Regardless of the trailer pointing in direction of extra perception concerning the Predator tradition and Yautja homeworld, Predator: Badlands apparently solely supplies a short glimpse at the place the cosmic hunters come from as defined by director Dan Trachtenberg. Set for a November seventh, 2025 launch date, Predator: Badlands is the seventh film within the mainline Predator franchise.
Set someplace within the untold reaches of area, Predator: Badlands chronicles the primary hunt of an outcast Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi). With the assistance of a Weyland-Yutani android named Thia (Elle Fanning), Dek battles his manner throughout probably the most harmful planet within the universe seeking an apex predator that can permit him to regain his place amongst his clan.
Throughout an interview with Display screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier at San Diego Comedian-Con 2025, Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg revealed that the brand new film solely supplies a small style of the Predator tradition and homeworld. Per Trachtenberg, he did not need the film to be weighed down by the trivia of introducing a whole tradition.
Properly, yeah, I imply actually the film and the story begins on the Predator house planet, so we do get a glimpse of their tradition. It was necessary to me, although, that we did not make a mistake or one thing. I typically get somewhat abrasive, I kind of relent when a sequel, or some large franchise, begins to deep dive into the lore quite than the story. I believe there is a distinction between the 2, and I used to be in no way eager about telling the story of the senatorial disagreements between commerce alliances of the totally different Yautja tribes. So, the film continues to be very a lot an aggressive, vertical gauntlet, however we do get only a nibble of Yautja tradition.
Predator: Badlands is already swerving into uncharted territory by establishing a Predator because the film’s protagonist, so it is comprehensible that Trachtenberg would wish to use a lot of the film’s runtime exploring that new character.
The Film Dives Proper Into The Motion
The teaser and action-packed trailer for Predator: Badlands have revealed a lot concerning the film’s setting, which takes place at the very least partially on the Yautja homeworld, with the remainder occurring on an alien planet loaded with ultra-dangerous natural world. Nevertheless, Dan Trachtenberg’s feedback make it look like we’ll solely get the briefest glimpse of the previous.
A lot of the motion within the trailers revolves round Dek preventing in opposition to animals, vegetation, and even different Yautja opponents. Except for the white-dreadlocked Predator that is featured prominently, most every little thing else seems to happen on the extra savage world.
All Mainline Predator Franchise Films
Film
Launch Date
RT Tomatometer Rating
RT Popcornmeter Rating
Predator
1987
80%
87%
Predator 2
1990
30%
44%
Predators
2010
65%
52%
The Predator
2018
34%
32%
Prey
2022
94%
74%
Predator: Killer of Killers
2025
95%
88%
Predator: Badlands
2025
N/A
N/A
Prey 2
TBD
N/A
N/A
It stands to purpose that the film could start on the Yautja homeworld, and the primary couple of minutes doubtless chronicle Dek’s exile from his clan. Tractenberg’s feedback make it look like that can be a short section, and that Predator: Badlands will dive proper into Dek’s battle for survival on the brand new planet.
Trachtenberg Is Taking Notes From One other Iconic Sci-Fi Franchise
Trachtenberg’s feedback point out commerce alliances between the Yautja tribes, which some will acknowledge is probably going a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The primary film particularly infamously was weighed down by far an excessive amount of details about the galaxy’s economics and politics, which is clearly what Trachtenberg is attempting to keep away from.
Associated
Predator’s Future Is Revamped With Franchise-Altering New Scene
Dan Trachtenberg revealed a brand new change to Predator: Killer of Killers’ coda that is set to utterly change the trajectory of the franchise.
It is frankly good on his behalf to maintain up the momentum that the franchise presently has after the extremely acclaimed 2022 entry Prey and the shock animated anthology film Predator: Killer of Killers. Curiosity within the franchise is at an all-time excessive because of Trachtenberg producing tight, thrilling narratives within the final two motion pictures, and now is just not the time to attempt to introduce a whole tradition.
Trachtenberg understands what individuals need out of the Predator franchise: sci-fi motion, brutal kills, and badass heroes. Predator: Badlands is ready to ship extra of the identical if his newest feedback are to be believed.
Predator: Badlands
Launch Date
November 7, 2025
Director
Dan Trachtenberg
Writers
Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison, John Thomas, Jim Thomas
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Dek
