Predator: Badlands — All the Epic Details from London's Big Reveal!

Get ready, sci-fi fans! We've just got a massive info dump from the Predator: Badlands panel and UK premiere in London, where director Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi shared groundbreaking details about the future of the iconic franchise. This isn't just another Predator movie; it's a game-changer, tying into the Alien universe and giving us a Predator protagonist!

TL;DR: The Quick Hits on What's Coming

• A New Kind of Hunter: For the first time ever, the film stars a Predator, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), as the protagonist, with no human leads.
• Alien Universe Confirmed: Elle Fanning plays Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic, officially linking Predator to the Alien franchise.
• Future Shock: Set further into the future than any previous film, exploring new alien worlds and Yautja culture.

Stepping into the 'Badlands': A Bold New Era for the Predator Franchise

Hold onto your thermal vision, because Predator: Badlands is coming in hot on November 7, 2025, and it’s set to redefine everything we thought we knew about the Yautja. You know director Dan Trachtenberg from his critically acclaimed work on 2022's Prey, which totally revitalized the franchise. Now, he's back at the helm, and he's not just making another sequel; he's asking, "what should we make?" The answer? Something completely fresh and unexpected!

This film is a standalone adventure, diving deep into the Predator species' culture in a way we've never seen before. Imagine focusing on the Yautja themselves, understanding their codes, their rivalries, and even their vulnerabilities. That's exactly what Trachtenberg and his team are doing. They've even got the conlanger who created the Na'Vi language for James Cameron's Avatar crafting a whole new written and verbal language for the Predators. How cool is that?

The most radical departure? There are no human leads! That's right, for the first time, we're seeing the world through the eyes of a Predator, making the hunter the hunted. This innovative approach promises to flip the script and challenge our perceptions of these intergalactic big game hunters.

Meet the Unlikely Duo: Dek and Thia, A Predator-Synthetic Partnership

Get ready to root for a Predator! Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi steps into the iconic suit as Dek, a young Predator outcast. He's described as an "undersized underdog" who's out to prove he's the "biggest and baddest Predator there is" to his clan. He embarks on a treacherous journey on the deadly planet Genna, searching for the ultimate adversary.

But he's not alone! His unexpected ally is Thia, portrayed by the brilliant Elle Fanning. And here's where things get really interesting: Thia is a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic. Yes, you heard that right! This officially and unequivocally links the Predator and Alien universes, thrilling fans who've speculated about this connection for years. Fanning even revealed she's playing a dual role, also portraying Tessa, another synth who acts as an antagonist.

Fanning describes Thia as "very different of a synth that you've seen before." She's the "most advanced android that we've seen so far" because the film is set furthest into the future. This gives her "a lot of empathy and human-like emotion," making her incredibly accessible to the audience. Plus, she's got a "spunky, kind of fun personality" and can be "quite of funny at times," which is definitely unexpected in a Predator film! She's also "broken," and that informs a lot of her unique personality and how she navigates this dangerous planet.

Dimitrius highlighted the contrasting dynamic between Dek and Thia, noting that their outrageous situation often led to unintentional humor. He recalled an intense shot where Dek had to throw Thia over his back like a backpack, which Elle suggested they could do without wire-work!

Rounding out the main cast is Mike Homik as Kwei, Dek’s older brother, who helps prepare him for his first hunt. And in a cool bit of acting, Schuster-Koloamatangi also plays Dek's father, Njohur, though you'd never recognize him under all that amazing prosthetic work!

"The sound of this movie will hopefully be just south of making your ears bleed, but almost make them bleed — bleed green. The sound design is incredible. The score for this is particularly beautiful... I'm almost most excited for people to hear the movie as much as see it."

— Dan Trachtenberg, Director

Behind the Scenes: Treacherous Filming and Mind-Blowing Visual Effects

Making Predator: Badlands was no walk in the park; it was a genuine adventure for the cast and crew, perhaps even as treacherous as the fictional planet Genna! Director Dan Trachtenberg initially pitched the idea to 20th Century Studios as something simple and affordable. Spoiler alert: it turned into anything but! He joked about being a "couch-related person" and not very "outdoorsy," but this movie forced everyone into hip-waders, trudging through eel-infested waters. Imagine Dimitrius doing that in a water-absorbing Predator suit – talk about dedication!

Dimitrius, who had never done suit work before, underwent extensive training just to perform inside the heavy, immersive Predator suit. He found inspiration not just in previous films, but also in the rich lore of the Dark Horse comics. Learning the Predator language was another huge challenge; he admitted that after his first call with conlanger Britton Watkins, he wasn't sure he could do it! But he pulled it off, joking, "I've got the language for life now. After you watch the film guys, go learn the language, we can converse. I'm the only one that can speak it right now, so I'm feeling a little lonely!"

When asked about the hardest visual effect to achieve, Trachtenberg pointed directly to getting Dek's face right. Humanoid faces are easier to animate for emotional performances, but Predators? Their mandibles are a whole different beast. There was even a moment when they considered keeping Dek masked the whole time or only showing half his face. But Trachtenberg knew that would be "cheating the premise." The movie is about empathizing with a monster, and he didn't want to make Dek "look less like a monster." Animating those mandibles to convey the language and emotions driven by Dimitrius underneath was incredibly challenging, but he believes "every ounce of hardship" was worth it.

And speaking of the immersive experience, Trachtenberg is particularly excited for the IMAX release, not just for the visuals, but for the sound! He raved about the "incredible" sound design and the "particularly beautiful" score by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch. He wants people to "hear the movie as much as see it," promising a soundscape that will almost make your ears "bleed green!"

Connecting the Dots: Alien Universe and Expanding Franchise Lore

The confirmation of the Weyland-Yutani connection via Thia isn't just a fun Easter egg; it's a huge step in solidifying the shared universe between Alien and Predator. This film is set to bridge multiple timelines within both mythologies, laying serious groundwork for potential future crossover projects. While Trachtenberg has debunked rumors of a Xenomorph cameo in Badlands itself, the door is wide open for what comes next.

The film also draws heavily from the Dark Horse comics, more so than any previous movie. Fans at MCM London Comic Con even noted Dek's similar appearance to the fan-favorite Broken Tusk. Trachtenberg confirmed they're pulling a lot of inspiration from the comics for Badlands and the animated series Predator: Killer of Killers, but he's not interested in direct "reimagining of issues of comics and characters." Instead, he wants to draw inspiration to create new, unique stories.

This film is the ninth entry in the Predator franchise, which has a sprawling timeline from 841 B.C. (as seen in Predator: Killer of Killers) to the far future. We've gone from Arnold Schwarzenegger fighting in jungle heat (1987's Predator) to Danny Glover battling in urban L.A. (1990's Predator 2), to the critically acclaimed prequel Prey set in 1719. Badlands takes us to the furthest point yet, to the brutal planet Genna, described as the most dangerous world in the universe. It's a testament to the franchise's ability to constantly reinvent itself.

Gearing Up for the Hunt: Release and What's Next for Predator Fans

The excitement is building, and you won't have to wait much longer! Predator: Badlands is hitting theaters on November 7, 2025. This will be the first theatrical Predator film since 2018's The Predator, and it promises an ambitious mix of brutal action, emotional storytelling, and franchise-expanding lore.

To get even more immersed in the lore, keep an eye out for a tie-in prequel comic book from Marvel Comics, set to drop on November 12. And if you haven't already, make sure to catch Trachtenberg's animated anthology series, Predator: Killer of Killers, which premiered on Hulu back on June 6. It's got three different time periods and hints at some major implications for the franchise's future, including a mid-credits scene suggesting Naru from Prey might be among those captured by the Yautja!

Between the new movie, the prequel comic, and the animated series, it's a fantastic time to be a Predator fan. The hunt has definitely evolved, and we can't wait to experience this new chapter!

Frequently Asked Questions About Predator: Badlands

• When does Predator: Badlands come out?

  Predator: Badlands is scheduled to release in theaters on November 7, 2025.

• Will Predator: Badlands be streaming anywhere?

  Currently, the film is set for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025. It is not yet available for streaming, but as a 20th Century Studios film, it will likely head to Hulu (in the US) or Disney+ (internationally) eventually.

• Is Predator: Badlands connected to the Alien franchise?

  Yes, absolutely! The film officially confirms its connection to the Alien universe with Elle Fanning's character, Thia, being a Weyland-Yutani synthetic.

• What is the runtime of Predator: Badlands?

  The official runtime for Predator: Badlands has not been released yet. Stay tuned for updates closer to the release date!

Sources

• Alien vs. Predator Galaxy: Predator: Badlands Panel & Trophy Room Experience at MCM London Comic Con
• Ars Technica: New Predator: Badlands Trailer: A Yautja And Weyland-Yutani Synth Hunt Down The Most Dangerous Prey
• Deccan Chronicle: From Hunter to Hunted: Predator: Badlands Redefines the Iconic Sci-Fi Franchise
• HeyUGuys: Predator Badlands UK Premiere Interviews
• Just Jared: Elle Fanning Joins Co-Star Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi at 'Predator: Badlands' Screening in London!
• Pop Culture & Art: What to know before ‘Predator: Badlands’ hits cinemas
• Punch Drunk Critics: DC Readers: Attend A Free Screening Of ‘Predator: Badlands’
• The Direct: Predator Movies In Order: How To Watch Chronologically (Including Badlands)
• The Express Tribune: Predator Franchise Evolves With Badlands Release
• Yahoo Entertainment: Elle Fanning Just Wore An All-White Coach Look To The ‘Predator: Badlands’ Premiere—And We’re Obsessed
• 20th Century Studios YouTube: Predator: Badlands - Official 'Kill or Be Killed' Featurette (URL for featurette not provided, placeholder used)