The new trailer of Predator: Badlands has created an enormous hype among fans and critics alike, ensuring a strong new direction for the iconic sci-fi franchise. Under the direction of Dan Trachtenberg, the director of Prey (2022), the film remakes the Predator not as an intimidating monster but as a deeply complex hero.
Trailer Review: A Fresh Perspective
The trailer introduces us to Dek, a young and rejected Predator played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who is ostracized by his clan because he is smaller than the others. On a desolate, volcanic world, he joins forces with Thia, an android played by Elle Fanning. This is a big departure from the usual predator vs. human premise, with emotional complexity and introspective storytelling.
The trailer has been received for its low-key demeanor and character-oriented storytelling. The Guardian observes the shift “from spectacle to intimacy,” pointing out that Predator: Badlands seems more interested in emotional engagement and character work than the action pieces that one would expect traditionally. More significantly, the trailer suggests the involvement of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, which would potentially enable greater narrative integration with the Alien franchise.
Everything We Know So Far
Plot and Setting
The film follows Dek and Thia on a desolate alien planet, where they must survive against hostile aliens while struggling with their own identities. The film explores more of Predator culture than any film in the series to date, with a linguist consulted on creating a workable Predator language.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Dan Trachtenberg
- Writers: Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison
- Dek: Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
- Thia: Elle Fanning
The film heavily embraces practical effects. Studio Gillis designed a revised Predator suit, and Wētā Workshop assisted with the world-building as well as creature design.
Connection to the Alien Franchise
The Thia’s synthetic look and Weyland-Yutani logos are deliberate nods to the Alien franchise, and there are indications that the film is laying the groundwork to develop new crossovers between the two.
Conclusion
Predator: Badlands is a bold reinterpretation of the franchise that prioritizes character and cultural richness over raw power. New characters, thematic narrative, and possible cross-franchise implications give the movie the potential to redefine the manner in which fans perceive the Predator franchise.
Writer : Pranjal Bapna