Predator: Badlands Trailer Shows Predator Teaming with an Android

A new live-action Predator movie is no small occasion, and one that reimagines the franchise’s monstrous antagonist as the hero of the story? That’s a double rarity if ever there was one. But today, 20th Century Studios released the first teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands, and what they showed us is unlike any other Predator movie.

Based on early descriptions and the new footage, the film will follow the story of Dek, a young Predator cast out of his tribe, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Dek will be on the run alongside a rogue Weyland-Yutani android named Thia (played by Elle Fanning) and will face “the ultimate enemy,” an “unkillable” creature they must try to defeat. The first trailer offers only glimpses of that “enemy” but hints that it will be a massive monster, unlike anything audiences have seen before in the Alien or Predator films.

A Whole New World for the Predator Franchise

Predator: Badlands will exist as its entry within the Predator/Aliens shared universe, but early reports suggest it will do some heavy lifting on worldbuilding. There are indications that at least a portion of the film will take place on the Predator homeworld, a location never before depicted in the movie franchise until now. The first teaser includes flashes of the world’s alien landscapes and active Predator cities, including more than one Predator fighting either in an apparent standoff or in mortal combat.

Beyond the new world, director and co-writer Dan Trachtenberg appears to be getting more specific about Predator culture. Prey, which Trachtenberg directed, stripped back the universe to one violent, survivalist clash of wills on the American Great Plains in the 18th century. Badlands, on the other hand, looks to be a chance for the team to better elaborate on the Predators’ customs, language, and group dynamics. The first trailer gives some tantalizing glimpses into Predator life and ritual. Fans can expect to learn much more about Yautja society and tradition, as well as the franchise’s typical advanced technology and bloodthirsty savagery.

Elle Fanning’s role as the android character Thia is another element of the story worth commenting on. In the trailer, she moves with a doll-like precision and recites her lines in a dry, emotionless voice, the edges of her character softened only by flickers of curiosity and compassion. She is the first human-created android to be paired so prominently with the Predator creatures, and the Weyland-Yutani corporation’s involvement is likely to be particularly appealing to Alien franchise fans and lore enthusiasts.

20th Century Studios Has a Winning Director

The return of Trachtenberg is the first major selling point of the new film. Prey not only earned critical acclaim as a revitalization of the Predator series but also became a massive success on Hulu, with strong word-of-mouth growing its legacy. 20th Century Studios re-hiring him for Badlands is a big sign of their confidence in his project and his vision for the franchise.

It isn’t the only Predator-related project Trachtenberg will be working on in the coming months. He has been developing a series, Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology series set for release on Hulu — the same home of Prey — on June 6. The series will also be from Trachtenberg and explore different Predator hunts across various timelines and settings.

Teaser Teases

As with most first trailers, the first Predator: Badlands teaser doesn’t give much away, but there is a lot to unpack. The camera lingers on shots of Predators in ceremonial armor fighting each other, on Dek stealthily making his way through strange terrain, on Thia wielding futuristic weapons, and on an unidentifiable “unkillable” enemy moving in the darkness. The show’s alien settings are lush and dense, and based on everything we’ve seen so far, the production appears to be large in scale.

Importantly, this teaser trailer signals to audiences that Badlands is going to be a significant departure from past Predator films. The shift in perspective from human prey to a Predator outcast is a chance for the franchise to subvert its tried and true formula and develop more sympathetic character arcs and complicated moral situations. If Dek’s narrative is one of redemption or honor regained, then audiences may not only find themselves on the side of a human but on the side of a monster.

Release Date and Future Developments

Predator: Badlands will debut in theaters on November 7, meaning it’s one of the most exciting sci-fi action movies coming out at the end of the year. From this teaser trailer to the expected first full trailer, fans will get new information on the plot, see more of the film’s big set pieces, and perhaps get a clearer look at the mysterious “unkillable” antagonist.

For now, the first teaser did exactly what it needed to. It intrigued longtime fans, whetted the appetites of potential newcomers, and primed the audience for a Predator movie unlike any other. With Trachtenberg in the director’s chair, an interesting duo at the center of the film, and a story promising to mine the lore, Badlands could be just what the franchise needs.

Fans may watch to root for Dek’s journey of survival, or they might watch for the thrill of Predators going toe-to-toe with a larger-than-life monster. Either way, November’s hunt is already looking like a blast.