Predator: Killer of Killers Changes Everything About the Franchise

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This article contains SPOILERS for Predator: Killer of Killers

Predator: Slayer of Slayers,” Hulu’s latest animated movie within the Predator universe, could redefine how viewers perceive the title creature. At first glance, “Predator: Slayer of Slayers” seems like a conventional anthology film that draws inspiration from “Prey” by narrating tales of Predators hunting diverse warriors across different historical epochs. However, as the movie progresses, it becomes apparent that these standalone stories are interconnected. The climax reveals that the Predators have kidnapped each surviving human, frozen them in cryosleep, and transported them to their homeworld for a trial by combat to decide their fate.

In the final act of Predator: Killer of Killers, viewers find a surprising twist that significantly alters the franchise’s narrative. This new perspective on the Predator character was developed from hints dropped in films such as Predators and The Predator. This revelation challenges our previous understanding of the titular alien hunter and may pave the way for a more extensive narrative, as envisioned by director Dan Trachtenberg. This story could potentially continue beyond Predator: Badlands and even revisit ideas that were considered in the 1990s.

The Predator’s Status as Noble Is Now Cast Out

The concept of the Predator as a noble hunter was initially hinted at in the original Predator movie, where it was shown that they do not attack prey without weapons. The broader Predator lore, such as their rule against hunting the sick or pregnant and the trophy they award to those who kill them, was further developed in Predator 2. These details helped transform the Predator into a sympathetic character in crossover films like Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, where they were portrayed as the “good guys”.

(In this version, I’ve tried to make the language more conversational while still maintaining clarity and accuracy.)

In an effort to reinvent the Predator as a truly fearsome movie monster while maintaining its honor-bound mythology, both “Predators” and “The Predator” introduce a second, even deadlier and warlike group of Predators. These films emphasize this by portraying the other Predator tribe mercilessly slaughtering the iconic Predator design. The film “Prey” signaled the return of the Predator as a relentless slayer. It appears that “Predator: Killer of Killers” revises the endings of previous Predator films, suggesting that those who survived merely to be hunted again in the future.

In the briefs of the Killer of Killers series, the Predators seized the three principal characters. The final credits hinted that Naru from Prey was likewise taken captive, implying all protagonists were being held for a future confrontation. Dutch, who barely survived the Predator encounter, might have been kidnapped later, symbolizing why Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t reprise his role in subsequent films. Although Predators armed Detective Mike Harrigan (Dan Glover) with a flintlock pistol as a reward for his triumph, Killer of Killers implies this victory was brief. If Alien vs. Predator is considered canonical, and The Predator suggested it is, Alex (Sanaa Lathan) would also be kidnapped.

Killer of Killers” confirms that the Predators will return with a focus on Quentin “Quinn” McKenna and his son, Rory. This is significant because the previous film, “The Predator,” didn’t have a favorable reception, leading many to believe that the plotline involving the Predator armor wouldn’t be revisited.

Why This Change Is So Important

Killer of Killers” isn’t the initial movie to alter the Predator’s history significantly. Movies like “Predators” (2010) and “The Predator” (2018) have introduced significant new details to the franchise. Interestingly, “The Predator” went a step further by essentially redefining what we thought about these creatures, suggesting that the spines they collect aren’t just trophies but part of a larger plan to combine traits from various species with their own for superior hunting abilities. However, while “Predator: Killer of Killers” doesn’t completely dismiss this (it does portray some large Predators that seem related to the tribe introduced in “The Predator”), it also doesn’t explicitly confirm it.

The movie “Predator: Hunter of Hunters” suggests that the survivors from earlier encounters may not have escaped unscathed, casting doubt on their initial belief to live freely. This twist alters our view of the Predator from a noble warrior to its original fearsome image from the first film. A recurring critique of the Predator series is that the creature is essentially an extraterrestrial big-game hunter. However, big game hunters are far removed from honorable warriors, making it challenging for both concepts to coexist within the Predator character. The 2018 film “The Predator” acknowledges this inconsistency by pointing out that the name doesn’t align with the creature’s motivation, as a Predator kills for sustenance, not recreation.

The implication is that the Predators could have taken all previous survivors and transported them against their will to their planet, where they were forced to fight for the Predators’ entertainment, making them appear more sinister. Rather than releasing their defeated prey, these creatures now return to taunt them in a way that strips any remaining excitement from the hunt. The notion that defeating a Predator concludes the story is no longer valid; just like survivors in slasher films, they can never truly escape the terror until death claims them. Predator: Killer of Killers’ revelation repositions the Predator as an intergalactic slasher to be dreaded.

Is ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Teasing a Team-Up Movie?

1994 saw Robert Rodriguez being appointed to pen a screenplay for what was then known as Predator 3. Rodriguez proposed an action-packed sci-fi spectacle that would have transported Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger from Predator) and Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover from Predator 2) to the Predators’ home planet. Unfortunately, this project eventually transformed into Predators, featuring a new set of characters with no recurring figures from the previous films. However, certain aspects of Rodriguez’s original script have found their way into Predator: Killer of Killers, most notably the Predators capturing individuals who had previously bested them in battle and compelling them to engage in gladiatorial combat.

Incorporating elements from Robert Rodriguez’s original “Predator 3” script hints that Dan Trachtenberg and his team may be considering another major concept from that script: uniting the primary characters of the Predator movie franchise. The mid-credit scene of “Predator: Killer of Killers” shows that not only is Naru (Amber Midthunder) from “Prey” being held by the Predators, but it’s possible there are other survivors as well, such as Dutch and Detective Harrigan, along with potential survivors from “The Predator.” Previously, Trachtenberg expressed interest in having Arnold Schwarzenegger appear in a sequel to “Prey.

Originally, Royce and Isabelle were left stranded on the Predator’s planet. If they didn’t manage to escape, they could potentially join forces with other survivors. This potential alliance could lead to a spectacular movie, considering the inclusion of Dutch, Harrigan, Royce, Isabelle, Naru, and even three warriors from the Predator: Killer of Killers storyline. The narrative structure hints at a possible connection to the Predator: Killer of Killers concept.

In a thrilling reunion, instead of diverse combatants hailing from various points in history, the Predators engage in a showdown against prominent characters from the franchise’s history in an epic tournament of titans. This battle could be depicted in animated form such as “Killer of Killers” or live-action like “Prey”. The possibility exists for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and other iconic Predator actors to reprise their roles in a future venture, breathing new life into this idea that the Predator film series has been considering since the mid-1990s. Stream “Predator: Killer of Killers” on Hulu.

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2025-06-07 23:32