Predator: Badlands Continues A Big Trend Started by Prey, and It’s Only Clear to Gamers

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I’m really excited about Predator: Badlands! It’s the latest from director Dan Trachtenberg, who also gave us the awesome prequel Prey and the animated Predator: Killer of Killers. He’s done three Predator projects now, and it’s clear he’s bringing a fresh take and expanding the story in ways that fans, like me, are really digging.

Many viewers are overlooking a cool Easter egg in Predator: Badlands, but gamers immediately recognize it as a sign that director Trachtenberg is one of them.

Dan Trachtenberg Loves Mixing Preator & Gaming

Okay, so when Prey dropped in 2022, as a Predator fan I was immediately hooked by Naru, played by Amber Midthunder. She’s this young Comanche woman who wants to prove herself as a warrior, and she gets thrown into the ultimate test against a Predator. What I loved is that she wasn’t your typical muscle-bound hero like Dutch from the original movie. She had to use her brains and be super resourceful to survive and take down the Predator. There’s even a part where she basically ‘levels up’ her gear, like you do in a game. She takes vines and her tomahawk and builds this awesome weapon that’s like a Comanche version of a kusarigama – seriously cool!

True fans of historical dramas and games know that, alongside Japanese feudal settings, the God of War video game series is uniquely known for its iconic weapons. Later God of War games replaced the Blades of Chaos with the “Leviathan Axe,” which Kratos can magically recall to his hand, similar to how Thor summons Mjolnir – and even more like the way Naru uses her tomahawk.

It’s no secret that the movie Prey drew inspiration from the game God of War. Director Dan Trachtenberg has said playing God of War specifically influenced the way the character Naru created her own unique weapon. Therefore, it’s not surprising that he also looked to video games for ideas when developing the new Predator movie, Badlands.

I recently told BAFTA that Shadow of the Colossus is honestly one of my all-time favorite games, and I really think you can feel that same emotional core in this movie I made. It’s a big inspiration!

Released in 2005, Shadow of the Colossus is a game where you play as a character named Wander, who is on a quest to bring a girl named Mono back to life. He’s told by a mysterious being called Dormin to defeat sixteen massive creatures – the colossi – that roam a forbidden land. These colossi are made of stone, earth, and other materials. As Wander progresses, he discovers that his mission isn’t as straightforward or selfless as he initially believed, and that Dormin may not be what he seems.

Fans are excited about Predator: Badlands thanks to its striking designs for characters, creatures, and the alien world it portrays. The film’s setting, a dangerous “death planet” called Genna, was a bold idea that really paid off. It’s a place so brutal that even the Predators are considered vulnerable. Director Trachtenberg and the team created a visually and narratively strong world, filled with memorable elements like the field of razor-sharp glass-grass and the fearsome, self-healing Kalisk creature, which drives much of the plot.

As a huge fan, I immediately got Shadow of the Colossus vibes from the Kalisk – and honestly, that’s awesome! Seeing fantastic sci-fi games influence amazing sci-fi movies is exactly what I love to see.

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2025-11-16 00:14