The Predator franchise is boldly entering new territory with the upcoming release of Predator: Badlands, the latest installment from director Dan Trachtenberg, who previously helmed the critically acclaimed 2022 hit Prey. While Prey breathed new life into the long-running sci-fi series, Predator: Badlands promises to push boundaries even further — with a dramatically different setting, advanced technology, and a major twist in character dynamics.
Predator: Badlands Marks a Bold Shift from Prey
Unlike Prey, which was grounded in the 18th century and followed the story of a Comanche warrior named Naru, Predator: Badlands shifts to an alien planet, offering the most “otherworldly” setting the franchise has seen to date. Footage recently unveiled at CinemaCon 2025 showcased a vast and hostile alien landscape — a sharp contrast to Prey’s natural, earthy tones.
This time, Elle Fanning takes the lead, teaming up with a rogue Predator who is no longer the hunter, but the hunted. The surprising twist? The Predator is tracking an enemy that “can’t be killed,” suggesting an even more dangerous threat than ever before.
Predator: Badlands Plot Details – A Human & Predator Alliance
Early clips of Predator: Badlands reveal that Fanning’s character and the Predator form an unlikely alliance, navigating an alien world teeming with danger. Instead of humans merely surviving against a Predator, this film flips the script — positioning the Predator as a potential hero.
This evolution in the franchise’s tone suggests a more character-driven sci-fi action film, while still retaining the brutal, high-stakes combat the series is known for.
Advanced Weapons and Futuristic Tech Replace Prey’s Simplicity
In Prey, much of the tension came from the contrast between Naru’s primitive weapons — bows and pistols — and the Predator’s advanced arsenal. In Predator: Badlands, however, technology takes center stage. According to insider footage, the Predator rides a speeder-style bike and wields a superheated sword, signaling a more fast-paced and futuristic direction for the action.
The upgraded combat tools align with the movie’s interstellar setting and reframe the Predator not just as a killer, but a complex warrior with a cause.
A New Era for the Predator Franchise
With Predator: Badlands, Dan Trachtenberg returns to reinvent the sci-fi horror franchise once again. The film not only delivers an entirely new visual and thematic experience but also reimagines the relationship between humans and Predators. By setting the story in a high-tech alien environment and exploring moral ambiguity, the movie aims to evolve Predator beyond the familiar tropes of hunter versus hunted.
For longtime fans and new audiences alike, Predator: Badlands is shaping up to be a must-watch sci-fi action film of 2025.
