The upcoming film Predator: Badlands will serve as the next installment in the Predator series to be helmed by Dan Trachtenberg, and it comes in stark contrast to his previous Predator movie, Prey. Released on Hulu in 2022, Prey was met with critical approval and became one of the most streamed films following its premiere. While films in the Predator franchise have been unevenly received, Prey revitalized the dying franchise and made a sequel like Predator: Badlands viable. Now, surprising new footage of Predator: Badlands from CinemaCon teases a complete change.
Much of the information about Predator: Badlands is still being kept under wraps, but this new footage does make the movie’s plot a bit clearer. Predator: Badlands will star Elle Fanning in a leading role that will see her team up with the outcast Predator, who is seemingly being hunted. She remarks that he is attempting to hunt something that can’t be killed, creating intrigue about what enemy could be besting the Predator. Along with the surprising twist of seeing a human team up with a Predator, the new movie also features another big difference to Prey.
Predator: Badlands’ “Other Worldly” Location Is Very Different From Prey’s 18th Century Tribal Setting
Predator: Badlands Marks A Stark Contrast From Prey
While Prey 2 has been confirmed and will hopefully return audiences to Naru’s world, Trachtenberg’s upcoming Predator movie is going to look completely different. In contrast to Prey‘s 18th century setting and focus on a Comanche community that is plagued by both the Predator and by French traders. The CinemaCon footage of Badlands is described as being “otherworldly.“ Prey felt very stripped down and very natural. Amber Midthunder’s character, Naru, while being a hero on her own, was also clearly a part of a community and tied to her location.
The alien setting and making the Predator the hero certainly ensure that Trachtenberg’s film will take the franchise in a completely new direction.
In contrast, Badlands will see the Predator take center stage, and the setting will be much more alien as well. Where Prey was easily identifiable as being on Earth, Predator: Badlands is reportedly the most otherworldly movie of the franchise so far. The new film will take place on an alien planet and will see the Predator take on other monstrous enemies with Fanning’s character at his side. The alien setting and making the Predator the hero certainly ensure that Trachtenberg’s film will take the franchise in a completely new direction.
Predator: Badlands’ Weapons & Combat Will Also Be A Big Reversal From Prey
The Tech Seems Much More Advanced
Along with its completely different setting, Predator: Badlands will also feature updated weapons that will give its fights a completely different feel than those of Prey. Throughout the 2022 movie, Naru largely relies on very simplistic weapons like a bow or 18th-century pistol, with much of her success stemming from her ability to outsmart the Predator. Part of what made Prey work so well was seeing Naru, who is a skilled warrior, come to understand that finding smarter solutions can often be more effective than advanced weapons.
Prey felt very character-focused, with Naru’s weapons just being one small extension of herself. Predator: Badlands‘s focus on the Predator means that the weapons would necessarily have to be much more futuristic, since it has long been established that the Predators have very advanced technology. The CinemaCon footage shows the Predator riding something like a speeder bike and using a sword whose edge heats up. While this is undeniably a big change from Prey, it is very exciting and makes sense in the differing context of Predator: Badlands.
