Predator: Badlands - A New Take on the Franchise
Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Predator: Badlands' Extraterrestrial Antagonist and Its Imagined Universe
Get ready to dive into the future as we explore an unfamiliar terrain in Predator: Badlands. Outcast from his clan on Yautja Prime, the film's lead protagonist, Dek (portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), is a young Predator with a thirst for proving his worth. Taking a leaf from Prey and avoiding the pitfalls of lore-heavy storytelling, director/co-writer Dan Trachtenberg has incorporated Dek and his people with the same gravitas as the Elvish in Lord of the Rings or the Dothraki in Game of Thrones.
The Yautja language has been crafted with care, ensuring a realistic and immersive Predator world. Badlands sets itself apart with its genre-specific and intentional approach - a refreshing change from previous entries where the Predator, typically the antagonist, becomes the top star as he faces off against formidable alien creatures on an alien planet.
Thia (played by Elle Fanning), a Weyland-Yutani android, plays a crucial role in Dek's journey. Her arc mirrors his, but diverges into a different trajectory as she seeks to prove herself. Trachtenberg looks to films like Mad Max 2 and the atmospheric beauty of Shadow of the Colossus for inspiration, creating a unique bond between Dek, the stoic Predator, and Thia, who brings a bright contrast as a source of color and connection.
Although exploring a whole movie focused on a Predator and his android buddy is a "big, crazy swing," Trachtenberg is confident that audiences will find it appealing. With its unique alliance between a Predator and an android, Predator: Badlands offers a fresh take on the franchise by placing a Predator as the protagonist and inviting audiences to root for him.
If you're curious, catch Predator: Badlands in theaters on November 7. For those who prefer the classic Predator stories, the previous five movies are available to watch. Dig deeper into the film's visuals and Dex's creation in our interview with Trachtenberg here.
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Enrichment Data Integration
Plot of Predator: BadlandsThe film is set in the future on a remote planet where a young Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) seeks to prove his worth by engaging in a deadly hunt against formidable alien creatures. Dek forms an alliance with Thia (Elle Fanning), an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. The storyline is unique, as it involves cooperation between a Predator and an android, offering a fresh dynamic in the franchise.
Differences from Previous Predator Movies1. Predator: Badlands focuses on a Predator's journey, creating a new perspective where audiences root for the protagonist.2. The film departs from the usual human-centric narratives or human vs. Predator conflicts by forming an alliance between a Predator and an android.3. The movie takes place in a futuristic environment with advanced technology like laser grappling hooks.4. The film seems to be taking a more expansive approach to the franchise's lore, incorporating elements from the extended universe, and focusing on the Yautja's culture and language.
- In the upcoming movie 'Predator: Badlands', Dek, a young Predator, embarks on a future journey, seeking to prove his worth, a shift from the traditional human protagonists in the Predator franchise.
- Taking inspiration from movies like 'Mad Max 2' and 'Shadow of the Colossus', director Dan Trachtenberg creates an unconventional bond between Dek, the stoic Predator, and Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android, who plays a crucial role in his journey.
- Gizmodo and Movies-and-TV enthusiasts can delve deeper into the film's intricacies, including the unique alliance between a Predator and an android, by reading the interview with Trachtenberg on io9.
- The entertainment landscape continues to evolve, with upcoming releases in Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and the new era of Doctor Who, promising exciting times for movies-and-tv aficionados.
