Predator: Badlands Director Breaks Silence on Highly Anticipated Alien Crossover

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Previously, films like the Marvel Cinemaverse and DC Multiverse were not around to present big-screen crossovers; instead, it was the 1990’s “Predator 2” that first hinted at a common universe between the Alien and Predator series. This shared setting will significantly impact the upcoming “Predator: Badlands”, starring Elle Fanning as Weyland-Yutani android Thia. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, director Dan Trachtenberg has given us a glimpse into how he intends to explore and distinguish this Alien/Predator crossover from other shared movie universes in “Predator: Badlands”.

Trachtenberg expressed that the Weyland-Yutani connection opens up “even more exciting possibilities.” He emphasized his desire for “Predator: Badlands” to delve deeper into complex ideas using its cross-over elements. In comparison to other cinematic universes, he suggested they keep audiences engaged by clashing action figures instead. When the topic of another “Alien vs. Predator” film arose during the panel discussion, Trachtenberg admitted it would be “cool.

Asked by Smith if he’s going to do AvP, he says “that would be cool….”

— Spencer Perry (@TheSpencerPerry) July 25, 2025

In the process of crafting “Predator: Badlands,” I, as a creative mind, aimed to deliver a film devoid of human characters. With the innovative decision to team up the franchise’s inaugural Yautja protagonist, Dek, with a robot, it seamlessly paved the way for Weyland-Yutani to play a role in “Badlands” narrative. The intriguing links to “Alien” were discreetly preserved until the unveiling of the first trailer for “Predator: Badlands” earlier this year.

Trachtenberg has plenty of creative plans for the Predator series. Following the release of 2022’s Prey, he conceived ideas for three more projects. Two of these are Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated film that debuted on Hulu this summer, and Predator: Badlands. The third project is yet to be revealed, but there have been talks about potential plans following the conclusion of Badlands.

Before “Iron Man” hit the screens, there were already two movies pitting Alien against Predator. However, it was Marvel that truly popularized the concept of shared universes in big-budget films. Nowadays, crossovers are common in franchises and Trachtenberg makes a valid point when he says just smashing action figures isn’t enough to grab audience attention anymore. The appeal has faded, and filmmakers need to delve deeper to make crossovers worth watching. It’s intriguing to see what ideas Trachtenberg has for “Predator: Badlands”. Based on his statements, it seems that the corporation Weyland-Yutani won’t be included merely for the sake of it. Instead, they might play a significant role in the story, especially since Thia is one of the main characters. The purpose of her mission and what she’s pursuing should be key aspects of the plot.

It appears that Trachtenberg has given considerable thought to connecting the storylines of “Predator: Badlands” with the “Alien” series, potentially paving the way for a fresh take on the “Alien vs. Predator” film. This could be his third idea, depending on how “Badlands” fares at the box office before it gets approved. The past two “Alien vs. Predator” films didn’t receive critical acclaim, but Trachtenberg might just create something remarkable from this crossover. With previous works like “Prey” and “Predator: Killer of Killers,” he has demonstrated a solid grasp of what makes the “Predator” franchise successful, and he’s introducing intriguing new concepts in “Badlands.” Whatever his plans are, they promise to be thrilling.

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2025-07-26 04:09