Despite its fresh take, Predator: Badlands does embrace a key trait established in Prey, according to director Dan Trachtenberg.

In a group interview with Jordan Williams during ScreenRant’s set visit, Trachtenberg shared insights about how Badlands carries forward the narrative trait that made Prey so compelling, explaining how both main characters are the “runt of the litter.” He described the lead as “the smallest of his clan, and seen as the weakest,” an “underdog” who must overcome immense challenges.

Trachtenberg states, “For me, I’ve just always had a deep affection for underdog stories. Prey was certainly that, and I think that story is still that of an underdog,” highlighting how this emotional core links the two films despite their different settings. The director also emphasized Predator: Badlands’ emotional journey, noting how the protagonist, Dex, deals with a traumatic event:

He also is involved in a very traumatic event in the beginning of the movie that he is sort of taking the whole adventure to deal with. So, from the jump, you are thrust into a really high intensity, emotionally, physically, situation with him that I think will really put you in his shoes, despite him being a character that, in another movie, would be the [villain].

Prior to the upcoming Predator: Badlands movie, Trachtenberg directed 2022’s Prey. The film served as a prequel to the franchise, set in 1719 on Earth, and was a critical hit, becoming a streaming success when it debuted on Hulu, Disney+ and Star. The film’s success led to Trachtenberg directing Predator: Killer of Killers, which also debuted to positive reviews in June.

Now, Trachtenberg is gearing up for his third Predator project with Badlands. The film follows a young outcast Yautja, Dex (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), who finds an unlikely ally in a synthetic, Thia (Elle Fanning), as he searches a hostile alien planet for the ultimate adversary. It is set to be released theatrically on November 7, with Badlands serving as a game-changing addition to Predator’s franchise.

Elaborating on why the underdog angle is so important for Badlands, Trachtenberg likened it to Mission: Impossible, stating, “Tom Cruise is not James Bond. He can’t handle everything with grace, he’s failing constantly.” However, Trachtenberg states that this mix is what makes the movie fun, with the protagonist struggling through the sequence, “but then being awesome.” He adds that:

He’s up against things that are way more crazy than we’ve ever seen a Predator deal with before, and seeing him try, I think, is the other thing that I love in movies.

Reflecting on his experience of making Prey, the director then shared a personal anecdote about originally wanting to show the film to his mother, stating the importance of balancing themes and tone. Trachtenberg said, “There is a way to continue doing these movies that can have a warmth at the center, but also still be incredibly ferocious and action-oriented.”

As a result, Trachtenberg felt it important to include, “all the things that you’d expect from the Predator franchise, but still be beautiful.” However, he noted “The level of gore in this movie is different,” echoing recent news that Predator: Badlands’ age rating will be PG-13. This comes as a shock considering the violent nature of the Yautja. Although, Trachtenberg justifies:

[…] it’s versus things that we’ve never gotten to see the Predator do, other than maybe in some comics and games. We’ve never really seen the Predator hunt on an alien planet, and never hunt non-humans on an alien planet.

Evidently, with Predator: Badlands, Trachtenberg aims to deepen the franchise’s emotional core while still delivering that intense action and brutal thrills that fans expect. By embracing the underdog narrative that resonated so well in Prey, the film promises a fresh yet familiar experience honoring Predator’s legacy, and we cannot wait to watch.

For the full interview, check out ScreenRant’s Predator: Badlands set visit here.