Dan Trachtenberg’s newPredatormovieBadlandswill continue a very specific trend that has existed since the beginning of thePredatorfranchise. After the success of the surprise hitPrey, Dan Trachtenberg was given the opportunity to develop another standalonePredatormovie, andBadlandswas confirmedto be in production in February 2024.Badlandsis set to release at some point in 2025, and while there are not many story details available yet, some important elements of the movie have already been made public.
One major casting forBadlandshas already been revealed, as Elle Fanning (The Great) is set to star in the standalone Predator story. However, another detail will represent a major pivot from the action ofPrey, but it has some very exciting implications. The rumored setting forBadlandswill not only allow for exciting storytelling, it will all but ensure that the latest installment in the iconicPredatorfranchise continues a tradition that has been in place since the days ofPredatorandPredator 2more than 30 years ago.
Upcoming Predator Movies Should Copy 1 Trick From The Franchise’s $127 Million Disappointment
The next two entries in the Predator franchise should run with some of the ideas from one of the franchise’s biggest box office bombs.
Predator’s New Movie Setting Means No Returning Characters
The New Movie Will Be Set In The Near Future
Dan Trachtenberg’s new movie in thePredatorfranchise,Badlands, has been confirmed to be a stand-alone movie, much like its predecessorPreywas. Little is known about the story considering how early it is in development, butit will be set in the near future, placing a member of the deadly Yautja species back on Earth, but in a new time frame. WithPreybeing set in the early 18th century, there is essentially no chance of having any characters return from Trachtenberg’s first foray into the franchise.
1987
80%
87%
1990
30%
44%
2004
22%
39%
2007
12%
2010
65%
52%
2018
34%
32%
2022
94%
74%
2025
N/A
ThePredatorfranchise has never actually had a character return from one movie to the next for a few reasons. In part, it’s a numbers game; the Predator typically kills almost everyone it encounters, so there are simply very few opportunities for characters to last more than one movie. Additionally,thePredatorfranchise has skipped across time over the years, as the Yautja’s hunting culture has seemingly existed for many centuries. Badlands being set in the near future could provide an opportunity to further explore what happens when the Predator meets humans with weapons that could match his own.
Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey Proved the Upcoming Predator Movie Doesn’t Need Returning Characters
Prey Was A Massive Hit With Critics And Fans
Preywas a completely unique entry in thePredatorfranchise, and the elements that made it so different from otherPredatormovies played a big role in why the movie was so well-received. By just about any measure,Preywas one of the most successful movies in thePredatorfranchise, and its unique setting and characters are why. Amber Midthunder’s Naru was one of the most well-developed heroes of the franchise, and the early American temporal setting was completely different from anything seen before in the franchise. Those elements proved that the franchise doesn’t need returning characters to be successful.
Because it debuted on the streaming platform Hulu,Preywas eligible for, and received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, one for Outstanding Directing and one for Outstanding Writing, both for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Badlandshas an opportunity to replicate the success ofPreyby leaning into those elements that made the prequel work. Elle Fanning is set to star, and if her character is as well-written as Midthunder’s Naru then Fanning should have no problem making her character memorable.The near future setting can provide a powerful contrast toPreybut still have the same impact. In place of the rudimentary methods that Naru used to kill her Predator, Fanning’s character could use futuristic weapons to combat the more advanced technology of hers.
Predator: Badlands
Cast
Predator: Badlands is a science fiction film set for release in 2025, building on the longstanding Predator franchise.
