Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Predator: Killer of Killers!

Predator: Killer of Killers is the first of two Predator movies that will release in 2025, and the animated anthology film changed the lore of the franchise in eight major ways. The lore of Predator has always been a bit confusing, as the mainline films have been supplemented by all kinds of comics and video games as well as two Alien vs. Predator films that have a questionable canon status. However, Predator: Killer of Killers managed to pull from all corners of the Predator universe when crafting its story, making some big retcons and providing some major Predator reveals.

Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated anthology film that follows the stories of three times that the Yautja have visited Earth throughout history. The first segment sees a Predator fight a Viking, the second segment sees a Predator fight a ninja, and the third segment sees a Predator fight a World War II pilot. These three different segments all come together in the final segment of Predator: Killer of Killers, in which the three main human characters meet and face another Predator threat. Interestingly, this final segment is where most of the film’s franchise changes come from.

8

Killer Of Killers Finally Uses The “Yautja” Name In A Predator Movie

The Name Has Been Made Canon

One of the biggest lore reveals in Predator: Killer of Killers comes very early in the film, when the word “Yautja” is used. From the beginning of the franchise through Prey, the тιтular aliens were simply called Predators. Although this name was given to them by humans, there had been no official name for the alien species used in the movies. However, this isn’t the case for the comics. The Alien Vs Predator comic series from 1994 revealed that the Predator are an alien species called the Yautja, something that has stuck with fans ever since the name was first revealed.

However, despite multiple movies being released since the comic series hit shelves, this name was never used in a movie until now. On-screen text in Predator: Killer of Killers finally reveals that the Predator are actually called Yautja, making this name canon. Since Dan Trachtenberg directed this film as well as Predator: Badlands, the upcoming sequel will most likely use the Yautja name as well, especially since it follows a Predator protagonist. This will further cement the Yautja name, finally expanding it beyond the Predator extended universe.

7

The Yautja Kidnap The Individuals Who Kill Predators

Including The Protagonist Of Prey

At the end of Predator: Killer of Killers, it is revealed that the film’s three human protagonists are on a Yautja ship together. Despite successfully killing Predators, Ursa, Kenji, and John are being held prisoner by the Yautja. Interestingly, they are also all alive together despite their individual stories being separated by hundreds of years. The trio is brought to the Yautja planet, and while they attempt to escape from the aliens, Ursa is captured in the process. Ursa is placed into a chamber that puts her in a state of suspended animation, with her then being taken to some sort of Predator storage building.

This mᴀssive building is full of all kinds of similar suspended animation chambers, each one being filled with a different alien individual. As Predator: Killer of Killers comes to a close, Prey protagonist Naru is revealed to be in one of the suspended animation chambers as well. This means that the Yautja have been returning to the homes of the individuals who killed Predators and imprisoning them, placing them in suspended animation on their home planet. Seemingly thousands of people are there, meaning that Predators have been killed in hunts far more often than we thought.

6

Yautja Force Predator Killers To Fight In Gladiatorial Arenas

This May Have Been Happening For Centuries

Predator: Killer of Killers also reveals what the Yautja do with the Predator killers that they kidnap. Ursa, Kenji, and John are all awoken and placed on the prisoner ship which takes them to a gladiatorial arena. The arena is filled with Yautja, with the Predator Warlord appearing and talking to the crowd. It explains that the three humans must fight to the death, with them each being presented with a different weapon from their era. Then, the winner of the battle must fight the Warlord in a final battle.

Although only one of these gladiatorial battles are seen in Predator: Killer of Killers, it can be ᴀssumed that this is far from the first time that this has happened. These battles are probably why the Yautja kidnap the Predator killers, as the Predator Warlord wants to fight the universe’s strongest killers. Previous Predator killers such as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch may have had to fight in these battles, meaning that these protagonists could have been killed after the events of their respective Predator films.

5

The Yautja Homeworld Is Finally Seen

It May Return In Predator: Badlands

The Yautja homeworld has always been a bit mysterious, as Predators never revealed if its characters were stuck on a random alien planet or the planet of the Yautja. However, Predator: Killers of Killers is definitely set on the homworld of the Yautja, as hundreds of them can be seen. It is exciting to finally know what the home planet of the Predators looks like, and it is possible that more of this world could be explored when Predator: Badlands is released.

4

We Hear A Lot Of The Yautja Language (With Translations)

The Grendel King Has A Lot Of Dialgoue

While some Yautja words have been revealed throughout the Predator movies, Predator: Killer of Killers is by far the most of the Yautja language that has been heard so far. All kinds of words are heard in the film’s final segment, as the Predator Warlord has a lot of dialogue when talking before and after the gladiatorial battle. On top of just hearing the words, subтιтles translate the Yautja language, meaning that some direct translations of words can be deciphered. This could reveal how much of the Yautja language has actually been written, and more will probably be heard in Predator: Badlands.

3

The King Of The Yautja Is Introduced

Referred To As The Grendel King

While tons of Yautja are seen in Predator: Killer of Killers, the most important one is introduced during the last segment. A Predator Warlord who acts as the king of the Yautja is seen, with this character being the one who the winner of the gladiatorial battle must fight. Ursa refers to this Yautja as the Grendel King, making an allusion to the epic poem Beowulf. While this character doesn’t have much screentime, they are clearly an important character in the universe of Predator.

2

Killer Of Killers Features Several New Types Of Yautja

More Than Just The Main Three Yautja

The Grendel King Predator is far from the only Yautja seen in Predator: Killer of Killers, as several new types of Predator with all kinds of new weapons are seen. The Viking segment introduced a Yautja who is far bulkier than any Predator that has been seen before. It wields a shield weapon that shoots out powerful bursts of energy. The ninja segment introduced a Yautja who is incredibly stealthy, making use of its invisibility cloak and its spear weapon. The final and most unique of the three is seen in the World War II segment, with it never leaving its Yautja ship.

Outside of the main three, plenty of Yautja fill the stands of the arena in the final segment. While there isn’t much that is special about these Predators, they are definitely different than the ones from the original movies.

1

Predator: Killer Of Killers Hints That Alien Vs. Predator Is Canon

Before Predator: Badlands’ Alien Connections

The final and most interesting reveal is that Predator: Killer of Killers hints that Alien vs. Predator is canon. The Grendel King Predator can be seen wearing several long, bone structures on his back. These look shockingly similar to Xenomorph tails, and if they are, then Predator and Alien still exist in the same universe. Predator: Badlands has already shown several Alien connections, such as the Xenomorph skull and the Weyland-Yutani android, so this Predator: Killer of Killers Easter egg may just be setting that up.