Predator: Badlands Teaser Teases a Monster “That Can’t Be Killed”

A new live-action Predator movie is not a common occurrence, and it’s even rarer to see the titular alien hunter as the hero. Yet today (July 11), 20th Century Studios released the first teaser trailer for the upcoming feature, and it offers an early look at an unexpected take on the sci-fi franchise.

Set for a November 7 release, Predator: Badlands is focused on Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Predator who has been exiled from his people. He is cast as the title character’s hero and must work together with an unlikely partner: a Weyland-Yutani android called Thia, played by Elle Fanning. The two will face off against “the ultimate opponent” — an “unkillable” creature, larger than life.” Although little of this villain is seen in the teaser, which instead shows flashes of Predators in battle or ritual armor, otherworldly alien landscapes, and a glimpse of the android, it does appear to be a massive monster, unlike anything fans have seen before in the Predator franchise or the connected Alien universe.

The movie promises to expand on Predator lore.

Badlands will be part of the larger Predator/Alien shared universe, but from what we’ve learned so far, it will do some heavy lifting in the worldbuilding department. It is set, at least partially, on the Predator home world, a location never shown before in the films but teased for years in comics and other media.

The involvement of director and co-writer Dan Trachtenberg, who directed 2022’s Prey, seems to promise a peek into the Predator culture and lore, as Prey itself was a stripped-back, survivalist movie that revealed only a small portion of Predator and alien lore. Trained marksman Naru (played by Amber Midthunder) finds herself the hunted as she struggles to survive against a Predator in the 18th-century American Great Plains, and Prey makes no bones about being a duel between a near-equal predator and prey. Badlands is said to explore the “traditions, language, and internal hierarchies” of the Predator species, which means fans can expect to learn more about the Yautja way of life — with a dollop of the franchise’s signature high-tech weaponry and blood-pounding savagery.

The appearance of Fanning’s android Thia is also a point of interest. From the trailer, it’s clear the character moves with mechanical fluidity and a disquieting calm as she utters her dialogue with emotionless, machine-like precision. Her silvery edges are melted by hints of curiosity and compassion, and her character serves as the perfect contrast for the massive, potentially feral Predators. While Badlands has a few live-action predecessors that pair Predators with human characters, this is the first film to put the alien species on such close terms with a human-made android, and the fact that Thia is a Weyland-Yutani machine promises to be a boon for Alien fans who enjoy spotting shared universe lore Easter eggs.

The Predator veteran behind Badlands

One of the movie’s biggest selling points is the fact that it has Trachtenberg back on board. Prey was not only a critical success for breathing new life into the franchise, but it was also a hit on Hulu, reaching a wide audience with what was seen as good word of mouth following its release. The director has also been developing a new project set in the Predator universe: Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology series that will premiere on Hulu, the same platform that released Prey, on June 6. That series will detail the titular alien killing “a variety of hunts across multiple timelines.”

What’s shown in the trailer

Although this is only the first teaser, it has given fans a few things to analyze. The trailer offers glimpses of Predators clashing in ceremonial armor, Dek sneaking through alien grasses and brush, Thia with a submachine gun, and shadowy moments of the “unkillable” beast. The bright, neon-painted alien flora and desert vistas make for a beautiful world.

It is also worth noting that this teaser indicates Badlands is going to be a departure from the majority of past Predator films. The movie’s main character is a Predator, which means audiences will be viewing the events from the other side of the franchise’s traditional hunter/prey binary. Rather than a monster killing all the humans, we will be getting a story from the point of view of an alien character (in this case, an outcast) who will likely experience character development, a transformation of morality, and decisions that ask hard questions. If Dek must face his exile and find a way to regain his standing with the other Predators, viewers may feel differently about a character previously cast as nothing more than a villain.

Date and what to expect from Badlands

Badlands will hit theaters on November 7, and by that point, it will have one of the most anticipated fall sci-fi action release slots. For now, though, the first trailer has served its purpose. It will intrigue franchise diehards, make newcomers wonder what this new take on the series will bring, and at the very least set the table for the full film to come.

The promise of lore, a new kind of Predator tale, and the return of Trachtenberg have Badlands looking like the breath of fresh air the sci-fi action franchise has been waiting for.

Travis Tilber lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and is an artist, a critic, a writer, a former teacher, and a lifelong game enthusiast. He studied fine art at SUNY New Paltz and has worked professionally in digital art, sculpture, film, and video game design. His hobbies are writing stories, playing games, and endlessly making art.