Predator: Badlands’ Original WW2 Movie Plan Revealed (& We Need It To Happen Next)

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With Predator: Badlands, Dan Trachtenberg has now directed three films in the Predator series, and each one is unique. Prey was a historical adventure set in 1719, focusing on a Comanche warrior battling a Yautja. Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated collection of stories showing the Predator hunting in different eras, including Vikings, samurai, and WWII pilots. Badlands breaks new ground by making a Yautja the main character, but Trachtenberg originally had a different idea for the film that he hopes to explore in the future.

In an interview with Screen Rant, director Dane Trachtenberg discussed the origins of Predator: Badlands. He explained that he wanted a story where the Predator actually wins. Initially, he considered setting the film during World War II, with the creature battling Nazis. Trachtenberg said he noticed fans often questioned why the Predator frequently loses, given its reputation as the galaxy’s ultimate hunter. He wanted to address that by creating a scenario where the Predator could truly succeed.

Trachtenberg explained he wanted to explore a story where the Predator is victorious, but he didn’t want a simple slasher film. He initially considered pitting the Predator against Nazis, but the idea didn’t feel right until he landed on the concept of a Predator belonging to a fiercely competitive and brutal clan, striving to earn its place.

Predator Should Make Trachtenberg’s World War II Movie Next

Dane Trachtenberg intends to continue working on Predator movies for the foreseeable future, and if Predator: Badlands is successful – early reviews are promising – he’ll likely have the chance to do so. While the idea of a Predator film set during World War II didn’t develop beyond an initial concept, Trachtenberg should consider it for a future installment. It’s a compelling idea that would allow him to explore new territory with the Predator franchise while also offering a unique take on the WWII genre. Fans who enjoyed the WWII-inspired short film “The Bullet” within Killer of Killers would likely enjoy a full-length Predator movie set during that era.

With Badlands proving a Predator film can successfully center around a Yautja, it makes sense to explore other scenarios where the creature is the protagonist. A World War II setting would be a great fit, considering Yautja are known for seeking out the most formidable opponents. A Yautja facing off against a group of soldiers would allow for creative action sequences and capture the thrilling horror that defines the best Predator films.

Fans are hoping director Shane Trachtenberg will eventually make a new Alien vs. Predator movie that truly captures the potential of the crossover. While his film Predator: Badlands includes nods to the Alien franchise, a full-blown crossover isn’t planned right now. Trachtenberg has said he wants to focus on making strong, standalone stories, similar to how the Marvel Cinematic Universe started, before considering a large-scale crossover event. Badlands is the first new Predator film in seven years, so Trachtenberg might be taking a slow and steady approach. He could make another self-contained Predator movie next – perhaps one featuring the creatures battling Nazi soldiers – to keep fans engaged while he develops plans to bring the Alien xenomorphs back into the mix.

A story called “Yautja vs. Nazis” could echo the core idea of the original Predator film, but with a twist. Instead of following the soldiers, the story could be told from the Predator’s perspective, portraying the humans as the villains we’d enjoy seeing defeated. This would be a fresh take that pays homage to the franchise’s roots. The World War II setting is also unique within the Alien and Predator universe, giving director Trachtenberg the freedom to create a standalone story without worrying about connections to other planned projects.

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2025-11-06 20:12