After years of waiting for the Predator franchise to evolve beyond its familiar cat-and-mouse formula, Predator: Badlandspromises the boldest reinvention yet. Directed by Prey’s Dan Trachtenberg and produced by 20th Century Studios, the film shifts the perspective entirely — turning the once-feared hunter into a sympathetic protagonist and taking audiences deeper into Yautja culture than ever before. Set for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025, Badlands is shaping up to be a major entry in the long-running sci-fi saga.
The film follows Dek, a young and undersized Yautja (played by Far North’s Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) who is exiled from his clan on Yautja Prime and sets out to prove his worth. His journey leads him to the desolate planet Genna, where he hunts the legendary Kalisk — an unkillable beast. There, he encounters Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic stranded on the planet, played by Elle Fanning, who also portrays Thia’s twin synth counterpart, Tessa. The story alternates between Dek’s and Thia’s perspectives, exploring the tension between organic instinct and artificial intelligence while reframing the predator not as a villain, but as a reluctant hero.
Set in a timeline far beyond any previous Predator or Alien film, Badlands sits closer to the events of Alien and Alien: Romulus. Producer Ben Rosenblatt has confirmed that the movie exists “after everything we know from the Alien and Predator universe,” positioning it as a future-set standalone that connects loosely to the wider mythology. While Weyland-Yutani plays a key role, there are no Xenomorphs here — only synthetic life, predators, and new alien species. The creative team describes Badlands as a mythic survival story inspired by Conan the Barbarian and Shadow of the Colossus, blending primal adventure with science fiction world-building.
Behind the camera, Trachtenberg reunites with Prey co-writer Patrick Aison and original Predator screenwriters Jim and John Thomas. The production team includes veterans from major franchises: John Davis (The Predator), Marc Toberoff (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), Brent O’Connor (Alien: Romulus), and Rosenblatt himself. The visual team features cinematographer Jeff Cutter (Prey), production designer Ra Vincent (Thor: Ragnarok), and art directors Zahra Archer (A Minecraft Movie) and Sam Storey (Avatar: The Way of Water).
A standout element of Badlands is its emphasis on practical effects. Legendary creature designer Alec Gillis returns to the franchise, combining traditional animatronics with modern CGI to create expressive, tactile predator faces and detailed alien environments. According to the production team, the crew built full-scale replicas of Dek and Thia’s sequences, even constructing custom rigs that allowed Elle Fanning to be realistically carried during scenes where Dek hauls Thia across rough terrain.
Fans can also expect intense, intricately choreographed combat sequences. Stunt coordinator Jacob Tomuri — known for his work on Furiosa — has designed elaborate fight scenes, including a battle between Dek and his brother on cave stalactites, and the climactic showdown with the Kalisk. Prop master Matt Cornelias revealed that each predator weapon has its own hierarchy and backstory, crafted to highlight the species’ ritualistic approach to combat.
Despite the action, Badlands aims for emotional depth. By humanizing Dek and focusing on his moral struggle, Trachtenberg hopes to expand what a Predator story can be. Instead of the familiar hunt on Earth, this is a journey of exile, redemption, and reluctant companionship — with plenty of blood and brutality, albeit alien rather than human. The film’s PG-13 rating belies what insiders describe as an intense, visually rich experience designed for IMAX screens.
Two trailers — one released in April and another in July 2025 — have teased sweeping visuals, alien landscapes, and an unusually introspective tone. The imagery hints at a hybrid of survival thriller and space epic, while still preserving the franchise’s trademark tension and physicality.
Following its theatrical debut, Predator: Badlands is expected to stream on Hulu and Disney+ in early 2026, aligning with 20th Century Studios’ release model for Prey and Alien: Romulus.
If Prey re-energized the franchise by returning to its primal roots, Badlands takes the opposite route — pushing it into the far future, where honor, AI, and survival collide. It’s not just another Predator sequel; it’s a full reimagining of what it means to be the hunter and the hunted.
