Predator: Badlands

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The trailer for confirms the franchise’s long-running crossover is still very much canon.

In the official trailer for Predator: Badlands, it’s clear that Elle Fanning’s character, Thia, is more than just what appears on the surface. A scene shows Thia and other victims hanging together, and her eyes seem to reflect the emblem of Weyland-Yutani, a company well-known from the Alien franchise. The appearance of Weyland-Yutani in Predator: Badlands suggests that there’s an ongoing connection between these two franchises.

In the original 1979 film Alien, the company Weyland-Yutani isn’t explicitly named, but its name and emblem are visible throughout the sets. As the Alien franchise progressed, this company became increasingly significant, almost iconic within the series, second only to the Xenomorphs themselves. In the Alien saga, Weyland-Yutani is often depicted as a corporation involved in various pursuits, including the development of synthetic humanoid androids, many of which have been key characters across different movies.

The Next Chapter of the Predator Franchise Arrives in 2025

Badlands” introduces us to an outcast young Predator, smaller than usual at birth, who finds friendship in Thia, a character portrayed by Fanning. Although the exact storyline remains secret, the trailer offers hints about the impending action and horror. Thia is not just any creature but a Synth, while the teaser also showcases other Predators, offering glimpses into their harsh society with its violent traditions.

As a movie critic, I can say that when it comes to the intricate plotting of the upcoming film “Predator: Badlands,” director Shane Black was meticulous in avoiding the pitfall of overemphasizing lore at the expense of a compelling narrative. His goal was to create a distinctly genre-specific experience, one that would subvert expectations and present an innovative twist on the classic Predator premise. In this case, the Predator finds itself being hunted on another planet, where it must use its cunning to evade its pursuers. This latest installment in the franchise, set for release after 2024’s “Prey” and the animated anthology feature “Predator: Killer of Killers,” will be Shane Black’s third contribution to the Predator series.

Predator: Badlands will arrive in theaters on November 7.

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2025-04-27 00:20