SDCC 2025: Predator: Badlands & TRON: Ares Take Over Hall H With Impressive Panels

Although SDCC 2025 wasn’t as heavy with big studio panels this year, with Marvel Studios and DC taking this year off, some major upcoming film releases still received their own standalone showcases for some show-stopping moments at the iconic Hall H. During SDCC, Disney’s 20th Century Studios presented the next chapter of the Predator franchise, the latest from visionary filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg, along with the next chapter of Disney’s TRON franchise with TRON: Ares.

The Predator: Badlands Hall H showcase featured an elaborate introduction with a cool light show introduction, with Predator-style laser targets searching Hall H, and the Predator’s infrared heat vision searching the crowd before showcasing panel moderator, the one and only Kevin Smith. The Yautja chieftain from the film even came out in full costume, reciting some words in the new Yautja language that was created for the film.

Smith presided over the panel, featuring Trachtenberg and stars Elle Fanning (Thea), Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (Dek), and visual effects supervisor Alec Gillis. Smith and Trachtenberg recounted their history together. Smith was once a guest on Trachtenberg’s old movie podcast back in 2006, not long before Smith got into the podcasting game. Now, Smith’s filmmaking career has largely wound down while Trachtenberg’s is on the rise. Trachtenberg spoke about how, after Prey, he had two ideas for Predator stories he wanted to make, one of which became Killer of Killers, and the other became Badlands.

Additionally, Trachtenberg revealed a new extended ending for Killer of Killers that expands upon the revealing epilogue, where it’s revealed that Naru (Amberg Midthunder) from Prey was taken by the Yautja back to their home planet and imprisoned in cryo-stasis. However, the extended ending revealed that Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) and Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from the first two films are also in the Predators’ prisoner vault! Trachtenberg reveals that he had breakfast with Schwarzenegger to get his approval for the visual cameo. Also, Trachtenberg announced that the extended ending is being restored into the cut available on Hulu, meaning the fates of all three characters are now canon!

Image Credit: Disney/20th Century Studios

Gillis spoke at length about how the visual CG and practical effects are used for the film. Gillis noted how his mentor, the late Stan Winston, previously impressed upon him about how their job is to serve and enhance the story with their work. They spoke about how the actions of the Yautja in the film required more CG animation for their facial movements and visages, but there’s still heavy use of practical effects, costumes, and makeup work. Ultimately, it looks and sounds like they aren’t letting the CG take over the story, and while you can tell it’s there, it looks pretty good for the most part. Some of the later Predator films never looked quite as strong as the original makeup and effects work in the earliest films.

That being said, Badlands is the first movie that features the alien Predators as fully involved characters, speaking, conversing, and essentially driving the story forward. It requires them to have more intricate and micro-facial expressions and more facial emotions and expressions than they have in past films. They are actually speaking with dialogue in their own language. It’s a bit different from how they would briefly speak or mimic words in the earlier films. With that in mind, it’s somewhat understandable why more CG animation is used for their faces this time around.

Elle Fanning also teased a big reveal for the film, noting how she plays more than one role. Obviously, it’s already been revealed that she’s playing a Weyland-Yutani android, Thea. It’s not clear if the other character she’s playing is a human or another android, but it will be interesting to see. Trachtenberg revealed how the scenes with Dek carrying the legless Thea on his back are meant to resemble Chewbacca and C-3PO from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Of course, the main meat of the panel was the footage, showcasing the first 10-15 minutes of the film. Some of it was still a work in progress and unfinished, as not all the visual effects are yet finished, but it still provided a strong look at what the final product will be. The film opens with subtitles explaining how “Yautja are prey to none and predator to all.” The story begins with the main protagonist, young Dek, seeking out a cave to duel with his older brother Kwei. Dek is considered smaller and weaker than the rest of his clan, which is looked down upon by their culture. Kwei is trying to teach his brother not to fight with rage and use the cave and the elements to his advantage. Dek remarks that fighting with rage is fighting like their father does. Kwei points out that Dek is not their father.

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Kwei ultimately wins the fight, but his brother survives. Badlands showcases that this is not the usual, typical Predator story. It’s going in-depth into the Yautja as a species, developing their culture, customs, and heritage. They are now fully involved characters with fleshed-out personalities, character arcs, and spoken dialogue. Their new unique language in the film was created by Paul Frommer, a linguist who developed the Na’vi language for James Cameron’s Avatar.

Badlands reinforces that the Yautja are a species that values warriors and strength. Weakness is seen as a punishable sin that can’t be tolerated. They are a race of blooded warriors, but they do have a code of honor. The scenes between Kwei and Dek showcase new depth and immersion for the Yautja species. It’s also appreciated how they refer to themselves as Yautja, a term that was developed for the expanded universe materials for the franchise in the Dark Horse comics. Trachtenberg is clearly a fan of the classic Dark Horse comics and expanded universe Predator stories, and it shows in Badlands.

After their duel, Dek and Kwei return to their ship. Kwei returns Dek’s shoulder cannon after repairing it. Dek takes notice of an old toy and a memento that Kwei keeps on the ship. For Dek, it’s a reminder of the time he lost his lower mandible tusk. For Kwei, it’s special because the keepsake recalls a time when Dek saved his life in their youth. The scene shows how much Kwei values and cares for his brother, despite how his brother is viewed as a black sheep among their clan. Kwei then advises Dek to choose his prey for his hunt to prove his worth. They examine some planets, including Earth. However, Dek takes notice of the death planet, Genna. Kwei says it’s home to a deadly beast called the Kalisk, a feral creature that even their father fears. Dek chooses the Kalisk as his prey.

However, their father, the clan chieftain, arrives. The Yautja uses the mobile hoverbikes that look like the ones used in Killer of Killers. The chieftain asks Kwei why he hasn’t killed his brother yet. Kwei attempts to defend his brother, noting that Dek is owed a hunt. Their father binds Dek to the ground using some high-tech laser manacles, and Kwei is charged with ritually killing his weaker little brother. Instead, Kwei turns against his father. He bolts Dek back into the ship and starts its controls, imploring his brother to bring back the Kalisk and prove his strength. Dek then watches helplessly as his brother fights their father to the death. The chief then finishes off Kwei as Dek watches on before his ship blasts off, and he manages to escape.

These scenes essentially kick off the plot. Dek is the run of the pack, so now he must kill an apex predator to prove his worth among his clan. The footage looked absolutely awesome. Trachtenberg has uniquely expanded the franchise and crafted a story with a Predator as the main character that looks like it can genuinely work. Badlands looks like a Dark Horse Predator graphic novel brought to life, and that’s a major compliment.

All attendees of the panel were given cool masks based on the trademark faceplate Dek wears in the film. Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7.

Next up on the Friday panel showcase at Hall was Disney’s TRON: Ares. It’s been almost 15 years since TRON: Legacy, but the next chapter of the TRON franchise is finally here. The panel once again started with a high-tech, elaborate introduction. This time, there was a laser light show with some lights painting up some Grid-like doors into Hall H, which then opened to reveal two armored computer programs with battle staffs to walk into the hall and introduce the panel. Kevin Smith once again moderated the festivities, which included appearances by original TRON writer and director Steven Lisberger, Ares director Joachim Rønning, stars Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Cameron Monaghan, Gillian Anderson, Arturo Castro, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Hasan Minhaj.

There were a few good, awkward jokes throughout the panel. Bridges talked about working with Leto, noting how Leto wanted to be called Ares while on set, so Bridges would nickname him “Ar” [AN: Pronounced “Air.”]. Bridges also spoke about how acting is more Leto’s side-hustle since he’s a music guy. Smith then joked about “how when you’re working with Jared Leto, it’s Morbin’ time.” Evan Peters might’ve been a bit nervous, but after Smith asked him a question, Peters was at a bit of a loss for words. Smith then joked that Peters got “Dahmer quiet,” referencing his role as Jeffrey Dahmer in Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

Eventually, the panel introduced the first clip that finally offers some insight into how the computer programs manifest in the “real world” and operate outside of the grid. Evan Peters portrays Julian Dillinger, who is the heir of Edward Dillinger Sr. (David Warner), from the original film. His relation to Edward Dillinger Jr. (Cillian Murphy) is unclear. The Wikipedia entry says Gillian Anderson is portraying Elisabeth Dillinger, so she is perhaps Julian’s mother? Either way, the lack of a follow-up regarding Dillinger Jr. is a bit frustrating.

In the film, Peters has Encom summon Ares (Leto) and Athena (Turner-Smith) into the real world. Basically, the programs are created in the real world using what looks to be a form of high-tech 3D printing. They are projected and printed using this type of pixelated material. Ares and Athena then bust out of the material. Their light cycles are printed in the same method as well. Also, it appears the programs have a time limit for which they can operate outside of the Grid. Dillinger orders them to find Eve Kim (Greta Lee) and retrieve the chip she’s carrying.

A chase ensues with Ares and Athena tracking and attempting to run down Eve, who is on her own motorcycle. The programs use their light cycles to split a police car in half. Ares gets slowed down during the chase after being stopped by a sliding bus. Eve races into a garage with multiple levels. She then drives her motorcycle, with the wheel hitting Athena in the head and pushing her over the ledge. Athena is unharmed by the fall and starts racing up the garage levels. Even then takes control of the light cycle and manages to get away just before Athena catches her.

Image Credit: Disney

The next clip shows a different scene, this one set in the Grid. It shows Ares turning against his masters and saving Eve from Athena. After jumping out of a building into a computerized river, Ares creates a boat with a control stick, much like how they turned sticks into light cycles in Legacy. Some sentries then give chase to Athena and Ares. Eve has a code that Ares needs. He agrees to help her escape in exchange for the code. Eve is worried that Ares will hand it over to Dillinger. However, she eventually agrees to Ares’ demands. They evade the enemy ships chasing them and manage to escape into a portal, taking them back to the real world.

The clips at least offer a little bit more semblance of the plot and what is going on. Ares is a computer program, but he looks to be a tool of war who develops a conscience and turns against his evil corporate overlords. I’m merely speculating, but I assume the code Eve has will help him live or stabilize in the real world. Maybe all Ares wants is to be alive like Johnny-5 in Short Circuit. While I miss the music of Daft Punk for Legacy, the soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails sounds very cool and sharp, and fits the aesthetic.

From a visual standpoint, Ares appears much closer from an aesthetic standpoint to TRON: Legacy. That said, the connections to Legacy are unclear. Bridges is back as Flynn, but is it even the real Flynn? Or is it a backup AI program of Flynn? It’s unclear. Also, it’s a bit frustrating that Disney waited over 10 years to make another TRON movie, and characters like Dillinger Jr., Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), and Quorra (Olivia Wilde) are nowhere to be found.

Although the Ares panel didn’t completely sell me on the sequel, it at least has me intrigued. I want to see the film and how it fits into the grander franchise and how it connects the dots. Also, the way it presents programs from the GRID operating and interacting with the real world provides an interesting premise and something new for the franchise. The footage looks cool for the most part, and I’m at least interested enough to find out more.

TRON: Ares hits theaters on October 10.