Predator: Badlands is set to bridge the gap between the Predator and Alien franchises via a synthetic character, and actress Elle Fanning provided some further insight into what sets her character Thia apart from other synthetics. Predator: Badlands is poised to be part of the mainline Predator franchise, and will almost certainly ignore the first two Alien vs. Predator movies.

Starring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as a young outcast Predator named Dek, Predator: Badlands will represent the first time that a Yautja has been a movie’s central protagonist. Dek meets a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic while hunting for a trophy from an apex predator that will serve as the way back into his clan.

During an interview with Screen Rant‘s Joe Deckelmeier at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Predator: Badlands star Elle Fanning provided insight into what sets her synthetic character, Thia, apart from the other iconic synthetic characters from the Alien franchise.

He’s speaking another language, and Thia is there to guide him in a lot of ways, and to be his buddy. But I think she’s also wanting respect, as well. I think Dek wants respect in the film from other things you’ll figure out, and Thia also wants her respect also from Dek, in some ways. So, she is his little companion, his little buddy, and I love she has a different personality than any other synthetic we’ve seen before in any of the films. It was nice to work with Dan to kind of mold that personality, and almost more of a positive atтιтude. But I love the friendship between the two, because as you see, Thia is broken in many ways, and Dek is kind of the runt of his clan. So, it’s a little bit of these two misfits coming together.

Dan Trachtenberg has noted that we will only get a “nibble” of Yautja culture in Predator: Badlands, with most of the movie following Dek’s journey to hunt and kill the ᴅᴇᴀᴅliest creature on the savage planet he’s been exiled to. ᴀssuming he meets Elle Fanning’s Thia early in his hunt, we’ll get plenty of backstory for Thia.

What Elle Fanning’s Comments Mean For Predator: Badlands

We’ve Never Seen A Synthetic Quite Like Thia

One of the defining characteristics of synthetics in the Alien franchise is their dependence on whatever directives they’ve been given, which oftentimes puts them at odds with their human counterparts. Based on what Elle Fanning said about Thia’s nature, it seems like she has a bit more depth built into her personality than the typical synthetic.

Even the brief moments we see of her in the latest action-packed trailer prove that there is more to her. The positivity that Fanning mentioned in her comments shines through, and will really help make her the bridge between the human audience and the Predator protagonist.

Our Take On Elle Fanning’s Comments About Her Character Thia

Her Character’s Role Is Starting To Take Shape

It’ll be interesting to see how the movie utilizes the character of Thia knowing that she only has the top half of her body. Based on the trailer and Fanning’s comments, Thia will essentially act as a de facto translator between Dek and the audience as she travels on his back. While Fanning plays it off lightly, there will actually be an enjoyable sort of buddy road-trip element to Predator: Badlands.

Thia will be an essential part of how the audience sees the events that unfold during Predator: Badlands, but she will also help provide depth to the character of Dek. Her off-beat, positive character will give him someone to play off of during his hunt on the savage alien world.