6 New Additions to ‘Predator’ Lore In ‘Predator: Badlands’

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I’m really impressed with Predator: Badlands! It’s been a huge success for 20th Century Studios, already bringing in $161 million – making it the most successful Predator movie yet. And it looks like it’s going to keep going, potentially reaching $200 million! What’s even better is that critics seem to love it too, giving it an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s fantastic to see this franchise still thriving.

The story follows Dek, a young Predator outcast, who crash-lands on a dangerous planet and must prove his skills as a hunter. He reluctantly teams up with Thia, a broken android created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and together they battle unexpected dangers.

Badlands is a thrilling film with incredible visual effects and action. What really sets it apart is how it deepens the story of the Predators, giving viewers a more complete look at these dangerous aliens and why they act the way they do.

Here are the most notable new additions to the lore in Predator: Badlands.

6
Predator Language and Grammar in the Yautja Codex


20th Century Studios

It turns out Predators don’t just make random noises; they actually have a structured language with grammar and changes in tone. This language, called the Yautja Codex – which also includes their code of honor – first appeared in the novel Predator: Killer of Killers, but was developed more fully in Badlands. When director Dan Trachtenberg wanted to create a realistic Predator language for a new film, he initially reached out to Paul Frommer, the linguist who created the Na’vi language for James Cameron’s Avatar. However, Frommer was too busy, so he suggested one of his students instead.

Speaking to comicbook.com, the filmmaker said:

Everything you’ve seen regarding the Predator’s language in previous films was inconsistent and lacked a clear foundation. Fans online have attempted to create their own explanations, but those weren’t based on deliberate design. We wanted to do things differently, so we carefully crafted a complete language with its own grammar, rules, and both written and spoken forms.

Early Predator films portrayed the creatures as communicating through animalistic sounds like growls and by imitating other sounds. The symbols shown on screen were simply random patterns meant to suggest a tribal culture. However, the film Badlands goes further by giving the Yautja a real language. This makes their society feel more believable and allows for deeper character development. Instead of being just strange monsters, we now get a glimpse into how the Yautja think and see the world, thanks to their ability to communicate with actual words.

5
Planet Genna


20th Century Studios

I just finished watching Predator: Badlands, and the planet Genna is a real standout. Imagine a world constantly bombarded by space junk, and populated by some seriously dangerous alien creatures. They don’t call it the “Death Planet” for nothing! Everything on Genna is built to kill – the whole ecosystem is predatory, and anything that touches down is immediately targeted. It’s a fantastic setting that really drives the plot forward and creates a constant sense of tension.

Dek’s ship is hit by space debris, forcing him to crash-land on an alien planet. He quickly faces dangerous creatures and must fight to survive while also proving his abilities. The planet, Genna, is a brutal proving ground, reminiscent of the Game Preserve Planet in the movie Predators (2010), but with much more detail and a feel similar to a planet from Star Wars.

In an interview with IGN, director Trachtenberg explained that the movie’s world, Genna, was heavily inspired by Conan the Barbarian. He described it as a unique blend of fantasy, harshness, and a pirate-like feel, distinct from other popular fantasy series like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and Avatar. The filmmakers also used the wild landscapes of New Zealand to bring Genna to life on screen.

4
Weyland-Yutani’s Knowledge of the Predators


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The game Predator: Badlands reveals that the Weyland-Yutani corporation has long been aware of the Predators. They possess secret files detailing Yautja activity, though they don’t completely grasp how the species functions. Recognizing the Predators’ biological and technological superiority, the corporation intends to study them further, hoping to profit from and weaponize their capabilities.

Recent discoveries have sparked debate about the risks and rewards of scientific experimentation. While bold initiatives, like the one seen here, can sometimes lead to positive outcomes, they also carry the potential for failure. This also firmly establishes Weyland-Yutani as one of the most ruthless corporations in film. Even without a single, clear villain, audiences are still entertained by these large-scale, ambitious projects.

This revelation further connects the Alien and Predator universes, establishing that W-Y’s ultimate goal is to study and exploit alien life. The new details echo the original Alien film, where Science Officer Ash on the Nostromo receives Special Order 937, a directive prioritizing the retrieval of an alien specimen above the crew’s safety. This order compelled Ash to sabotage the crew and help the alien survive.

3
Yautja Society Kills Off Its Weakest Members


20th Century Studios

The latest movie shows that the Yautja don’t just respect power – they despise weakness. This isn’t about being cruel; it’s simply how their society works. Dek is targeted for removal because he’s smaller and weaker than the others, with genetic disadvantages. To make matters worse, he can’t successfully complete the tests to become a hunter.

Recent discoveries about Predator culture shed light on why they’re such powerful and dangerous foes in the films. It actually makes sense that hunting is so deeply ingrained in their society – weaker Predators could fail missions and potentially weaken the entire species over time.

2
They’ve Hunted Dinosaurs and ID4 Aliens


20th Century Studios

A significant discovery in Predator: Badlands reveals that the Yautja (Predators) have been hunting for billions of years, even before humans evolved. Evidence, like wounds on dinosaur bones matching Predator energy weapon scars, suggests this ancient history. A recovered recording from a Predator mask further confirms this, showing a young Predator hunting a dinosaur.

Previous Predator movies suggested the Yautja disliked humans and viewed them as the ultimate hunt. However, Badlands reveals a different motive: the Predators are interested in Earth itself, considering it an ideal place to practice and hone their hunting skills.

Perhaps even more surprising is the revelation that Predators have battled the aliens from Independence Day, often called “The Harvesters.” While the movie doesn’t explicitly name them as such, their distinctive look – including the biological armor and tendril-based mind control – is unmistakable. This connection is solidified when Weyland-Yutani recovers a Predator recording device showing a Predator scouting team being attacked by Harvester soldiers. In the footage, a Predator defeats a Harvester, removes its helmet as a trophy, and takes it. This implies that the Predator and Independence Day universes are connected, hinting at possible crossovers down the line.

1
Cloaking Tech Is Earned as a Rite of Passage


Davis Entertainment

Detective Schaefer, in the novel Predator: Cold War, describes their stealth technology as far surpassing even the famously stealthy B-2 bomber. The novel Badlands reveals that the Yautja’s cloaking device—which makes the user nearly invisible—isn’t automatically given to all members. Instead, it’s a reward earned through a challenging trial that proves a Yautja’s strength and skill. This information comes from the detailed history of a character named Dek and recordings studied by researchers.

When the Predator first appeared in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, audiences naturally assumed its ability to vanish was an inherent trait. Dutch’s famous line, “What the hell are you?” didn’t have a clear answer at the time, but it’s actually quite simple: this power isn’t something the Predator is born with, it’s a skill developed through strength and experience. A less capable hunter wouldn’t understand when to use – or not use – invisibility.

As a huge fan of the Predator films, I always loved the Predator’s cloaking device. I recently learned from the DVD commentary for Predator 2 that the idea actually came from a dream screenwriter Jim Thomas had about an invisible man! It’s wild to think about where these iconic designs come from. And get this – apparently, after a screening of the first Predator at the Pentagon, a general was so blown away by the technology depicted that he actually initiated a research program to build a real version! You never know, maybe somewhere out there, they’re actually working on it.

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2025-11-27 00:38