It’s a Bad Day to Be a Predator Fan as the Franchise’s Future Just Got an Unexpected Update

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Look, the original Predator is a stone-cold classic – a perfect blend of sci-fi and action. But let’s be honest, the sequels really struggled to live up to that magic for years. Then Dan Trachtenberg came along and completely changed the game with Prey. It went straight to streaming, but don’t let that fool you – this Predator was genuinely terrifying, and critics and audiences loved it. Amber Midthunder’s Naru facing off against the Yautja? It’s honestly right up there with Schwarzenegger battling it out in the jungle back in ’87. Trachtenberg didn’t stop there, either. He followed it up with the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers and the surprisingly strong theatrical release Predator: Badlands, both of which feel essential to where this series is going now. It’s a real shame to hear that some behind-the-scenes industry changes might pull him away from the franchise, because he was clearly the right person to bring the Predator back to its former glory.

Director and producer Shane Trachtenberg has entered into a three-year deal with Paramount Pictures to develop new feature films. Working with his partner Ben Rosenblatt, Trachtenberg will focus on projects intended for theatrical release. This deal creates a conflict with his previous work on the Predator franchise, as Disney (through 20th Century Studios) owns the rights to that series. Any films Trachtenberg makes for Paramount must be separate from Predator, potentially pausing his involvement with that franchise as he focuses on new projects for Paramount.

Does Dan Trachtenberg Deal With Paramount Kills the Predator Franchise?

Though Shane Black has signed a deal with Paramount, he might still have an agreement with Disney regarding future Predator movies. If so, he could continue to guide the franchise creatively. However, his three-year commitment to Paramount likely means those projects will be his main focus for the foreseeable future. Even if he stays involved with Predator, studio decisions and how long films take to make could mean a significant wait before audiences see another movie he directs. Disney now faces a tough decision: wait for Black to become available after his work with Paramount, or find a new director quickly to capitalize on the current popularity of the Predator brand, especially given his recent box office and critical successes.

Even though the future of a new Predator movie is still unclear, director Shane Trachtenberg’s new agreement with Paramount is a significant win. He’s proven he can successfully revive struggling franchises by creating movies that are both engaging and faithful to the original stories. Paramount has several well-known franchises, like Transformers and Star Trek, that need a strong reboot to regain their popularity in theaters. These series have often had trouble finding the right mix of nostalgic appeal and modern storytelling. Trachtenberg excels at building suspense, and that could be exactly what these franchises need to connect with audiences again. By focusing on core elements, similar to how he approached Predator, he has the potential to usher in a new golden age for Paramount’s films, even if it means putting other projects on hold.

Predator: Badlands is coming to Disney+ and Hulu on February 12th.

With Dan Trachtenberg potentially moving on, do you believe the Predator series can keep up its current level of quality with a new director? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-06 15:12