The hunt is officially back on! Get ready, because the latest installment in the iconic Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands, is flipping the script with a wild new adventure, a Predator protagonist, and a long-awaited crossover with the Alien universe.
TL;DR: Quick Takes on Predator: Badlands
- Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7, 2025, with Prey director Dan Trachtenberg at the helm.
- For the first time ever, a Predator is the protagonist, teaming up with Elle Fanning's damaged Weyland-Yutani android, Thia, officially bridging the Alien and Predator sagas.
- The film promises a deep dive into Yautja culture on the super deadly planet Genna, reversing the classic "hunter-becomes-the-hunted" dynamic.
It’s been a minute since we've had a big-screen Predator movie, but the wait is almost over! Predator: Badlands is gearing up to unleash a whole new kind of thrill on November 7, 2025. And trust us, this isn't just another hunt; it's a game-changer for the entire franchise.
Director Dan Trachtenberg, who blew us away with the critically acclaimed Prey in 2022, is back in the director's chair, promising an even bolder vision. If you loved the stripped-down, intense survival of Prey, you're in for a treat, because Badlands looks set to expand the universe in ways we’ve only dreamed of.
The Predator: Badlands trailer teases an epic sci-fi showdown with Elle Fanning, an outcast Yautjan, and possible Alien crossover. A bold new direction for the franchise.
Meet the Unlikely Duo: A Predator Protagonist and an Android Ally!
One of the biggest twists in Predator: Badlands? The main character isn't human! For the first time ever, we'll be following a young Predator named Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. He's an outcast from his clan, stranded on a remote, deadly planet called Genna (which early reports call the most dangerous world in the universe). Talk about high stakes!
But Dek isn't alone. He finds a seriously unexpected ally in Thia, a damaged synthetic human portrayed by the incredible Elle Fanning. And when we say damaged, we mean missing her entire lower body! Thia is a Weyland-Yutani synth, which is a HUGE deal, officially confirming the long-speculated connection between the Alien and Predator franchises. This duo embarks on a treacherous journey, searching for the "ultimate adversary."
The casting gets even cooler because both Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi are pulling double duty! Elle Fanning also plays Tessa, another synth who's actually an antagonist. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi also portrays Dek's father, Njohur-it – though he's probably unrecognizable under all those Predator prosthetics! Mike Homik rounds out the main cast as Kwei, Dek's older brother, who helps prepare him for his first hunt.
Predator: Badlands flips the script with a thrilling blend of action, emotion, and savage world-building. Elle Fanning stars in a genre-defining showdown that reinvents the iconic franchise.
Diving Deep into Predator Culture and Lore Like Never Before!
Prepare to get schooled in Yautja (that's Predator to us) culture! Trachtenberg has promised a deep dive into their moral codes, internal rivalries, and even their vulnerabilities. We're not just seeing Predators hunt; we're understanding why they hunt and how their society works.
To make things even more immersive, the film features a specially created written and verbal language for the Predators, crafted by the same conlanger who developed the Na’Vi language for James Cameron’s Avatar movies. You might even catch a bit of it in the latest trailers!
This focus on the Predators themselves means a major shift: Dek, our lead, is the one being hunted. It’s a bold reversal of the classic "hunter and hunted" dynamic, forcing us to empathize with a species often seen as the ultimate threat. What happens when the hunter becomes the prey?
Gear up for Predator: Badlands! Discover the release date, star-studded cast, unique PG-13 rating, and how director Dan Trachtenberg is shaking up the franchise on a dangerous new planet.
Connecting the Alien and Predator Universes at Last!
The inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani synth as a main character is the official bridge fans have been waiting for. This confirms that the Alien and Predator universes share the same cinematic sandbox, which opens up endless possibilities for future crossovers and interwoven storylines. While Trachtenberg has debunked rumors of Xenomorphs appearing in Badlands itself, this connection lays vital groundwork.
The Predator franchise has always been expanding its lore, from the 1987 original with Arnold Schwarzenegger to the urban chaos of Predator 2, the game preserve planet in Predators (2010), and Naru's incredible fight in Prey. We even saw the Yautja clash with Xenomorphs in the AVP films, though their canonical status was often debated. Now, Badlands is set to bring everything together, spanning centuries of mythology and offering a fresh perspective on these iconic creatures.
And if you're looking for more, don't forget about the animated anthology series, Predator: Killer of Killers, which premiered on Hulu on June 6. That series further expanded the timeline, even hinting that Naru from Prey might have been captured by the Yautja in its mid-credits scene! There's also a tie-in prequel comic book from Marvel Comics, releasing November 12, set just before the events of the movie.
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Mark Your Calendars: Release Date and Premiere News!
Ready to join the hunt? Predator: Badlands officially hits theaters on November 7, 2025, distributed by Twentieth Century Studios. Fans got an early glimpse at the film during its UK premiere on October 27, 2025, in London, where stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (looking stylish, not scaly!) graced the red carpet with director Dan Trachtenberg.
If you're in the DC area, you might have even caught an early screening on Tuesday, November 4th, at AMC Tysons Corner! The buzz is real, and the excitement for this innovative new chapter is building.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Predator: Badlands
Q: When does Predator: Badlands release?
A: Predator: Badlands is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 7, 2025.
Q: Is Predator: Badlands connected to the Alien franchise?
A: Yes, it is! The film features Thia, a damaged synthetic human created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, which is the same company integral to the Alien saga, officially linking the two universes.
Q: Who is directing Predator: Badlands?
A: Dan Trachtenberg, who also directed the highly acclaimed 2022 film Prey, is directing Predator: Badlands.
Q: Who are the main characters in Predator: Badlands?
A: The main characters are Dek, a young Predator outcast played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, and Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synth played by Elle Fanning.
Sources:
- Ars Technica (various articles related to Predator: Badlands)
- Just Jared (Elle Fanning Joins Co-Star Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi at 'Predator: Badlands' Screening in London!)
- HeyUGuys (Predator Badlands UK Premiere Interviews)
- The Express Tribune (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))