In February of 2024, it was introduced that Prey director Dan Trachtenberg would turn out to be the primary filmmaker to take the helm of two movies within the Predator franchise, as he was transferring forward with a brand new Predator movie titled Badlands, working from a screenplay by Prey screenwriter Patrick Aison (based mostly on a narrative crafted by Trachtenberg himself). Then we discovered that whereas Trachtenberg was making the live-action Predator: Badlands, he was additionally engaged on an animated anthology film referred to as Predator: Killer of Killers, which he wrote with Micho Robert Rutare and directed with Josh Wassung of the animation firm The Third Ground. So he has truly made three Predator films. Predator: Killer of Killers was launched by way of the Hulu streaming service earlier this month and Predator: Badlands is aiming for a November 7, 2025 theatrical launch. The movie was promoted with a panel at San Diego Comedian-Con right now, and JoBlo’s personal Chris Bumbray was in attendance to take notes!
In line with a casting name, Predator: Badlands had the next description: A groundbreaking movie through which one of many two most important storylines delves into the intricate bond of two very totally different sisters, their familial ties are put to the final word check as they pursue divergent paths and missions. We’ve beforehand heard that the story is about someday sooner or later. The casting name was looking for a lead actress who might tackle the twin position of dual sisters Thia and Tessa: This casting is for a twin character, and describes each characters. Character identifies as feminine or non-binary, open ethnicity, mid 20s – mid 40s. Thia has spent most of her life in a laboratory and is now embarking on her first massive journey on this planet. She is extremely good, witty, enthusiastic, and unflappable. She has an innate disregard for hazard, not as a result of she’s fearless, however just because she’s naive. Sturdy comedy chops required. // The opposite sister, Tessa, has a militant depth in relation to reaching her household’s objectives and mission goals. She won’t let something get in her means, not even her twin sister. These are the roles Elle Fanning is taking part in, and not less than one in all her characters (Thia) has the Weyland-Yutani emblem printed on her eyeballs.
The official synopsis tells us the movie is set sooner or later on a distant planet, the place a younger Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in the hunt for the final word adversary. The movie is produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor. The lead Predator is performed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi.
Bumbray stories that the panel began off with a sizzle reel exhibiting clips from the Predator movies main as much as Badlands. A Predator got here out on stage and began talking Yautja. Kevin Smith then got here out to average the panel and joked “I doesn’t speak Yautja, but pretty sure it was about the Epstein files.” Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi then took the stage. Kevin Smith joked about how Dan Trachtenberg was once a podcaster. He stated Trachtenberg stopped making podcasts and began making good films in 2007, whereas Smith, alternatively, stopped making good films begin and began making good podcasts across the identical time (ouch).
On making Badlands vs Prey 2, Trachtenberg stated he didn’t wish to simply make “a cool sequel.” He needed to do what had by no means been carried out – to inform a narrative that was by no means informed.
The Predator on this film will be the lead hero, however he’s not a pleasant monster. He’s an antihero. The rationale Elle Fanning is strapped to his again (as seen within the newest trailer) was impressed by C3PO being strapped to the again of Chewbacca. What wouldn’t it be like if C3PO was strapped to the again of a monster? Elle Fanning stated there aren’t any people on this film; she is an artificial, however she says there’s coronary heart as a friendship grows. She performs two characters and switches up like midway by way of the film. Dimitrius, who performs Predator, speaks a language they made up for the film. Fanning stated she actually was strapped to his again for a lot of the film and praised the stunt staff. She stated it was an actual first for her.
When requested in regards to the Weyland-Yutani aspect of the movie, Trachtenberg didn’t elaborate on it. He stated it opens the franchise as much as cool potential, but in addition stated it’s not like he has a bunch of motion figures he desires to smoosh collectively. He desires to do it with magnificence. When Smith requested if which means he would possibly make an Alien vs. Predator film, Trachtenberg stated that will be cool.
The film is about on an alien planet the place all the things, even the grass, is attempting to kill the Predator. Trachtenberg says he’s the Dutch of this film. Alex Gillis has labored on six Predator films and designed the creatures. He says on the primary film he labored beneath Stan Winston and had six weeks. That is his third Trachtenberg film (he designed the animated characters in Killer of Killers). He stated the go well with was sensible, the face is finished with CGI. Mentioned often the mandibles are operated by a technician off digicam, however this time they wanted to have the ability to evoke a persona. They labored with Weta on it. The CGI is predicated on Dimitrius’ efficiency and it’s made so his face comes by way of, like on different mo-cap performances, akin to Andy Serkis. They thought-about animatronics, however Gillis says he was bought when he noticed the final Planet of the Apes film and realized what they might do.
The movie was shot in New Zealand on actual areas.
Attendees then received to observe the primary quarter-hour of Predator: Badlands. Bumbray stated it was “unfinished but sets up the premise. Dek is a young Predator whose brother initiates him into their clan. But first, he must choose a prey and capture it, or never return. He chooses an unkillable monster that is on a deadly planet the other Predators fear, basically to impress his father, who is a legendary warrior. The father actually wanted Dek killed because he’s small and missing a fang (which he lost saving his brother). His brother refuses – then some HEAVY spoiler stuff happens I won’t reveal but definitely sets him up as an underdog, anti hero, and not necessarily a friend of other Predators.”
Through the panel it was additionally revealed {that a} new epilogue is being added to Predator: Killer of Killers on Hulu. It will likely be accessible to observe later tonight and serves as a post-credits scene. The Comedian-Con viewers received a take a look at the footage, which was set on the Predator homeworld and confirmed that they collected all of the champions (in suspended animation), with the heroine from Prey, Danny Glover from Predator 2, and Arnold Schwarzenegger from Predator. Trachtenberg stated Arnold permitted the footage and “more is coming,” making Bumbray suppose perhaps an animated film is coming the place the heroes of the opposite movies exist on the homeworld.
Are you trying ahead to Predator: Badlands and the Predator: Killer of Killers epilogue? Tell us by leaving a remark beneath. You may also see a video from the Predator activation at Comedian-Con on TikTok at THIS LINK or right here:
