Dan Trachtenberg was watching The Empire Strikes Back with his daughter last year when she asked why Yoda lives alone on a swamp planet. That question became the foundation for Predator: Badlands, opening May 2025.
Yoda’s Influence
“I started thinking about isolation and what it does to warriors,” Trachtenberg explained during an exclusive interview. Predator Badlands centers on a lone Predator who’s been exiled from his clan, forced to survive on a hostile desert planet. The Empire connection comes from exploring what happens to a warrior removed from his tribe.
The film’s structure mirrors Empire Strikes Back deliberately. Act one establishes the Predator’s isolated existence. Act two introduces human colonists who disturb his territory. Act three becomes a three-way battle between the Predator, humans, and a new alien threat that forces unlikely alliances.
Elle Fanning stars as the human lead, a terraforming engineer trapped on the planet after her ship crashes. Her character arc parallels Luke Skywalker’s in Empire – she must learn from someone she initially fears to survive greater danger.
Desert Setting
Predator Badlands abandons the franchise’s jungle/urban settings for endless desert landscapes. Trachtenberg shot on location in Namibia and Jordan, creating visually distinct Predator territory. The barren environment forces the creature to adapt his hunting techniques without forest cover.
The decision came from wanting to show Predators in unfamiliar environments. Previous films established they hunt in jungles because that’s where their prey lives. But what if circumstances force them into terrain that negates their advantages?
The desert also creates practical problems for the Predator’s cloaking technology. Heat distortion makes invisibility less effective, forcing him to rely on other skills. Trachtenberg worked with special effects team to show the cloak malfunctioning in extreme temperatures.
Exile Mythology
The Predator Badlands script expands Predator society by exploring their exile system. Hunters who fail or break clan rules get abandoned on death worlds to survive or die. This adds layers to the species beyond simple trophy hunters.
“They’re honorable warriors with codes and consequences,” Trachtenberg noted. “I wanted to show what happens when one loses everything that defines him.”
The exile Predator has been alone for unknown years when humans arrive. His behavior differs noticeably from previous films – he’s desperate and unhinged rather than methodical. Isolation has damaged his psychology.
Casting Fanning
Elle Fanning brings vulnerability and intelligence to her role. Trachtenberg specifically wanted an actress who could convey fear while maintaining agency. “Elle’s not a traditional action hero,” he said. “But she’s a survivor who uses her intellect.”
The Predator Badlands human cast also includes Boyd Holbrook (returning from The Predator in a different role), Olga Kurylenko, and Patrick Schwarzenegger. The ensemble represents different survival philosophies when facing overwhelming threat.
Schwarzenegger’s casting intentionally nods to his father Arnold’s iconic role in the 1987 original. But Patrick plays a coward rather than warrior, subverting expectations based on his last name.
May 2025 Release
20th Century Studios scheduled Predator Badlands for Memorial Day weekend 2025, positioning it as summer’s first major blockbuster. The $85 million budget represents the franchise’s biggest investment since 2018’s underwhelming The Predator.
Trachtenberg’s Prey (2022) earned critical acclaim and strong streaming numbers on Hulu, proving the franchise still has life when handled properly. His sequel expands scope while maintaining the intimate survival horror that made Prey successful.
Early footage screened at CinemaCon received enthusiastic response, with exhibitors praising the film’s unique setting and Fanning’s performance. Predator Badlands could revitalize the franchise after years of diminishing returns.
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