Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Predator: Hunters' Intergalactic Monster Antagonist and Captivating Setting
Going Deeper Into Predator: Badlands
Lately, we've caught a glimpse of Predator: Badlands, and it's shaking things up! Unlike its predecessors, the hideous Predator alien takes center stage, battling forces on an alien planet.
In a chat with BloodyDisgusting, director/co-writer Dan Trachtenberg revealed juicy details about the film's storyline and characters. The young misfit Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is ostracized from his Yautja Prime clan and ventures to the supposed "Death Planet" of Kalisk in search of a lethal adversary to prove his worth.
Much like Prey, Trachtenberg intends to give Dek and his people the serious treatment they deserve. For instance, the Yautja language is crafted as meticulously as Elvish in Lord of the Rings or Dothraki for Game of Thrones. In the quest to avoid an overly lore-focused narrative, Trachtenberg enlisted a student of Paul Frommer, who created the Na'vi dialect for the Avatar movies to help him strike the right balance.
Badlands is meant to be distinct and "very genre, very specific". Trachtenberg believes previous entries lacked this specific intent, aiming instead to invert the main premise, with the Predator now finding himself on an alien planet, hunted and employing his wit to survive.
One of Dek's companions on this unusual quest is Thia, an android from Weyland-Yutani, played by Elle Fanning. Her arc mirrors Dek's, but diverges into a different path for proving one's worth. Trachtenberg cited inspirations such as Frank Frazetta and Mad Max 2, but the duo's dynamic finds origins in Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus. Dek is stoic, while Thia is expressive, offering a captivating contrast. Trachtenberg hinted at Thia's physical prowess without revealing specifics.
Embracing a bold move, Predator: Badlands showcases the Predator and his android partner in a "big, crazy swing" that could resonate with audiences. The film premieres on November 7, while classic Predator stories can be enjoyed through the previous five movies. In the same interview, Trachtenberg discussed the film's visuals and the process of creating Dex, which you can read here.
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Bonus Tidbits:- The film partly unfolds on Yautja Prime, the native world of the Predators, last seen in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.- Dek, the main character, is a Yautja hunter striving to prove himself, and the initial 20 minutes of the film delve into his background.- Influenced by games like Shadow of the Colossus, the dynamic between Dek and his co-star presents a protagonist with a companion offering color and emotional depth, much like Wander and his horse Agro in the game.
- Predator: Badlands, with a focus on the alien Predator, is promising a fresh take on the movies-and-tv genre, setting the action on an alien planet.
- Director Dan Trachtenberg, in a discussion with BloodyDisgusting, has revealed that the film will draw heavily from sci-fi-and-fantasy elements, with intricate details given to the Yautja language, akin to Elvish in Lord of the Rings or Dothraki in Game of Thrones.
- The young misfit character Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is ostracized from his Yautja Prime clan and embarks on a quest to the supposed Death Planet of Kalisk in search of a formidable adversary.
- A notable companion on Dek's journey is Thia, an android from Weyland-Yutani, played by Elle Fanning, who mirrors Dek's quest but takes a different path to prove her worth, inspired by characters from Mad Max 2, Frank Frazetta, and Shadow of the Colossus.
- Predator: Badlands, set to premiere on November 7, presents a bold and unique story, channeling influences such as Shadow of the Colossus to create a dynamic between Dek and Thia that offers emotional depth.
- Keep up-to-date with io9 for the latest news on entertainment, including release dates for Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and Doctor Who, as well as information about the future of Predator: Badlands.
