Predator: Badlands will bring a bold new twist to the franchise, including borrowing a secret Avatar weapon to expand its lore, according to its producer. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (Prey), Badlands follows the Predator stranded on an alien world, where the hunter becomes the hunted. Starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Badlands arrives in theaters on November 7.

In an exclusive interview during ScreenRant‘s Predator: Badlands set visit, producer Ben Rosenblatt revealed the film will feature a fully constructed Yautja language, crafted by linguist Britton Watkins. Watkins was recommended by Paul Frommer, the man behind the Na’vi language in Avatar. Rosenblatt praised Watkins’ work before describing his process behind creating the Yautja language for Predator: Badlands.

Previously, Rosenblatt states, Yautja symbols and vocalizations were made up “based on necessity.” However, Britton had the monumental task of taking everything that came before and trying to synthesize that into a working language that would “fit what is anatomically possible with the Yautja face and mouth.” According to Rosenblatt, they now have a full Yautja alphabet, dictionary, and runic system:

So, it’s been quite a journey. But what we have right now is pretty exciting. He’s developed the alphabet, there’s a dictionary. All of this stuff will eventually be made available on our sets and on our weapons. We’re really excited about the weapons, and you’ll see on some of the weapons, anytime you see runes carved into them, they all mean something.

The producer went on to explain how the Yautja language will work in Predator: Badlands through the use of a universal translator. Rosenblatt says: “[..] we have Dex speaking in Yautja subтιтled, and we have Thia and Tessa and the other synths speaking in English.” The universal translator means they can communicate, something which was teased in Predator: Badlands’ trailer.

How Predator’s Language Has Evolved Over Time

In earlier films, the Yautja’s communication is largely animalistic, with Predator using growls, roars, and mimicry. The creature also famously copies human voices as intimidation in 1987’s Predator. Predator 2 and AVP: Requiem briefly show written symbols, which are revealed as mostly random designs. A translation feature exists in some Predator helmets, but there’s been no evidence of a cohesive language system.

Interestingly, subтιтles were avoided for the Predator in director Dan Trachtenberg’s previous franchise film Prey, instead reinforcing its alien nature. However, Badlands now bridges the gap, creating a functional language with structure, history, and rules. Thanks to Britton Watkins’ work, symbols etched into weapons or gauntlets actually mean something, and the universal translator allows for cross-species dialogue without sacrificing immersion.

By giving the Yautja a true language, Predator: Badlands adds dimension and credibility to its world, opening up more meaningful character moments. Unlike previous films, audiences won’t just see the Predator fight or grunt; they’ll actually understand how the character thinks, speaks, and processes the world. This is something the franchise has rarely attempted in depth, making it an exciting new concept.

As a result, Badlands could fundamentally change how we view the Yautja, expanding their lore as fully realized beings with culture and communication. That not only enriches the story in Predator: Badlands — especially with its teased alliances — but it lays the groundwork for future entries in the Predator series, offering a new dimension to the Yautja and more complex narratives.