Predator: Badlands Ending Explained: Mother, Alien Future & What It All Means

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Warning: Includes SPOILERS for Predator: Badlands!

‘Predator: Badlands’ is the newest addition to the long-running ‘Predator’ film series, and it’s sparking discussion about how it fits into the larger franchise. Director Dan Trachtenberg previously impressed fans with his fresh approach to the series in 2022’s ‘Prey.’ Now, with his third ‘Predator’ film (and the second released this year, after ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’), he’s again earning praise for creatively evolving the ‘Predator’ universe. The film currently holds an 88% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Okay, so Predator: Badlands throws us onto the planet Gemma with Dek, a young Predator looking to prove himself by hunting the local Kalisk. But things get interesting when he crosses paths with Thia, a synthetic android from Weyland-Yutani. She really shakes up his world, showing him some serious flaws in the Predator code. The story culminates in Dek helping Thia fend off a Weyland-Yutani invasion, and then, back on Yautja Prime, he finally gets revenge for his brother by taking down his own father, Njohrr. It’s a solid entry that adds some unexpected depth to the Predator universe.

How Dek’s Mother Sets Up a ‘Predator: Badlands’ Sequel


20th Century Studios

Right after Dek defeats his father in Predator: Badlands, the movie briefly shows its end title screen, then immediately continues with a short scene before the credits. This scene shows Dek, Thia, and Bud watching a large ship arrive. Dek explains the ship belongs to his mother, and then the credits finally roll. Since there isn’t a scene after the credits hinting at a sequel, it’s unclear what this means. As Dek was created specifically for this film, we don’t know anything about his mother beyond this brief mention.

The story of the Predator universe has been greatly expanded through comics, games, and other media, meaning the movies themselves don’t tell the whole picture. This has led to a lot of questions and confusion about female Yautja (the Predator species). While different versions of the story have shown female Predators in various ways, the current understanding is that they are faster and potentially even more formidable than the males. It remains to be seen if director Dan Trachtenberg will incorporate this newer depiction in his Predator films, but he’s already shown he’s willing to shake things up and change established rules.

Many aspects of the Yautja culture in Predator: Badlands are unique to the movie, like the invisibility cloak being earned as a reward for completing hunts. This shows that the film is building a structured society for the Yautja, allowing Dek’s mother to have a place within it. While the ending hints she might be a villain, we won’t know for sure until a sequel is released. Ultimately, the most important thing is that Dek, Thia, and Bud have formed a strong bond as a team.

‘Predator: Badlands’s Numerous ‘Alien’ Connections Explained


20th Century Studios

The worlds of Predator and Alien have been connected for decades, starting with a comic book crossover in 1989. This connection was then brought to the big screen with the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator, which made a lot of money at the box office even though critics didn’t love it. Now that Disney owns both franchises through its acquisition of 20th Century Studios, we can expect to see even more crossovers and shared elements in the future.

The game Predator: Badlands includes several nods to the Alien franchise. Most notably, it features the Weyland-Yutani Corporation – the ruthless company from the Alien movies known for creating artificial beings like David from Prometheus and relentlessly pursuing Xenomorphs, often at the expense of human lives. In Badlands, Weyland-Yutani operates on the planet Genna, using synthetic beings to capture the powerful Kalisk creature, and damaging the local ecosystem in the process for profit.

The movie features Tessa piloting a massive version of the mech suits made famous in James Cameron’s 1986 film, Aliens. While this gives her a powerful edge, it isn’t enough to overcome Dek and his team. Additionally, the AI known as MU/TH/UR, or Mother – the computer from the original Alien film – is a key character, issuing commands to Tessa and her allies.

The future of crossovers between the Alien and Predator franchises is still uncertain. Alien: Romulus did well and has sequels planned, and director Trachtenberg is likely to make more Predator films if Badlands is successful. While Trachtenberg’s Predator movies have featured the Xenomorph, the Yautja haven’t appeared in Romulus or Alien: Earth, despite early speculation that one might show up in the FX TV series. A shared cinematic universe is possible, but no official plans have been announced.

What ‘Predator: Badlands’s Story Really Means


20th Century Studios

Okay, so Predator: Badlands looks like your typical action flick on the surface, but honestly, it surprised me. Underneath all the hunting and fighting, there’s a really touching story about building a family and needing connection. We quickly learn Dek was raised to believe strength comes from being alone – the Yautja are all about solitary hunts, and asking for help is basically a death sentence. The dynamic between Dek, his brother Kwei, and their father, Njohrr, is really powerful. It’s cleverly contrasted with the relationship between Thia, Tessa, and that robot, MU/TH/UR. And here’s where it gets interesting: Kwei makes this huge sacrifice for Dek, showing real loyalty, but Tessa… well, she lets Thia down when it really counts. It’s a key difference that really highlights the film’s themes.

Tessa and Thia demonstrate that artificial intelligence operates based on the rules it’s given, rules that can be altered by its creators. In contrast, living creatures naturally seek connection – forming families and friendships, like Dek and his brother, or the Kalisk and Bud. The Yautja, by imposing rigid laws on themselves, are going against their inherent instincts and limiting what they could achieve.

As a lifelong movie fan, I’ve always believed the strongest stories aren’t about individual power, but about connection. It really hit home watching Predator: Badlands. The film shows that whether you’re human, a Yautja, or even a Kalisk, true strength comes from teamwork, cherishing your relationships, and being willing to sacrifice for those you care about. Dek finally realizes this, and that’s what allows him to unlock his full potential and ultimately overcome his father.

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2025-11-07 01:19