Dan Trachtenberg Says the Predator Will Be ‘Front & Center’ In Predator: Badlands

Dan Trachtenberg’s next Predator film arrives next year in Predator: Badlands, and Trachtenberg says the creature will be the protagonist of the film. Badlands will be Trachtenberg’s second film in the franchise after 2021’s Prey, and he spoke with Empire for a new interview and said that the titular alien hunter will be the central character of the film.

“The creature is front and centre, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg said. “He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.”

Trachtenberg said that the idea came from wanting to “find another essential piece of cinema that does what Prey did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting us root for a hero we rarely get to root for — but in a different way. And that transformed into this big idea of rooting for the Predator.”

The film is one of two Predator films making their way to the screen, with another film that Trachtenberg shot in secret coming. Badlands stars Elle Fanning, who the director said plays more than one character. “She faced intense challenges on this movie — dramatically, physically, logistically,” he said.

Predator: Badlands is set to release on November 7th, 2025.