The Next Predator Movie Is So Much More Exciting Thanks to Disney’s Incredible 2025 Streak

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When Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey debuted on Hulu in 2022, it proved that the Predator franchise, which had struggled to recapture the magic of its 1987 original, could successfully continue-and do so with quality. The secret, it turned out, was to surprise the audience. We can expect a similar approach with Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands, which arrives in theaters on November 7th. The advertising suggests this film is even more expansive than Prey and presents an equally surprising, if not greater, twist. However, this time the surprise isn’t a shift in time period; it’s the transformation of a former villain into something of a protagonist. Simply put, Predator: Badlands doesn’t feel like just another entry in the Predator series. It feels like a project that has rightfully generated excitement, building on the success of the IP’s previous two installments. In fact, the anticipation extends beyond the Predator franchise, also fueled by the strength of the Alien universe.

Why is Badlands generating so much excitement as the newest installment in the Predator series? Well, director Trachtenberg is back, and his previous two Predator films have both been hits. Let’s explore the other reasons behind the anticipation.

Recent Big Swings Have Worked for Alien

For many years, fans have found comfort in the consistent nature of the Alien and Predator series. The Xenomorphs quickly became popular with viewers, and the Yautja followed suit, establishing both as major sci-fi horror icons. While there have been small changes occasionally – like the different colors of the Yautja’s vision in Predators or the introduction of an Ultimate Predator in The Predator – these two iconic creatures have largely stayed true to their original form.

That is, until Alien: Earth. This amazing special effects show brought with it a whole range of other frightening creatures, such as the D. Plumbicare (a plant that eats meat), the fly that kills Tootles, and the remarkably creative Trypanohyncha Ocellus-also known as the eye monster-which invades and controls the bodies of both living and dead sheep and people.

Simply put, Alien: Earth has demonstrated that the Xenomorphs can continue to be compelling even when they aren’t the main danger. Could the same approach work for the Yautja (Predators)? It’s quite possible. While it’s always good to see a recognizable face with those distinctive mandibles, that familiarity diminishes the sense of threat with each appearance.

Then you have Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and Alien: Romulus, all of which played around with the established timeline of the series. While the first two were controversial among fans, most people felt Romulus was successful. What’s really impressive is that it’s set between two films that fans and movie lovers generally consider to be flawless. Therefore, if the Predator franchise wanted to create a movie set between Predator and Predator 2-perhaps even featuring a younger, digitally recreated Arnold Schwarzenegger-that now seems much more achievable.

Just As They’ve Worked for Predator

With that in mind, the Alien series isn’t alone in having sequels and prequels play around with its established history. Prey showed us that the Yautja from the original Predator film weren’t the first of their kind to hunt humans on Earth.

Then there’s Predator: Killer of Killers, a film that surprisingly appealed even to fans of the Predator franchise who don’t usually watch animated movies. It succeeded by presenting a series of encounters between interesting characters and the Yautja. Each story was well-told, brief, and flowed together naturally, which helped move the franchise forward in an exciting way. Importantly, it showed what happened to Naru from Prey and Dutch Schaefer from Predator. Since Killer of Killers is officially part of the Predator universe, many viewers of Badlands will likely be hoping to see at least one, if not both, of those popular characters return in a live-action film.

So Maybe Now Is, in Fact, the Time for an Actually Enjoyable AVP Movie

Considering the initial marketing for Predator: Badlands revealed Elle Fanning’s character, Thia, is a Weyland-Yutani synthetic human, it was always obvious that Trachtenberg’s new Predator movie shares a universe with Alien. This isn’t the first instance of these two franchises connecting, of course.

We first saw a hint of Xenomorphs way back in Predator 2, with a Xenomorph skull displayed as a trophy on the Yautja ship. Then came the Alien vs. Predator movies in the early 2000s. Sadly, those films weren’t well-received, and many potential viewers of Badlands are worried it might lead to another AVP film.

Honestly, this is precisely the kind of fresh start the AVP franchise needs. With a clear creative direction like Trachtenberg’s, it definitely has the potential to succeed. Even if Badlands doesn’t directly lead into a major crossover event, it’s guaranteed to offer some exciting surprises that fans will enjoy.

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2025-10-03 20:28