Predator: Badlands Drops New Posters, Breaks Tradition with PG-13 Rating!

Get ready for a fresh take on the iconic Yautja! New posters are here, revealing more of our unlikely heroes, and fans are buzzing about a surprising PG-13 rating that changes everything we thought we knew about the hunt.

TL;DR: Quick Bites for the Busy Fan

• November 7, 2025, Release: Mark your calendars! Predator: Badlands is hitting theaters next year.
• First PG-13 Main Entry: This film breaks a nearly four-decade tradition, going for a wider audience.
• New Heroes & Story: Follows Dek, an outcast Predator, and Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic, in a fresh "underdog" tale.

Get Ready for a Fresh Hunt: Predator: Badlands is Coming!

Alright, fellow sci-fi action fanatics, it’s time to talk about the next big hunt! Dan Trachtenberg, the brilliant mind behind the critically acclaimed Prey, is back in the director's chair for another Predator flick, and this one's shaping up to be a game-changer. Predator: Badlands is officially set to stalk its way into cinemas on November 7, 2025, and we’re already getting some exciting new peeks into what’s in store.

From stunning new promotional posters celebrating various cinematic formats to juicy details about the plot and cast, there’s a lot to dig into. But perhaps the biggest news making waves among fans is a surprising shift in the franchise’s long-standing tradition. Let’s dive in!

Breaking Franchise Tradition: The Hunt Goes PG-13 for the First Time

Hold onto your helmets, because this is big! For almost four decades, the Predator franchise has been synonymous with R-rated gore, brutal violence, and explicit language. It’s part of the series’ gritty charm, right? Well, prepare for a plot twist: Predator: Badlands is listed with a PG-13 rating.

This is a massive deviation from the main entries in the franchise, making it the first standalone Predator movie to carry this rating. The only other film close to it was the 2004 crossover Alien vs. Predator, which also landed a PG-13. Fans have had some mixed feelings about this, wondering if it means less of the "slasher-style kills" and visceral action the series is known for. However, a PG-13 rating doesn't necessarily mean a soft film; the Motion Picture Association guidelines allow for descriptions of violence that aren't "realistic, extreme, or persistent." This could mean focusing on creature-on-creature violence rather than human-on-Predator brutality.

Director Dan Trachtenberg and producer Ben Rosenblatt have hinted that this movie is a "big swing that no one's taken yet," and the PG-13 rating certainly fits that description. It's likely an effort to attract a broader audience, allowing more people to experience the hunt.

Meet Our New Duo: Dek the Yautja and Thia the Synthetic

Forget everything you thought you knew about Predator Movies! This time around, you’ll actually be rooting for the Yautja. Predator: Badlands flips the script by featuring a young Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) in a protagonist role. Cast out from his clan, Dek finds an unexpected ally in Thia (Elle Fanning), a damaged synthetic (that’s a fancy word for android) from the infamous Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

Yes, you heard that right – we’re getting another crossover with the Alien universe, something fans haven't seen in a main theatrical release since Alien vs. Predator: Requiem back in 2007. This alliance between a disgraced Predator and a Weyland-Yutani synthetic is a fascinating setup. The movie is billed as an "underdog story," following these two outcasts on a "treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary." It’s an adventure that kicks off with a "very traumatic event" for Dek, immediately thrusting the audience into a "high intensity, emotionally, physically situation with him."

"What if we took this classic movie monster, and make you root for it?"

— Dan Trachtenberg, Director of Predator: Badlands

A Galaxy-Spanning Adventure on a Dangerous, Desolate Planet

The story of Predator: Badlands is set in the distant future, unfolding on a desolate, dangerous planet. Our heroes, Dek and Thia, will navigate hostile terrain teeming with threats, both alien and possibly human. We've even heard teasers about them battling "alien tentacle monsters," promising plenty of creature-on-creature action that could help justify that PG-13 rating.

The film is described as a "brutal, mythic expansion of the iconic franchise" and a "visually ferocious survival epic." Trachtenberg, along with co-writer Patrick Aison (who also penned Prey's screenplay), aims to reclaim the primal tension and survival subtext that made the original 1987 classic so impactful. It's clear that while the rating might be different, the intensity and commitment to the "world of hurt" that the Predator embodies are still very much present.

Sneak Peeks and Promotional Goodies for Fans to Enjoy

The hype for Predator: Badlands is real, and the studios are treating us to some awesome promotional material:

• New Posters: Five new posters have been unveiled, each tailored to a specific cinematic format, showcasing Dek and Thia in various perilous situations.
  • IMAX: Features Dek and Thia about to face the fearsome Kalisk.
  • RealD 3D: Shows Dek and Thia overlooking a vast canyon.
  • 4DX: Depicts Dek and Thia hanging precariously from a cliff with the Kalisk in the background.
  • ScreenX: Highlights Dek and Thia in a wide, immersive shot.
  • Fandango: Another dynamic image of Dek and Thia.
• The Must-Have Popcorn Bucket: Get ready for the ultimate movie snack experience! Regal and Cinemark are offering a special Predator: Badlands popcorn bucket. This isn't just any bucket; it's a gray replica of the Predator's scout ship, complete with a mini Dek figurine emerging from it! It’s expected to cost around $40 and comes with an XL popcorn (about 200 ounces!) and a same-day refill. Keep an eye out for it around November 5 for early screenings or on the official release date of November 7.
• Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: A new behind-the-scenes video reveals Trachtenberg’s commitment to practical effects. We’re talking man-in-suit Predator designs, filming in wild, remote locations, and using real environments before any CGI is layered on. It promises a grounded, intense sci-fi adventure that fans of traditional filmmaking will appreciate.

What's Next for the Predator Franchise? Video Game Hopes and More

Dan Trachtenberg isn't just directing; he's becoming a sort of "Predator showrunner," shaping the future of the franchise. Beyond Badlands, he's also been involved in an animated anthology film called Predator: Killer of Killers. His passion for the universe runs deep – he even designed a Predator video game level for a GamePro magazine competition as a kid!

Speaking of video games, Trachtenberg is "desperate" for a new, high-quality Predator game. He envisions something in the vein of Uncharted or Assassin's Creed – a third-person, open-world action-adventure that lets players explore the rich world of the Yautja. Given his cinematic success with the franchise, we can only hope his gaming dreams come true too! He's even revealed that games like Shadow of the Colossus inspired elements of Badlands, and the laser sword Dek uses was inspired by World of Warcraft.

With Predator: Badlands promising a fresh narrative, a unique protagonist, and a groundbreaking rating, the franchise is clearly charting a bold new course. Get ready for a hunt unlike any you've seen before!

Frequently Asked Questions About Predator: Badlands When is Predator: Badlands being released? Predator: Badlands is scheduled to hit theaters on November 7, 2025. What is the movie's rating? The film has been confirmed with a PG-13 rating, a first for a main entry in the Predator franchise. Will Predator: Badlands be available for streaming? At the time of this article's publication, Predator: Badlands is slated for an exclusive theatrical release. There is no information yet on when it will be available for streaming. What is the runtime of Predator: Badlands? The official runtime for Predator: Badlands has not yet been announced. Stay tuned for updates closer to the release date! Sources Used for This Article

• Alien vs. Predator Galaxy
• IGN
• FANGORIA
• ScreenRant
• Collider
• JoBlo.com
• GeekTyrant
• TheMovieBox