Predator: Badlands Director Proves Why He Should Be The One Who Makes Alien vs. Predator 3

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Dan Trachtenberg has been key to the recent revival of the Predator series. Predator: Badlands is his third consecutive film in the franchise to receive positive reviews. Following the success of Prey in 2022, which reinvigorated the series, Trachtenberg delivered another exciting installment to sci-fi fans in 2025.

Both Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands were big hits with viewers and critics. Director Trachtenberg understands what fans love about the Predator series—exciting sci-fi action and intense violence—and these films successfully expanded the story and culture of the dangerous, mysterious Yautja.

The movie Predator: Badlands generated a lot of excitement among science fiction fans with its initial trailer. It features the Predator warrior Dek on a planet populated by synthetic humans created by Weyland-Yutani, strongly suggesting that the deadly Xenomorphs also exist in this shared universe. This immediately led to speculation about a future confrontation between these iconic creatures, and director Trachtenberg recently explained why he’s the right person to bring that clash to the screen.

Dan Trachtenberg Publicly Preached Restraint In Bringing Alien And Predator Together

In a recent interview with The Direct, director Shane Black discussed the possibility of uniting the Alien and Predator franchises in a new film. He was asked if there had been any discussions about bringing the characters together on screen, something that hasn’t happened since the poorly received 2007 sequel, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem. Black then used a fitting analogy to explain his vision for how the two series should move forward.

What I find most exciting is the chance to combine these ingredients and really let them develop flavor. It’s important not to rush the process – we want everything to cook thoroughly and reach just the right temperature, allowing the flavors to fully blend.

With excitement for both the Predator and Alien universes at their peak – thanks to Shane Black and Trachtenberg’s strong Predator films, the hit movie Alien: Romulus, and the popular FX series Alien: Earth which is returning for another season – it’s understandable why people want to combine the two. However, director Trachtenberg recognizes that doing so would be a significant error.

To successfully revive the Alien vs. Predator series and avoid another failure like the 2000s film, it’s essential to first develop both the Alien and Predator universes independently. Both franchises have recently shown promising signs of renewed interest, but they need further development before a crossover feels natural and justified.

Currently, the Alien and Alien: Earth series are heading in separate directions, though a crossover isn’t impossible. A sequel to Alien: Romulus is planned, continuing the story of Rain Carradine (played by Cailee Spaeny) and the android Andy (David Jonsson). Meanwhile, the second season of Alien: Earth will likely focus on the continuing story of Wendy, the synthetic character played by Sydney Chandler.

Currently, there aren’t any plans to make a direct sequel to Predator: Badlands. However, after the exciting conclusion of the first film, audiences are likely eager to see more of Dek’s group. Rushing a confrontation between the two creatures in the near future would unfortunately overshadow many interesting story possibilities, especially considering the strong momentum both Predator and the other franchise are experiencing.

It’s crucial to have a good story reason for putting the Predator and the Xenomorph together. A simple explanation could be the Predator hunting on a planet overrun by Xenomorphs, or both creatures crashing on the same planet and fighting for dominance. However, following this path would repeat the formula of the first two films, and that would be a mistake.

To make another Predator vs. Alien movie truly exciting, we need a solid backstory. The Easter egg in Predator: Killer of Killers and the design of Predator ships show they highly value Xenomorphs as trophies. Instead of just throwing them into a fight, building up their shared history would create genuine anticipation and make the conflict more meaningful for viewers, rather than feeling like a simple, spectacle-driven brawl.

Trachtenberg’s Approach Will Keep All Three Franchises Successful

When Trachtenberg talked about “letting the elements cook,” he meant that the Alien and Predator universes have a rich history that hasn’t been fully utilized in their films. While these creatures and their backstories have been extensively developed in other media like comics and novels, the movies themselves have only shown a small part of what’s possible.

A third Alien vs. Predator movie should feel like a side story, not a crucial part of either the Alien or Predator series. Unlike the early Marvel Cinematic Universe, which carefully led to The Avengers, this film doesn’t need to be a defining moment for either franchise.

Even though it’s been done before, there’s still demand for these kinds of stories, and they could lead to some great new films. Ideally, any future installments would strengthen both the Alien and Predator series, placing them on equal ground. The success of films like Predator: Badlands and Alien: Romulus shows audiences enjoy these standalone creature features, so it wouldn’t make sense to sacrifice the quality of two established franchises to prioritize a third.

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2025-11-23 05:31