Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg compares the upcoming film’s main character to several classic movie heroes, including one played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Serving as the latest installment in the Predator franchise after Prey (2022), the new film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, an outcast Yautja who teams up with an android named Thia (Elle Fanning) as he attempts to prove himself.

Dek serving as Predator: Badlands‘ main character marks a franchise first, as all previous protagonists have been human. This includes Dutch, Schwarzenegger’s hero in the franchise’s debut installment back in 1987.

During a recent interview with Empire, Trachtenberg doesn’t liken Dek to Dutch, with the protagonist in Predator: Badlands instead said to have more in common with another classic Schwarzenegger character: Conan the Barbarian. Dek may be the “runt of the litter,” but his quiet, outcast nature also makes him similar to someone like Mad Max. Read Trachtenberg’s comment below:

“He’s a thing of few words, pretty blunt. He cuts straight to the point. Literally and figuratively.”

Trachtenberg’s comments to Empire accompany a new image from Badlands, which shows Dek’s brother standing ominously above the protagonist with a glowing bladed weapon. Check out the new image below:

What This Means For Predator: Badlands

Dek Could Be A New Kind Of Franchise Hero

Schwarzenegger has many iconic characters on his acting resume, and Conan is certainly among them. Conan the Barbarian (1982), directed by John Milius, marked Schwarzenegger’s big break as an actor, and it featured the star in an especially physical performance, wielding a sword and cutting down enemies as he embarks on a quest for vengeance.

Conan could not be described as a “runt,” but he is certainly a man of action. Mad Max, similarly, doesn’t do a lot of talking, instead often solving his problems with violence as a lone warrior.

These Dek characteristics set him up for an interesting dynamic with Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android. It may not be smooth sailing for these two characters as they work together, and it’s not yet clear what circumstances push these two characters together.

Our Take On Dek Being Similar To Conan

Badland’s Protagonist Could Be Another Breath Of Fresh Air

Trachtenberg proved himself a perfect steward for the Predator franchise with Prey, his acclaimed debut installment. The film injected fresh energy into a franchise that was on a downward trend after 2018’s The Predator, introducing a compelling new hero in the form of Amber Midthunder’s Naru. Though introducing a Yautja protagonist is a risk, this could be another welcome innovation.

As for Dek being like Conan and Mad Max, this is certainly good company to be in, as both characters are memorable protagonists. While many questions remain about Predator: Badlands, Dek could end up being an exciting new hero for the franchise.

Source: Empire