The debut trailer for Predator: Badlands has ignited a flurry of excitement and curiosity among fans, particularly regarding the new design of the iconic Predator. In a revealing interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shared intriguing details about the upcoming film, including his innovative approach to the sci-fi hunter.
The new Predator, named Dek and portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, breaks from tradition by taking on a protagonist role. Described as an underdog Yautja "runt," Dek's character diverges from the typical portrayal of Yautja as antagonists in previous Predator movies. This fresh perspective promises to bring a new dimension to the franchise.
Dek's journey unfolds on a "Death Planet" named Kalisk, where he battles to earn his father's approval and acceptance within his clan. His design, noted for being more human-like and smaller in stature than previous Predators, aligns perfectly with his role as an underdog protagonist.
Predator: Badlands centers on Dek's story, but he is not alone on Kalisk. He forms an alliance with a character played by Elle Fanning, whose appearance has sparked speculation about her being a synth from the Alien franchise, especially given the Weyland Yutani logo visible in her eyes.
Trachtenberg drew inspiration from the 2005 PlayStation game Shadow of the Colossus for the dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character. He highlighted the emotional impact of the protagonist's relationship with a horse in the game, aiming to replicate a similar connection in Predator: Badlands. "As inspired as I am by movies, I've been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection," Trachtenberg explained.
He further elaborated on the contrasting nature of the two characters: "There's a thing with a horse in Shadow of the Colossus that's devastating when you play the game. And so [Predator: Badlands] was a little bit inspired by that in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else, this character who's the opposite of him. He's very laconic, [Fanning] is not. She's capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she's got a real thing that I'm so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself."
While Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he teased, "There's a unique hook to her character that is exciting in the pairing of [her and Dek]."
Predator: Badlands is set to launch on November 7, 2025. Before that, fans can look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, Predator: Killer of Killers, which will be released in June.
