In one of the boldest creative swings for a legacy sci-fi property in recent memory, 20th Century Studios is set to redefine its iconic Predator franchise with Predator: Badlands. The upcoming standalone film will, for the first time, shift the narrative perspective entirely to the Yautja, positioning one of the formidable alien hunters as the film’s protagonist. The project, helmed by Prey director Dan Trachtenberg and starring Elle Fanning, is a calculated risk aimed at reinvigorating the nearly 40-year-old IP.
Following the critical success of 2022’s Prey, which revitalized the Predator franchise by transporting it to the past, 20th Century Studios is once again eschewing a traditional sequel in favor of a high-concept reinvention. Predator: Badlands, slated for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025, will not continue the story of Naru but will instead jump far into the future to tell a story from the viewpoint of the titular hunter.
The film’s plot centers on a young, outcast Predator named Dek, who, in a bid to prove his worth, travels to a remote planet to hunt a legendary and seemingly unkillable creature known as the Kalisk. In a significant narrative twist, the Predator finds himself outmatched and is forced to form an uneasy alliance with a legless synthetic from the infamous Weyland-Yutani corporation, named Thia.
The casting of Elle Fanning in the pivotal role of Thia signals the studio’s serious artistic intentions for the project. Fanning, an actress celebrated for her work in character-driven dramas, will reportedly play a dual role, also portraying an opposing synthetic named Tessa. Her involvement lends significant prestige to the film and suggests that Badlands will be as focused on character and storytelling as it is on action, a departure from some of the franchise’s more recent, less successful entries.
Filmmakers have cited ambitious influences for the film’s tone, aiming for a blend of grand adventure and brutal action, drawing inspiration from classics like Conan the Barbarian and the epic scale of the video game Shadow of the Colossus. This further separates Badlands from the pure survival-horror roots of the original 1987 film.
This project can be seen as a continuation of the successful strategy employed by Prey. That film succeeded by isolating the core concept of the Predator and placing it in a fresh, compelling new context. Badlands appears to be doubling down on that approach, banking on the idea that the key to the franchise’s future is not continuity, but creative and unexpected reinvention. It’s a bold strategy to combat the franchise fatigue that has plagued many long-running series.
Production reports indicate a strong commitment to practical effects, another element that contributed to the authentic feel of Prey. The use of creature replicas and complex stunt work over a reliance on CGI suggests a dedication to the tangible, visceral horror and action that defined the original film.
While the film is confirmed to feature the Weyland-Yutani corporation, a name synonymous with the Alien franchise, producers have been clear that there will be no Xenomorphs in the movie. This places Badlands in a unique position—acknowledging the wider universe while remaining a firmly standalone Predator story.
The industry will be watching the performance of Predator: Badlands closely. It represents a significant gamble on a novel concept within a well-established IP. If successful, it could provide a new blueprint for how studios can creatively manage legacy franchises, proving that audiences are receptive to radical new takes on familiar worlds.
