The debut trailer for Predator: Badlands has ignited a flurry of excitement and curiosity among fans, particularly regarding the new Predator's design. In a revealing interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shared intriguing details about the upcoming film, including his innovative approach to the iconic sci-fi hunter.
The new Predator, named Dek and portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, breaks from tradition by taking on a protagonist role. Described as an underdog Yautja "runt," Dek's character diverges from the typical portrayal of Yautja as antagonists in previous Predator movies.
Dek chooses a "Death Planet" named Kalisk as his hunting ground, where he battles to earn his father's approval and acceptance within his clan. His design is notably different from past Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, aligning with his "runt" status.Predator: Badlands centers on Dek's journey, but he is not alone on Kalisk. He collaborates with a character played by Elle Fanning, whose appearance, as discussed by IGN, suggests she might be a synth from the Alien franchise, hinted by the Weyland Yutani logo on her eyes.
That's the Weyland Yutani logo on Elle Fanning's eyes. Is she a synth?Trachtenberg drew inspiration for the dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character from the 2005 PlayStation game Shadow of the Colossus. He explained, "As inspired as I am by movies, I’ve been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection."
He further elaborated on the emotional impact of Shadow of the Colossus, particularly the bond between the protagonist and his horse, which influenced the relationship in Predator: Badlands. "There’s a thing with a horse in Shadow of the Colossus that’s devastating when you play the game. And so [Predator: Badlands] was a little bit inspired by that in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else, this character who’s the opposite of him. He’s very laconic, [Fanning] is not. She’s capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she’s got a real thing that I’m so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself."
While Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he hinted at a unique aspect to her role that enhances her pairing with Dek. "There’s a unique hook to her character that is exciting in the pairing of [her and Dek]," he teased.
Predator: Badlands is set to launch on November 7, 2025. Before that, fans can look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, Predator: Killer of Killers, which will be released in June.
