Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Predator: Badlands' Extraterrestrial Protagonist and Setting
Get Ready for the Predator Thrill Ride in Badlands
Gear up as 20th Century Studios unveils the latest addition to the Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands. Standing alone from its predecessors, this installment spotlights the alien predator himself as he takes center stage in an alien planet's battlefield.
In a chat with BloodyDisgusting, director and co-writer Dan Trachtenberg lifted the veil on the film's plot and main characters. We meet Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), an outcast from his Yautja Prime clan, who embarks on a heart-pounding voyage to Kalisk, the infamous "Death Planet," in search of the ultimate nemesis. This battle, he believes, will prove his value to his peers.
As with Prey, Trachtenberg emphasizes the authenticity of Dek and his kind, as the Yautja language is treated as meticulously as "Elvish in Lord of the Rings" or "Dothraki in Game of Thrones." To ensure accuracy, the language was crafted by a Na'vi dialect expert, avoiding the pitfall of focusing too heavily on the lore at the expense of the story.
Thia, played by Elle Fanning, is another crucial player in Dek's quest. A Weyland-Yutani android, her story parallels Dek's but diverges into a unique path of self-proving. Trachtenberg drew inspiration for their relationship from movies like Mad Max 2 and the imaginative canvas of Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus. Thia and Dek's unlikely bond offers a refreshing contrast, with Thia adding a real, tangible element to the mix, while Dek, being more laconic, provides a stark contrast.
Taking the audience on a wild, unprecedented journey, Trachtenberg hopes Predator: Badlands will resonate with the masses. If you're ready to catch the film, make sure you're in theaters on November 7. Fans seeking classic Predator stories can revisit the previous five movies in the meantime. Delve deeper into Trachtenberg's thoughts on the film's visuals and the creation of Dex in this interview here.
Curious about the future of your favorite franchises? Check out our rundown of Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the untold story of the DC Universe, and the exciting path ahead for Doctor Who.
Predator: Badlands - An In-Depth Look
Predator: Badlands is an upcoming sci-fi action film and the seventh mainline entry in the Predator franchise. The movie places its focus on Dek, a young Predator outcast due to his underdeveloped size and build, who seeks to prove his mettle on a distant, uncharted planet.
In this treacherous terrain, Dek forges an unconventional alliance with Thia, an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, to combat a host of deadly creatures, including a massive hybrid being of Predator DNA and other extraterrestrial species. This fearsome, experimentally engineered beast poses a significant threat to both Predators and humans alike.
Inspiration for Predator: Badlands can be traced back to the franchise's recurring theme of examining the honor and warrior spirit of the Yautja (Predators) in various environments. The film's unique setting on a remote planet and the introduction of a hybrid creature allow it to combine action and sci-fi elements, offering a thrilling narrative that expands upon traditional Predator concepts.
The project's director, Dan Trachtenberg, gained recognition for his work on Prey, another entry that pushed the boundaries of the Predator universe while preserving its core identity. The movie's premise might have been inspired by Prey's success in charting new ground within the series.
- Dek, a young Predator from the Yautja Prime clan, embarks on a heart-pounding journey in the upcoming film, Predator: Badlands.
- Thia, an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, forms an unconventional alliance with Dek in Predator: Badlands to combat a dangerous hybrid creature.
- The hybrid creature in Predator: Badlands is a fearsome being, engineered from Predator DNA and other extraterrestrial species, posing a threat to both Predators and humans.
- The film Predator: Badlands is inspired by the franchise's recurring theme of exploring the honor and warrior spirit of the Yautja in various environments.
- With Predator: Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg combines action and sci-fi elements, expanding upon traditional Predator concepts.
- Trachtenberg's work on the movie Predator: Badlands can be considered a follow-up to his successful project, Prey, which also pushed the boundaries of the Predator universe.
