Predator’s Dan Trachtenberg Talks Killer of Killers

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In 2022, Dan Trachtenberger introduced audiences to the movie “Prey”, a Predator film set before any other installment in the science-fiction series. The Hulu premiere of this movie garnered widespread acclaim from both viewers and critics. Despite not being released in theaters, its compelling storyline and thrilling action sequences reignited enthusiasm for the franchise. As a result, Trachtenberger was tasked with developing future projects within the series. Not only did he direct “Predator: Badlands”, but also “Predator: Killer of Killers“, an animated collection that portrays the fearsome character at various points in human history.

Trachtenberg recently mentioned at a press event ComicBook attended, “I had three fantastic concepts in mind. The one I was particularly thrilled about initially was ‘Badlands,’ but then there was also ‘Prey.’ That one was quite intriguing. We managed to place the Predator in various time periods through ‘Prey,’ which was exciting. What made ‘Prey’ unique, though, wasn’t merely the Predator in a different era; it was that our story improved because of the Predator’s narrative. I didn’t want to simply transpose them into another time period with ‘Prey.’ Instead, I wanted to explore: if we were to revisit this concept, how could it stand out? And what kind of tale could we craft that would be equally intense and captivating, yet also emotionally resonant and thematic?

He went on saying, “As I pondered various eras, an intriguing thought struck me: Suppose we created an animated film that allowed us to explore aspects of ourselves not typically portrayed? We’ve already made numerous Predator films, and this one is uniquely distinct while retaining the essence… The aspect of Predator movies I adore is their hard-R rating with intense violence. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to present such extreme action in a new format? Simultaneously, we produced another film called Killer of Killers, both absurdly and amazingly.

Just as Prey expanded the boundaries of the Predator series, Killer of Killers also paved the way for a significant exploration into the animated genre within this series. Although there’s immense possibility in animated storytelling, Trachtenberg clarified that the new film was not merely intended as a stepping stone for future projects.

When asked about having additional ideas for animated films, the filmmaker affirmatively replied, “Absolutely! Whenever you watch a cool movie and think, ‘What if…?’ That thought never stops for me. There are plenty of great concepts waiting to be brought to life. We’ll see if we can make it happen. The audience must like it, but there are definitely many ideas brewing… What I believe we all strive to convey is the idea that each film should stand on its own, not feel like a setup for something bigger. This is similar to what Christopher Nolan often said: create each movie as if it’s the only one you’ll ever make. The reason behind this is to ensure that the audience doesn’t feel cheated out of a complete experience.” In simpler terms, the filmmaker has numerous ideas for animated films and aims to create standalone movies that provide a satisfying, complete experience for the audience.

Predator: Killer of Killers is set to hit Hulu on June 6th.

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2025-04-09 16:42