Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Predator: Badlands' Alien Protagonist and Imagined Setting
Taking a Twist on the Predator Saga:
Stepping into the futuristic domain, we catch a glimpse of the unconventional "Predator: Badlands" set to invade theaters soon. Unlike its predecessors, the iconic alien horrifies, rather than just hunts, as it becomes the star of the show, venturing onto an alien planet to face its formidable foes.
In an exclusive chat with BloodyDisgusting, helmer Dan Trachtenberg divulged some tantalizing intel on the plot and characters of this intriguing tale. The protagonist, a молодой Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) feels the sting of rejection from his Predator clan on Yautja Prime. Seeking redemption, he sets off on a dangerous quest to prove his worth, aiming to conquer Kalisk — the so-called "Death Planet."
Identifying with Prey, Trachtenberg is determined to treat the Predator and their culture with the same respect afforded to the fantastical languages of "Lord of the Rings" and "Game of Thrones." Working with a student of Paul Frommer, who pioneered the Na'vi dialect for the "Avatar" franchise, Trachtenberg avoids overemphasizing lore over the plot. He views "Badlands" as a deliberate attempt to invert the conventional narrative, with the Predator finding itself at the mercy of otherworldly creatures on its own planet, having to wield guile to survive.
Enter Thia (Elle Fanning), a Weyland-Yutani android whose arc mirrors Dek's, albeit following a different path towards proving oneself. Drawing inspiration from Frank Frazetta and Mad Max 2, while visually conjuring images of Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus, Trachtenberg created a captivating duo. Dek's character is quiet, while Thia offers vibrancy and connectivity, and her skills extend beyond technical prowess. When asked to elaborate, Trachtenberg kept mum on specifics.
Boldly exploring new territories, filling a film with just a Predator and an android may strike some as a risky endeavor. Yet, Trachtenberg believes that audiences will be drawn to this unorthodox pairing, and fans eager to experience the adventure can catch "Predator: Badlands" in theaters from November 7. Those seeking a more traditional Predator experience can revisit the previous five films in the franchise.
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- The upcoming 'Predator: Badlands' movie, as highlighted by io9, will present a fresh take on the Predator saga, with the iconic alien taking center stage instead of just hunting.
- The helmer of 'Predator: Badlands', Dan Trachtenberg, spoke exclusively with BloodyDisgusting about the movie's plot and characters.
- The young protagonist, Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), faces rejection from his Predator clan on Yautja Prime and embarks on a dangerous quest to prove his worth, aiming to conquer Kalisk, also known as the "Death Planet."
- Trachtenberg, when asked about his inspiration for 'Predator: Badlands', cited 'Prey' and movies like 'Mad Max 2', drawing visual parallels to Team Ico's 'Shadow of the Colossus'.
- Another intriguing character in the movie is Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android played by Elle Fanning, whose arc mirrors Dek's but follows a different path towards proving oneself.
- 'Predator: Badlands', launching in theaters from November 7, promises to venture into uncharted territories with an unorthodox pairing of a Predator and an android, offering a distinctive blend of entertainment and supposed movies-and-TV related news.
