Elle Fanning Reveals Surprising Detail Of Her Predator: Badlands Character

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I’m really excited about Elle Fanning‘s role in Predator: Badlands! She plays Thia, a synthetic created by Weyland-Yutani, and let me tell you, the character goes through a lot. Apparently, a lot of what she does on screen is practical effects, which is amazing. Thia starts the movie in a really tough spot – she’s seriously damaged, having lost the lower half of her body in an encounter with the Kalisk, a creature that’s almost impossible to kill.

The story of Predator: Badlands centers on an unlikely partnership between Thia and Dek, the first Yautja protagonist in the series. They’re forced to work together to hunt the Kalisk, with Thia essentially riding along attached to Dek. As they travel across the alien world of Genna, Thia begins to see a more vulnerable side of Dek, who is a young Yautja trying to prove his worth to his family back on Yautja Prime with his first hunt.

To celebrate the release of the film, ScreenRant spoke with Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi about Predator: Badlands. Schuster-Koloamatangi explained that wearing the Predator suit was challenging, but he’s proud to be part of the franchise’s tradition of practical effects, calling it “a really cool aspect” of the series.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi explained that having a visible mascot character has always been a key part of the team’s identity. He’s thrilled that Dan is continuing this long-standing tradition for the fans.

Schuster-Kolomatangi acknowledged that wearing the Predator suit was incredibly challenging. He described it as physically exhausting, causing him to sweat profusely due to the heat. It was also mentally demanding and limiting, as he worked to capture the right movements and physicality for the character Dek. Despite these difficulties, the New Zealand actor found the experience ultimately rewarding, feeling amazing when he saw himself in costume. He eventually developed a comfortable way to fully transform his body language and become the character.

Following Schuster-Kolomatangi’s comment about having “a really cool scene partner with me” who was “strapped to me back,” Fanning confirmed that all the scenes involving Thia acting as a sort of ‘backpack’ for Dek were filmed using real wires. She explained that Thia’s legs were supported in a sling and covered with blue stockings to allow for the removal of her lower body in post-production. They didn’t film on a set, but instead shot scenes of the pair “going up mountains in New Zealand through rivers.”

My dad used to carry me around in a wheelbarrow – it was like a little throne for me! He’d balance it on his hips and give me rides. We worked as a team, and he always checked to make sure I was doing okay and that we were both as comfortable as possible. He really looked out for me.

Thia & Dek’s Relationship In Predator: Badlands Is A Classic Comedic Styling

If you had to carry a fictional character on your back, who would you choose, and why?

Elle Fanning: Oh, that’s fun.

I’d choose Genie from Aladdin, hands down. He could grant me some wishes, and I imagine he’d be a pretty easygoing companion.

Elle Fanning thought for a moment and said she was reminded of Olaf from Frozen, though she wasn’t sure if that was the right answer. She joked that Olaf is a little annoying, and realized her character shares some similarities with him, which might be why he came to mind. She laughed, saying it was just the first thing that popped into her head.

Someone already mentioned this, but your relationship reminds me a bit of C-3PO and Chewbacca – one of you is very proper and the other is more rough around the edges.

Elle Fanning: For Dan, that was the inspo.

ScreenRant: So I mean, how do you describe the dynamic between these two characters?

The relationship between the characters is a classic pairing – you have one serious person and one who’s very talkative and funny. Eventually, they become friends. I really love how they interact, especially because it’s unexpected in a ‘Predator’ movie to find yourself laughing. There’s a lot of genuine emotion, particularly in their connection. They’re both a little damaged, almost like they’re searching for a place to belong. They see that vulnerability in each other. Of course, there’s still plenty of action and gore – Dan, the director, even said there’s a particularly gruesome scene with a spine rip that’s one of his favorites. So you’ll get the intense fights you expect, with lots of impressive stunts. But what I really appreciate is the heart Dan brought to their relationship.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi thinks their dynamic is really entertaining. He described them as total opposites – one is very reserved, while the other is outgoing and acts like an expert on everything.

Elle Fanning: Especially when she’s a robot, she really does know. [Laughs]

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi described a humorous element of the story – something just constantly being ‘on’. But he also highlighted the visually appealing change in Dek’s character as he pursues an indestructible creature on Genna. This hunt is Dek’s first time leaving his home planet, and he’s essentially untested – he hasn’t completed a hunt before and is quite naive. Everything he learned on Yautja Prime is now being put to the test. Throughout the film, Thia’s character plays a key role in helping Dek develop a new sense of self, and the way that happens is really surprising.

Be sure to dive into some of our other major Predator: Badlands coverage with:

  • Our Predator: Badlands review
  • Dan Trachtenberg talks what’s next for the Predator franchise after Badlands
  • Dan Trachtenberg explaining how the movie is secretly a new Star Wars story
  • The original Predator: Badlands plan being set in World War II
  • The classic Predator franchise character Dan Trachtenberg wants to bring back
  • Why there are no human characters in Badlands

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2025-11-08 05:20