Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The excitement begins with two new Predator films directed by Dan Trachtenberg: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers. Additionally, Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo and Legion, is bringing a significant addition to the Alien saga with the FX show Alien: Earth. While these projects are not officially linked yet, the shared universe of Alien and Predator, highlighted by their encounters in films, comics, and video games, is well-known among fans.
Analyzing the promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth might reveal Disney's plans for a new crossover between these iconic franchises. Let's delve into these developments and explore why an Alien vs. Predator (AVP) film could return to the big screen sooner than expected.
Evil Easter Eggs ----------------The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator film. The trailer introduces Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic connected to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg as the film's protagonist. While the presence of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film might not directly signal a major Alien crossover, it gains significance with the new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.
The Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth is packed with Easter eggs tied to Alien lore. It features the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leading to an egg sac resembling one from Alien: Romulus. The creature emerging from it, while similar to a facehugger, appears mutated. This specimen, identified as "Species 37" on a ship called the Maginot, which echoes the Nostromo from the original Alien film, hints at a connection to the Xenomorphs. This is particularly intriguing since Alien: Earth is set two years before the events of Alien, suggesting that Species 37 might have been the initial clue for Weyland-Yutani about the Xenomorphs.
A related teaser called Crate features specimen containers, with a narrator mentioning the ship collected "five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe." A classic Xenomorph is visible, but the inclusion of five species suggests an expansion of the alien creature roster. This raises the possibility of a connection to the Predators, especially since Predator: Badlands is set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial monstrosities. Could Elle Fanning’s android be searching for these specimens, or could one of these monsters mutate into a creature seen in Badlands or Killer of Killers? While we await the premiere, the presence of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth wouldn't be surprising.Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History
Alien and Predator have shared a universe since their first clash in the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator. This connection was further hinted at in Predator 2 with a Xenomorph skull on the Predator's trophy wall. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games reinforced this shared universe, predating the mainstream popularity of cinematic universes like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite the early AVP films in the 2000s, the franchise struggled due to poor reception, even though they were financially successful. The trend of serialized superhero and sci-fi blockbusters was burgeoning, yet AVP was treated as a secondary property by 20th Century Fox. Iconic films like Ridley Scott’s Alien, James Cameron’s Aliens, and John McTiernan’s Predator set high standards, but the AVP films fell short. The 2010s brought further challenges with the commercial disappointment of Alien: Covenant and the underwhelming The Predator. However, the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 has revitalized both franchises, making the prospect of a new AVP film more feasible than ever.
AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------The development of a sequel to Alien: Romulus is underway, with director Fede Álvarez returning and expressing interest in directing an Alien vs. Predator film. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining ties to the Prometheus series. With characters Rain Carradine and Andy heading to Yvaga III, a direct sequel could explore their journey further. Meanwhile, Predator: Badlands is set in space, potentially offering opportunities for cameos or Easter eggs linking to Alien: Romulus.
Álvarez has suggested that the best approach for an AVP film would be to surprise the audience, starting as either an Alien or Predator movie before introducing the other creature. This twist could captivate audiences and reinvigorate interest in the crossover.
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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP offers hope for a successful new take on the crossover. The previous films, set on contemporary Earth, lacked depth in characters and scope. A new AVP could disregard these films and start fresh, perhaps featuring Dek from Predator: Badlands as the lead. The concept of a Predalien, introduced in earlier films, could be expanded upon, perhaps involving Engineer mutagen to create a hybrid being of Alien, Predator, and Engineer.
Both Alien and Predator franchises are currently thriving, making a crossover film a tantalizing prospect for Disney. With the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium integration, a new AVP film feels imminent. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, the iconic monsters might finally have the epic showdown fans have been craving.
