Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Prey's Extraterrestrial Protagonist and Its Dystopian Setting
Rewritten Article:
brace yourself, folks! We got a sneak peek of Predator: Badlands recently, and it ain't your typical Predator flick. This time around, the alien hunter take center stage as the main character, sporting that iconic double-mouthed face as he squares off against unfamiliar foes on an alien planet.
Listeners at BloodyDisgusting had a chance to chat with Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg, who dished some deets about the plot and characters. The leading man in this intergalactic brouhaha is Dek, a Yautja (that's Predator to you and me) ostracized from his own tribe on Yautja Prime. He's on a mission to find the ultimate adversary on the so-called "Death Planet" of Kalisk. If he can prove his worth, perhaps he'll earn some respect from his fellow Preds.
Trachtenberg's taking the franchise to new heights by focusing on a Predator protagonist and immersing himself in the intricate Yautja culture. He's even perfected their language, which he said was like Elvish in Lord of the Rings or Dothraki in Game of Thrones. He enlisted a student of the linguist who created the Na'vi dialect for the Avatar movies to help him keep the dialogue grounded and engaging. He wants Badlands to feel specific and cohesive, something he didn't find in past Predator films.
Dek's journey isn't a solo expedition—he's got a partner in Thia, an android created by Weyland-Yutani. While her arc echoes Dek's as they both search for a way to prove themselves, Thia takes a different path. Trachtenberg revealed that Mad Max 2 and Frank Frazetta served as some of his inspirations for Thia's character. However, he looked to Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus for what our Predator hero and his android pal could be.
Having a whole movie centered on a Predator and an android buddy? It's a bold move, all right, but Trachtenberg thinks it could be the key to appealing to audiences. Predator: Badlands is set to hit theaters on November 7. For those who just can't wait for more classic Predator action, the previous five films are just a streaming click away.
If you're eager for more io9 goodness, check out Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who updates. Curious about the visuals and how Dek was created? Read more about that here.
| Aspect | Details ||---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| Director | Dan Trachtenberg || Protagonist | Dek, a Yautja (Predator) ostracized from his tribe || Allies | Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android || Setting | Kalisk, the "Death Planet" || Franchise Firsts | Predator protagonist, deep Yautja language and culture, advanced Yautja technology || Inspirations | Mad Max 2, Frank Frazetta, Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus || Release Date | November 7, 2025 (USA, theatrically, 20th Century Studios) |
- The upcoming movie, Predator: Badlands, breaks away from traditional Predator movies by featuring a Predator protagonist named Dek.
- Dek is an ostracized Yautja from Yautja Prime, embarking on a mission to find the ultimate adversary on Kalisk, the Death Planet.
- In collaboration with Dan Trachtenberg, a student of the linguist who created the Na'vi dialect for the Avatar movies was enlisted to develop grounded and engaging Predator language.
- Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android, will accompany Dek, her arc mirroring Dek's as they both strive to prove themselves, with inspiration drawn from Mad Max 2 and Frank Frazetta for Thia's character.
- Trachtenberg took inspiration for Dek and Thia's dynamic from Team Ico's Shadow of the Colossus, aiming to create a cohesive and specific movie.
- While audiences wait for the theatrical release of Predator: Badlands on November 7, they can revisit the previous five Predator films for their fix of classic Predator action.
