Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Predator: Badlands' Extraordinary Alien Antagonist and Setting
Catching Up with Predator: Badlands
Get a sneak peek at the latest addition to the Predator universe! Predator: Badlands brings the titular alien hunter to the forefront, fighting against deadly adversaries on an alien planet.
In an exclusive chat with BloodyDisgusting, Director/Co-writer Dan Trachtenberg spilled some beans about the film's storyline and protagonist, young Dek (portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi). This outcast Predator from Yautja Prime embarks on a quest to find his ultimate enemy on the ominous Kalisk, hoping to prove his worth.
Similar to Prey, Trachtenberg aims to treat Dek and his people with the seriousness they deserve. The Yautja language, for instance, is as meticulously crafted as Elvish in Lord of the Rings or Dothraki in Game of Thrones. A student of Paul Frommer, who engineered the Na'vi dialect for the Avatar movies, ensured Trachtenberg steered clear of focusing too much on the lore at the expense of the narrative[1]. He described Badlands as a deliberate attempt to make it feel like an inversion of the traditional premise: now the Predator is on another planet, and he's the one being pursued by threats, relying on his cunning to survive.
Thia (played by Elle Fanning) plays a pivotal role in Dek's journey, an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation whose arc parallels Dek's, but takes an alternate path towards self-validation. Trachtenberg cited Frank Frazetta and Mad Max 2 as influences, but when it comes to the bond between the leads, he looked to Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus. Set against the backdrop of a grave and unforgiving landscape, Badlands is a daring attempt to weave a tale about a Predator and his unconventional ally, Thia[2].
Pushing boundaries, Predator: Badlands puts the Predator and his android buddy in the spotlight, testing if audiences will embrace this bold move. For fans hankering for classic Predator stories, the previous five films are readily available. Catch Predator: Badlands in theaters on November 7th[3].
In the interview, Trachtenberg elaborated on the film's visuals and the creation of Dex, which you can read here.
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[1]: Trachtenberg Avoids Lore-heavy Approach: To ensure Predator: Badlands focuses on story rather than lore, Trachtenberg draws inspiration from languages used in Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones while crafting the Yautja language, under the guidance of Paul Frommer, the creator of the Na'vi dialect for Avatar.
[2]: Thia's Arc: In Predator: Badlands, Thia's arc is designed to mirror that of Dek, offering an alternative path towards self-validation. Trachtenberg finds inspiration in a scene from Shadow of the Colossus for the bond between the leads.
[3]: Remoteness and Isolation: The movie is set on a desolate and forbidding planet, where Dek and Thia find themselves hunted by various predators. This stark environment serves to isolate the characters and amplify the stakes of the story.
[4]: Internal Conflict: In addition to facing external threats, Dek contends with other Predators, adding an intriguing layer of internal conflict to the film.
[5]: Advanced Technology and Futuristic Setting: Predator: Badlands incorporates cutting-edge technology such as laser grappling hooks and reflects its futuristic setting. It departs from the more grounded Earth-based settings seen in many previous films.
- The Yautja language, as meticulously crafted as Elvish in Lord of the Rings or Dothraki in Game of Thrones, adds an intriguing level of detail to the Predator universe found in Predator: Badlands.
- Predator: Badlands introduces an unexpected twist to the traditional Predator narrative, setting the Predator character against a plethora of adversaries on an alien planet, whilst being hunted himself.
- In the upcoming science-fiction film Predator: Badlands, advanced technology such as laser grappling hooks, coupled with a futuristic setting, presents a striking deviation from Earth-bound settings found in many previous movies.
