The upcoming movie Predator: Badlands will add another exciting new movie to the popular action franchise, but the film promises a big twist from past installments thanks to Elle Fanning’s character. When discussing Predator: Badlands‘ footage at CinemaCon recently, Fanning teased that the movie would be “unprecedented” in the franchise due to her character teaming up with a Yautja. While Alien vs. Predator actually did see a human and a Predator team up two decades ago, the release of the new trailer has confirmed that there is definitely more to Fanning’s Thia than meets the eye.

Predator: Badlands is one of two Predator movies coming out this year from director Dan Trachtenberg, each with its own distinct story. Given how well Trachtenberg’s 2022 prequel movie Prey was received, there is already a lot of anticipation for Predator: Badlands, which promises a very different story and setting. The movie will see a young Predator attempting to hunt “something that can’t be killed” while also facing danger from outside enemies. Now with the huge shock reveal that Predator: Badlands is connected to the Alien series, it seems there may be even more surprises in store.

Predator: Badlands’ Revealing Elle Fanning Is An Android Is A Major Distraction

The New Trailer Seemingly Reveals A Mᴀssive Detail

The Predator: Badlands teaser trailer has revealed that Elle Fanning’s character, previously ᴀssumed to be human, is actually an android. The trailer shows Fanning’s character stuck in some sort of trap with her eyes briefly turning white and displaying the Weyland-Yutani logo. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation is an antagonist in the Alien franchise, known both for manufacturing the androids that frequently appear in the series and for its constant search for ways to collect and utilize DNA and technology from the Aliens.

This quick detail in Predator: Badlands‘s trailer is a huge deal because it confirms that the new movie is connected once again to the Alien franchise and that Elle Fanning’s character is one of the company’s androids. Throughout the Alien movies, Weyland-Yutani androids have caused problems and betrayed the humans with them. If this holds true for Predator: Badlands, Fanning’s character may not necessarily be the ally that was previously teased.

What’s more, including this information in the trailer feels like betraying a plot detail that will be mᴀssively important. Typically, a spoiler that big would be saved for the film itself, unless there is more to the story. By hinting at Predator: Badlands‘s connection to Alien and distracting audiences with a potentially big crossover, the movie may actually be saving a much bigger reveal for later. This tactic could be a great way for Predator: Badlands‘s marketing team to hide other, bigger, details about Fanning’s character.

Elle Fanning Is Reportedly Playing Multiple Characters In Predator: Badlands

The Director Teased The Difficulty Of Fanning’s Roles

According to Empire, Elle Fanning is slated to play multiple characters in Predator: Badlands. Likewise, Variety has stated that Fanning will appear as “two twin sisters.” With the new knowledge that Fanning’s characters appear to be Weyland-Yutani synths, they may appear to be twins, but that might not mean that they are programmed to act the same way, or work with the Predator in the same way for that matter.

When speaking about Fanning’s role, Dan Trachtenberg told Empire that “She faced intense challenges on this movie—dramatically, physically, logistically.” This statement could allude to the extra work involved in portraying two different characters, particularly if those two characters do end up being at odds. Given how action-packed the movie looks set to be, the physicality of the role may have also played a big part in the director’s comments.

Predator: Badlands’ Trailer May Have Subtly Teased Elle Fanning’s Multiple Roles

Viewers May Have Actually Seen Two Different Characters

Though the Predator: Badlands trailer seemed pretty straightforward where Fanning’s character was involved, it may have subtly included clips of different characters. The trailer is edited together to allow viewers to ᴀssume she is playing just one person (or more accurately android), but upon closer inspection there are some subtle differences in her appearances. The android that is seen early in the teaser is wearing a white jacket with plain blonde hair.

Later in the trailer, Fanning reappears, this time wearing a purple Weyland-Yutani jacket. In addition to the different clothing, Fanning’s hair in this scene has noticeable purple stripes in it. Though it is entirely possible that the character simply changed outfits and hairstyles, this seems unlikely to be her focus if she and her ally, the Predator, are being hunted. Perhaps these changed details actually hint at two different versions of the character Elle Fanning is playing.

How Elle Fanning Playing Multiple Characters Connects To The Android Reveal

The Upcoming Movie’s Connection To The Alien Franchise Makes Sense

Predator: Badlands‘s new android reveal and connection to the Alien franchise actually makes a lot of sense with the news that Fanning is set to play multiple characters in the upcoming movie. This detail would seamlessly connect the movie to the existing canon of Weyland-Yutani’s use of the same appearance for multiple androids throughout the Alien series. In fact, this detail actually spans all the way across the original 1979 Alien movie to the most recent, Alien: Romulus.

The original android on the Nostromo, Ash, seemingly reappears in Alien: Romulus, but it is revealed to be an identical android called Rook instead. While the use of the late Ian Holm’s likeness for the new character was met with valid criticism, it does create a clear continuity in the technology used by the corporation at a given time, as Alien and Alien: Romulus are linked chronologically. This is also the case for Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which both star Michael Fᴀssbender as two androids, David 8 and Walter One.

If Predator: Badlands does lean more into its connections to the Alien franchise, it would not be strange to see Elle Fanning portray two different androids. In fact, the androids throughout the Alien movies often vary between being helpful and antagonistic. It could be interesting to see Predator: Badlands pay off the teased partnership between the Predator and one of Fanning’s characters while the other is more malicious. It seems that Predator: Badlands will focus on the Yautja hunting more difficult prey than ever before, and it will be interesting to see how androids play a role in that.

Sources: Empire, Variety