With Predator: Badlands, 20th Century Studios doesn’t just add another chapter to the legendary alien-hunting saga — it reinvents what the Predator universe can be. Directed by genre maestro Dan Trachtenberg, the film pushes the iconic franchise into bold new territory, blending intense action, emotional depth, and smart storytelling into a combustible mix that fans and newcomers alike will crave. And with Elle Fanning delivering a dual performance as twin sisters on the run, Badlands becomes more than just a sci-fi thriller — it’s a full-on evolution of a pop culture titan.
Elle Fanning’s Twin Performance Elevates the Human Element
One of the most striking aspects of Predator: Badlands is the way it centers its story around human characters with real stakes — and no one embodies that better than Elle Fanning. Fresh off her acclaimed role in Hulu’s The Great and her star turn opposite Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown, Fanning takes on the challenging role of twin sisters. The teaser trailer teases a high-octane chase filled with survival, sibling bond, and sharp tension, as the twins find themselves hunted by a Predator not just in the wilderness, but in a world that seems designed to break them.
Fanning’s versatility and screen presence add layers to what could have been simple survival archetypes. Instead, the twins feel grounded, relatable, and fiercely dynamic — a perfect human foil to the extraterrestrial menace looming over them. It’s a brilliant choice, and one that aligns perfectly with Trachtenberg’s knack for character-driven genre storytelling.
Trachtenberg Returns to the Franchise with a Sharper Vision
After the critical success of Prey, Trachtenberg returns to the Predator director’s chair with Badlands, bringing with him the same intensity and ingenuity that earned the previous film four Emmy nominations and a win for sound editing. His work on 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Boys shines through in every frame of Badlands — claustrophobic tension, smart twists, and world-building that never feels forced.
What makes Badlands especially exciting is how it flips the traditional Predator formula. Instead of humans simply being prey, we see a young Predator — alienated from his own kind — struggling to survive on a hostile planet. This Predator, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is forced into an uneasy alliance with Fanning’s character. It’s a game-changing role for the creature, who has rarely been more than a silent hunter in previous films. Here, he’s a protagonist, and that shift creates a new layer of storytelling that's both fresh and familiar.
A Predator Protagonist and a New Kind of Hunter-Servee Dynamic
One of the most intriguing elements revealed in the Badlands trailer is the dynamic between the outcast Predator and the human twin. It’s not just survival instinct that binds them — there’s strategy, mistrust, and a shared enemy that forces them into partnership. This human-alien team-up echoes the genre-bending spirit of Prey, but pushes it further by giving the Predator agency, emotion, and a clear character arc.
Moreover, the fact that this young Predator is cast out from his own species adds a layer of mythology to the franchise that fans have long hoped for. What does it mean to be a Predator? How does one earn respect in a society built on hunting prowess? These questions deepen the lore and set the stage for a truly mythic showdown — one that’s teased in the trailer by the presence of an even more dangerous creature lurking in the shadows of the Badlands.
Badlands Isn’t Just a Sequel — It’s a World-Building Masterstroke
With Badlands, the Predator franchise finally catches up to modern blockbuster storytelling. It’s not just about bigger weapons or stealthier cloaks — it’s about giving the universe texture, conflict, and evolution. The harsh, unforgiving planet where much of the film takes place feels alive, with flora and fauna that pose threats as real as the Predator itself. This ecosystem of danger adds another layer to the hunting motif, turning the environment into a character of its own.
And while the film pays homage to its roots — nods to McTiernan’s original are inevitable — it doesn’t lean on nostalgia. Instead, it builds on it. The fact that the Predator has battled humans like Schwarzenegger and Weathers is part of its legacy, but now it’s up against something different: human ingenuity, emotional resilience, and a fractured alien society. That combination is pure gold for a franchise that’s always been about the primal clash between hunter and hunted.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the Predator Universe Is Bright
Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7, 2025, but its impact will likely be felt long after it leaves the box office. With Hulu’s Killer of Killers animated anthology already expanding the lore, and Trachtenberg’s continued involvement, the Predator universe is entering a renaissance. It’s a world that’s no longer content with isolated hunts — it wants mythology, character, and evolution. And Badlands delivers that in spades.
This isn’t just another Predator movie. It’s the Predator movie — the one that finally brings the creature into the fold of modern genre storytelling, gives it a soul, and sets the stage for legends to come.