Predator: Badlands

{{Infobox film

| name = Predator: Badlands

| image = Predator Badlands Poster.jpg

| caption = Teaser poster

| director = Dan Trachtenberg

| producer = {{Plainlist|

John Davis
Dan Trachtenberg
Marc Toberoff
Ben Rosenblatt
Brent O'Connor

}}

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

Patrick Aison

}}

| story = {{Plainlist|

Dan Trachtenberg
Patrick Aison

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|Characters|Jim Thomas|John Thomas}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

Elle Fanning
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi

}}

| music = Bear McCreary

| cinematography = Jeff Cutter

| editing =

| production_companies = Davis Entertainment

| distributor = 20th Century Studios

| released = {{Film date|2025|11|7}}

| runtime =

| country = United States

| language = English

| gross =

}}

Predator: Badlands is an upcoming American science fiction action film in the Predator franchise. It is the seventh film in the mainline series and ninth in the overall franchise. The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, co-written by Trachtenberg and Patrick Aison, and stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi.

Predator: Badlands is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 7, 2025, by 20th Century Studios.

Premise

{{quote|In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.|source=The Walt Disney Company{{cite web|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-studios-cinemacon-2025/|title=The Walt Disney Studios Showcases Upcoming Film Slate at CinemaCon 2025|website=The Walt Disney Company|date=April 3, 2025|access-date=April 5, 2025}}}}

Cast

Elle Fanning as Thia, an android created by Weyland-Yutani
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, a young Predator outcast for being a runt

Production

=Development=

In February 2024, it was revealed that a standalone film in the Predator franchise titled Badlands was in development, set to be directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who previously worked on Prey (2022) and Predator: Killer of Killers (2025), and co-written by Patrick Aison, who wrote Prey.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Dan Trachtenberg To Direct New Standalone 'Predator' Movie 'Badlands' As 20th Century Expands On Universe |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/dan-trachtenberg-predator-movie-badlands-1235820417/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209181157/https://deadline.com/2024/02/dan-trachtenberg-predator-movie-badlands-1235820417/ |archive-date=February 9, 2024 |access-date=February 9, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} The director cited stylistic and thematic influences from the works of Frank Frazetta and Terrence Malick, Conan the Barbarian, the films Shane (1953), Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981), The Book of Eli (2010), as well as Clint Eastwood Westerns, and the video game Shadow of the Colossus (2005). In June, Elle Fanning was in talks to join the film in the lead role,{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=June 3, 2024 |title='Badlands': Elle Fanning Eyed To Star In New Standalone 'Predator' Pic From 20th Century And Dan Trachtenberg |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/badlands-elle-fanning-predator-pic-1235945800/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603180928/https://deadline.com/2024/06/badlands-elle-fanning-predator-pic-1235945800/ |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |access-date=June 3, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} with her casting confirmed in August.{{Cite web |first=Cody |last=Hamman |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Predator: Badlands details revealed by casting call |url=https://www.joblo.com/predator-badlands-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827142236/https://www.joblo.com/predator-badlands-details/ |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=JoBlo.com}}

Drawing influence from the franchise's expanded universe, Badlands is intended to be a self-contained entry in the series, set on the Predators' home-world and focusing on the culture of their species. To this end, a consistent written and verbal language for the Predators was developed for the film by the linguist who created the Naʼvi language for the film Avatar (2009). In a departure from previous films, the Predator, Dek, is the protagonist rather than an antagonist.{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/predator-badlands-predator-hero/|title=Predator: Badlands Will Have The Predator As Its Hero: 'The Creature Is Front And Centre'|first=Ben|last=Travis|website=Empire|date=November 16, 2024|access-date=February 22, 2025}} Dek is portrayed by stuntman Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who also learned the Predator language specifically for the role. To create Dek's physical appearance, Studio Gillis designed a creature suit to portray Dek's body, while Dek's face was digitally enhanced using motion capture computer animation to convey more subtle emotional expression.{{cite news |title= Predator: Badlands will introduce Yautja Prime, Predator language & expand the lore!|url= https://predator-movies.com/news/predator-badlands-introduce-yautja-prime-predator-language--expand-lore |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=Scified |date=April 10, 2025 |language=en}}{{cite web|url= https://comicbook.com/movies/news/predator-badlands-language-explained-developed-dan-trachtenberg/ |title= Predator: Badlands Director Dives Deep Into Developing the Creature's Language |last=Cavanaugh|first=Patrick|website=ComicBook.com|date=April 8, 2025|accessdate=April 23, 2025}} Wētā Workshop also contributed to the films practical effects and designs.{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3865397/predator-badlands-edit-bay/|title='Predator: Badlands' – Dan Trachtenberg Previews His "Big, Crazy Swing" [Interview]|last=Donato|first=Matt|website=Bloody Disgusting|date=April 23, 2025|accessdate=April 26, 2025}} The fictional Weyland-Yutani Corporation featured in the Alien franchise appears in the film.{{cite news |last1=Hood |first1=Cooper |title=Elle Fanning's Surprise Predator: Badlands Character & Major Alien Franchise Connection Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/predator-badlands-elle-fanning-android-alien-connection-explained/ |access-date=April 24, 2025 |work=ScreenRant |date=April 23, 2025 |language=en}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began in New Zealand by August 27, 2024, under the working title Backpack, and wrapped in late October.{{Cite web |first=Borys |last=Kit |date=October 24, 2024 |title=A Secret 'Predator' Movie, An 'Alien' Sequel and 'Speed 3' on the Table: A Chat with 20th Century Studios Boss Steve Asbell |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/predator-movie-an-alien-sequel-speed-3-1236042464/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241024183312/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/predator-movie-an-alien-sequel-speed-3-1236042464/ |archive-date=October 24, 2024 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Jeff Cutter served as the cinematographer, after previously working with Trachtenberg on Prey.{{cite web|url=https://admin.wp-a.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CUTTER-Jeff-DP.pdf|title=Jeff Cutter Resume|website=Worldwide Production Agency|access-date=April 6, 2025}}

=Post-production=

Olivier Dumont and Kathy Siegel served as the films production visual effects supervisor and visual effects producer, respectively, creating the films computer generated imagery through visual effects vendors Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Wētā FX, Rising Sun Pictures, Trixter, Important Looking Pirates, The Yard VFX, and Framestore.{{cite news |last1=Frei |first1=Vincent |title=Predator: Badlands |url= https://www.artofvfx.com/predator-badlands/ |access-date=April 27, 2025 |work=Art of VFX |date=April 25, 2025 |language=en}} According to the director, every shot of the film required visual effects work.

Release

Predator: Badlands is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 7, 2025.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Marvel Studios' 'Blade' Removed From 2025 Release Schedule, Disney Dates 'Predator: Badlands' Instead |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/blade-predator-badlands-disney-release-dates-1236144383/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241022164333/https://deadline.com/2024/10/blade-predator-badlands-disney-release-dates-1236144383/ |archive-date=October 22, 2024 |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}