Predator’s Dan Trachtenberg Talks Badlands, Killer of Killers, and More

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Back in 1987, the original Predator movie made its grand entrance to viewers, swiftly earning acclaim as a timeless blend of horror, sci-fi, and action. The film features Arnold Schwarzenegger and his mercenary team battling an extraterrestrial predator. Over the years, the series has branched out in various directions, but none have matched the impact of that initial release. In 2022, Dan Trachtenberg introduced a fresh take on the Yautja species through Prey, set in 1719, where they encounter Native American Comanche warriors. The movie received positive reviews from both audiences and critics, paving the way for Predator: Badlands and the animated series, Predator: Killer of Killers.

During a press event, Trachtenberg reminisced about his work with the Predator franchise. He shared that among the three exciting concepts he had, one stood out the most at the time – it was “Badlands”. However, there was another idea, “Prey”, which also intrigued him. The unique aspect of “Prey” wasn’t just the Predator in a different era; it was how the Predator story enhanced the narrative they were telling. He didn’t want to simply transpose them into different eras; instead, if they were to revisit this idea, he pondered on what could make it unique again and what kind of story could be told that would be as thrilling yet emotionally resonant and thematic.

The tale in this anthology portrays three formidable combatants from human history: a Viking warrior leading her son on a vengeful, violent journey, a ninja during feudal Japan who clashes with his fellow Samurai sibling in a lethal struggle for power, and a WWII aviator venturing into the skies to examine an otherworldly menace threatening the Allied forces. Although these warriors are lethal in their individual capacities, they become the targets of a formidable new adversary – the deadliest predator of killers.

In this upcoming movie titled “Predator: Badlands,” Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi star. The story takes place on a distant planet in the future. A young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), shunned by his clan, forms an unexpected alliance with Thia (Fanning) as they venture into dangerous territories to locate their greatest foe. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor.

Trachtenberg pondered about various timeframes and found himself drawn to the concept: “Suppose we created an animated film that allows us a unique form of self-expression, unlike anything we’ve done before?” This is what he shared. “We’ve already produced numerous Predator films, but this one is strikingly different. Yet it still retains all the elements… The flipside that appeals to me in the Predator series is its raw, R-rated violence. Isn’t it fascinating to envision such carnage in a new format? So, we concurrently produced the movie, Killer of Killers, both foolishly and brilliantly.

When asked about additional concepts for animated films, the filmmaker affirmed, “Absolutely! After watching a great movie, you might find yourself thinking, ‘What if…’ That thought process never stops for me. As a result, I have many exciting ideas. Whether we get to bring them to life depends on audience reception. But let me assure you, they’re not just the first parts of something bigger. We strive to create each film as a standalone experience, like Christopher Nolan advises: make it as if it’s the only one. This is because we don’t want viewers to feel cheated or that the experience was incomplete. I put my heart and soul into every aspect of these films, so much so that I wouldn’t be able to rest at night if I didn’t feel like I fully conveyed everything I intended with both movies.

The “Predator: Hunter of Hunters” series debuts on Hulu on June 6th. Meanwhile, “Predator: Desolate Territory” will make its way to cinemas on November 7th.

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2025-04-23 20:10