Predator: Badlands could be laying the groundwork for a new Alien vs. Predator movie, but I really hope Disney and 20th Century go a different direction with the next potential crossover of the two franchises. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the sci-fi heavy Predator: Badlands leaves Earth behind to tell the story of Dek, a young member of the Yautja species who seeks to prove himself. The movie leans into the sci-fi elements of the franchise, seemingly telling a story with no fully human main characters.

Although the trailer for the film does introduce Elle Fanning as Thia, she’s actually a robot replica instead of a flesh-and-blood human. In fact, Thia has been confirmed to be a synthetic, one of the robots that appear in the Alien franchise. This is the latest confirmation that Alien and Predator seem to share a universe. This could easily justify another crossover between the two, which has occurred multiple times over the years. However, rather than an overt drag-out fight between them, I hope Disney goes with an Alien director’s idea for a sneakier Alien/Predator crossover.

Predator Badlands Could Be Setting Up A New AVP

Predator: Badlands overtly connects the Alien series and the Predator franchise, which could lay the seeds for a new crossover between the iconic franchises. Predator: Badlands focuses on a young Predator going out on his own hunt for the first time. The Predator: Badlands trailer reveals that along the way, he meets a Weyland-Yutani synthetic named Thia.

Weyland-Yutani is one of the primary mega-corporations that controls the future landscape of the Alien universe, so this connection solidifies the bond between the franchises. While this doesn’t necessarily mean Predator: Badlands will feature a Xenomorph, it’s another fun thread to see connected (especially after Predator: Killer of Killers also teased a Xenomorph/Predator fight).

Because of these connections, it seems inevitable that audiences will get another round of Alien vs. Predator. 2004’s Alien vs. Predator, which was followed by 2007’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. Predator: Badlands may not pit the aliens against one another, but the presence of a Weyland-Yutani character seems to imply that a more overt crossover film could happen.

I Hope A New AVP Is More Surprising

If we do get another AvP movie, I really hope it comes as a surprise. Part of the appeal of both franchises is seeing the alien in action as a horrifying, unstoppable force. Removing the mystery of their confrontation can get dull very quickly, as evidenced by the lackluster Alien vs. Predator movies that have already been produced.

Instead, I hope the reveal is a big twist, which could take audiences by surprise and completely change their expectations of a movie halfway through it. I’m not the only one hoping for this kind of turn, either. During an interview with Collider, Alien: Earth director Fede Alvarez described his dream Alien and Predator crossover as one audiences don’t expect.

Alvarez described his dream scenario for “The best AVP will be the one that you don’t know is AVP until the other guy shows up. You think you’re watching a Predator movie, and then they land in some place and there are creatures, and ҒUCҜing hell, it’s a Xenomorph.” Alvarez also suggests the reverse, with an Alien movie unexpectedly revealing a Predator in the mix.

I think part of the appeal of seeing Predator fight Alien is the sudden intensity of it, and being an audience member who doesn’t see that coming would be a great experience. As a fan of both properties who genuinely loves the idea of the characters sharing a universe, I want to see them come to blows once more but in a way that reflects their best qualities.

However, I think leaning into the horrifying shocks of both franchises would work well for a potential crossover. That stealthy element in making a new Alien vs. Predator would be a very exciting development. I hope we get another Alien vs. Predator movie after Predator: Badlands, but I want Disney not to spoil the surprise.

Source: Collider