Dan Trachtenberg trades Prey’s 1719 Comanche setting for alien badlands in Predator Badlands, where a young outcast Predator named Dek teams with android Thia (Elle Fanning) for survival. Releasing November 7, 2025, this franchise shakeup draws inspiration from Jaws, Shadow of the Colossus, and God of War to create something genuinely fresh in a series known for recycling hunt-or-be-hunted formulas.
Gaming DNA
“Jaws is one of my favourite movies of all time,” Trachtenberg told SFX magazine. “When it’s scary, it’s fucking terrifying. When it’s funny, it’s hilarious. When there’s drama, it’s incredibly sincere and authentic.” The Predator Badlands director aims for similar tonal range, where “the Predator’s gotta be badass and ferocious, but also sincere and have a pulse of its own.”
The 2005 PlayStation masterpiece Shadow of the Colossus heavily influenced the Dek-Thia relationship dynamic. “There’s a thing with a horse in Shadow of the Colossus that’s devastating when you play the game,” Trachtenberg explained. The android-Predator pairing mirrors Half-Life 2’s companion mechanics and God of War’s father-son journey structure.
Practical Casting
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi landed the Dek role through obstacle course auditions rather than traditional height requirements. “We wanted a stunt guy,” Trachtenberg said, breaking franchise tradition of casting 7-foot performers. This approach prioritizes physicality over imposing size, allowing more dynamic action sequences.
Written by Trachtenberg and Patrick Aison for 20th Century Studios, Predator Badlands filmed 90% on location in New Zealand wilderness, with cast wading through real swamps and trenches. The production embraces Terrence Malick’s natural cinematography approach, capturing authentic outdoor beauty between brutal action.
Cultural Shift
“I never thought the predator was Jason Vorhees or Freddy Krueger,” Trachtenberg explained, comparing Predator society to organized crime hierarchies. “Predators had a code like hitmen or crime underworld good fellas.” This perspective shifts focus from simple monster movie to exploring warrior culture and honor codes.
The film explores themes of proving oneself, with both Dek and Thia facing parallel character arcs about earning respect and finding purpose. Elle Fanning’s Weyland-Yutani android provides Alien universe connections while maintaining franchise independence.
Predator Badlands represents significant creative risk for 20th Century Studios, positioning the titular creature as protagonist rather than antagonist. Trachtenberg’s “hunter becomes hunted” concept forces audiences to experience vulnerability from the Predator’s perspective, adding emotional depth to traditionally one-dimensional killing machine portrayals.
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