberg drew inspiration for this unusual pairing from an unexpected source: the iconic duo of Chewbacca and C-3PO from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Source: [ScreenRant, "Predator: Badlands Director Is Discussing The Unmade Star Wars Movie That’s Been Ignored For 45 Years", November 3, 2025]. He wanted to explore the dynamic of two very different beings, tethered together, facing threats from all directions, allowing for a fresh take on action sequences and character development.

"The fun thing wasn’t just that, ‘That would be so cool; a Predator movie hasn’t done that yet,’ but also, all of science fiction hasn’t had a movie like this. So that’s why I was sort of anxious to make it and why we did two at the same time. I didn’t want to wait for one to happen after the other."

— Dan Trachtenberg, Director of Predator: Badlands (via Collider)

Navigating New Artistic and Technical Challenges

Bringing a completely alien world and a Predator protagonist to life meant immense technical hurdles. Trachtenberg openly admitted that the sheer volume of visual effects in Predator: Badlands was the biggest filmmaking challenge he’d ever faced. He explained that "maybe 10 to 15 shots that aren’t visual effects in the entire movie." Source: [/Film, "Predator: Badlands Director Reveals The Biggest Challenge Of Making The Movie [Exclusive]", November 5, 2025]. Envisioning performances and interactions when the main characters—Dek and his robot companion—are heavily reliant on VFX required an enormous leap of imagination for the cast and crew during filming. This heavy reliance on VFX could be seen as a limitation by some purists who prefer practical effects, potentially sacrificing some tangible grit for digital spectacle. However, Trachtenberg asserts that the digital artistry ultimately enhanced the film. He noted that even Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi's incredible performance as Dek shifted once the animated Yautja face was added, transforming the nature of scenes for the better. This commitment allowed for a truly immersive and never-before-seen alien landscape on the planet Genna, filled with bizarre flora and creatures.

The Road Not Taken: Naru's Almost-Return and the Weyland-Yutani Link

Fans of Prey might be wondering if Amber Midthunder’s fierce Comanche warrior, Naru, would make an appearance in Badlands. Trachtenberg revealed that he did consider pairing Dek with Naru in early concepts. However, he ultimately decided against it to preserve the core premise of Badlands: a Predator protagonist with no human characters. Source: [ScreenTime, "PREDATOR: BADLANDS Originally Featured Return of PREY's Naru and Director Teases “Avengers-Level” Endgame", November 5, 2025]. This was a creative tradeoff, prioritizing a unique, focused story over an immediate fan-favorite crossover. This decision doesn't mean Naru is out of the picture for good. The animated Predator: Killer of Killers already showed her frozen in stasis, hinting at a future return alongside other franchise legends like Danny Glover's Mike Harrigan and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch. Speaking of crossovers, Badlands also subtly but significantly ties into the broader universe with the inclusion of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Elle Fanning confirmed this connection, noting that the corporation is a "huge part of the movie," clearly setting the stage for potential Alien vs. Predator scenarios down the line.

Building an Interconnected Hunter-Verse: The "Kevin Feige" of Predators

Trachtenberg isn’t just making standalone films; he's constructing a sprawling, interconnected narrative that evokes comparisons to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When asked about this "endgame" vision, he explained that the success of the Avengers films stemmed from audiences first bonding with individual characters in their solo movies. "So if we were to ever do something where things collide, it would be after we’ve gotten to know and bonded with things in their own individual stories." Source: [ComicBook.com, "The Modern Predator Franchise Is More Influenced by Marvel Than You Realize", November 5, 2025]. This strategic patience suggests a future where diverse Predator stories — across different time periods, planets, and even formats like animation — can organically lead to a grand, universe-shaking event. It's a calculated risk, but one that promises a richer, more rewarding experience for fans who have yearned for a cohesive narrative in the franchise. Producer Ben Rosenblatt even called the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch "the holy grail of Predator movies," confirming that discussions have already taken place between Arnold and Trachtenberg, hinting at more exciting possibilities on the horizon. Example: Imagine a new fan, Sarah, who only discovered the Predator series with Prey. She loved Naru's resilience. Now, with Badlands, she's initially hesitant about a Predator lead, but the promise of a larger, interconnected story, where Naru might eventually meet other iconic characters in an "Avengers-level" event, keeps her deeply invested. She's not just watching a new Predator movie; she's watching a universe unfold, patiently waiting for the epic convergence.

Practical Takeaways for the Evolving Predator Franchise

• Embrace the Unexpected: Trachtenberg is committed to pushing boundaries, offering varied genres and perspectives within the Predator universe. Don't expect the same old hunt.
• Long-Term Vision: The director is thinking multiple movies ahead, building individual stories and characters before any potential massive crossovers. Patience will be rewarded.
• Crossover Potential is Real: With Weyland-Yutani’s explicit inclusion in Badlands, the door for a robust Alien vs. Predator future is wide open, though it won't be rushed.
• Legacy Characters Still Matter: Even as new characters like Dek and Thia take center stage, fan favorites like Naru and Dutch are part of the grand plan for future installments.
• Diversified Storytelling: From live-action prequels to animated anthologies and alien-centric adventures, the franchise is exploring every format to tell its stories.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Predator: Badlands

When does Predator: Badlands release in theaters? Predator: Badlands is set to hit theaters on Friday, November 7, 2025. Who are the main characters in Predator: Badlands? The film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, a young, exiled Predator, and Elle Fanning as Thia, a damaged synthetic who becomes Dek's unlikely ally. Is Predator: Badlands connected to Prey or other Predator movies? While Badlands stands on its own with a new story and characters, it's part of Dan Trachtenberg's larger, interconnected vision for the franchise, with hints of future crossovers and ties to the Alien universe through Weyland-Yutani. What is unique about Predator: Badlands compared to previous films? This film breaks franchise tradition by featuring a Predator (Dek) as the main protagonist, and for the first time, it primarily features non-human characters, set on a distant alien planet.

Sources

• Collider, "Dan Trachtenberg Reveals Predator: Badlands & Killer of Killers Were Developed at the Same Time, Teases Third Idea", November 5, 2025.
• ScreenRant, "Predator: Badlands Director Is Discussing The Unmade Star Wars Movie That’s Been Ignored For 45 Years", November 3, 2025.
• /Film, "Predator: Badlands Director Reveals The Biggest Challenge Of Making The Movie [Exclusive]", November 5, 2025.
• ScreenTime, "PREDATOR: BADLANDS Originally Featured Return of PREY's Naru and Director Teases “Avengers-Level” Endgame", November 5, 2025.
• ComicBook.com, "The Modern Predator Franchise Is More Influenced by Marvel Than You Realize", November 5, 2025.
• WPVI-TV, "Montgomery County native, Temple alum Dan Trachtenberg returns to direct 'Predator: Badlands'", November 5, 2025.
• MovieWeb, "The Director of Predator: Badlands Has Revealed How the Marvel Cinematic Universe Will Inspire the Future of the Iconic Sci-Fi Franchise", November 5, 2025.
• IGN India, "Predator: Badlands Director Dan Trachtenberg Teases Future Plans for the Franchise", November 5, 2025.
• The Direct, "Predator: Badlands Director Reveals Original World War 2 Plot Idea", November 5, 2025.