"'Predator: Badlands' appears to draw influence from an unexpected precursor - a contentious 20-year-old video game'
The Predator universe is expanding once again, with the highly-anticipated movie, Predator: Badlands, set to hit theaters later this year on November 7, 2025. This new installment in the franchise doesn't just stand alone; it draws inspiration from earlier Predator stories, particularly from the 2005 game, Predator: Concrete Jungle.
In Concrete Jungle, a Predator named 'Scarface' was exiled to a harsh alien planet after failing to protect Predator technology from human hands. Fast forward to Predator: Badlands, and the protagonist, Dek, is a young hunter who is an outcast after failing his clan. Both characters find themselves on a quest for honor, battling adversaries on brutal planets.
Predator: Badlands also ties into the Alien franchise more broadly, especially via the Weyland-Yutani corporation. The movie features Weyland-Yutani synthetics, notably a character named Thia, which brings it closer to the Alien franchise's corporate and technological universe. Director Dan Trachtenberg has hinted at an openness to more elegant crossover integration with the Alien films if the new franchises succeed.
The connection between Concrete Jungle and Badlands doesn't stop at narrative and thematic similarities. In Concrete Jungle, a Xenomorph skull was subtly included as an Easter egg, establishing a hint of the Alien universe interlinking with the Predator lore. Predator: Badlands takes this connection further, featuring Xenomorphs as late-game foes.
Predator: Concrete Jungle, which can be played on PS2 and Xbox, gained a cult following despite receiving bad reviews. It tells a story of redemption and humans messing with forces they don't understand, themes that resonate in Predator: Badlands. The new movie offers a gory experience that fans have been craving.
The Predator movies, comic books, and video games over the years have all inspired Predator: Badlands. Comic book legend Grant Morrison even wrote for Predator: Concrete Jungle and slipped in a quick reference to Charles Bishop Weyland.
Predator: Badlands promises to deliver a fresh take on the Predator franchise while maintaining its roots. It's a must-watch for fans of the series and a great entry point for newcomers. Get ready for an action-packed adventure in a faraway future, where the Predator universe and the Alien franchise collide.
- The upcoming movie Predator: Badlands, due for release on November 7, 2025, is inspired by the 2005 game Predator: Concrete Jungle, with both stories featuring characters on a quest for honor on brutal planets.
- Predator: Concrete Jungle, playable on PS2 and Xbox, gained a cult following despite receiving negative reviews, sharing themes of redemption and human ignorance of powerful forces.
- Predator: Badlands ties into the Alien franchise more broadly, featuring Weyland-Yutani synthetics and late-game Xenomorph foes, hinting at an openness to crossover integration with the Alien films.
- While Predator: Badlands offers a fresh take on the Predator franchise, it also maintains its roots by incorporating elements from previous installments and even referencing comic book legend Grant Morrison's work on Predator: Concrete Jungle.
- In addition to gaming, Predator's universe includes movies, comic books, and various other media, all of which have influenced Predator: Badlands.
- Predator: Badlands promises to deliver a thrilling, action-packed adventure that will appeal to fans of the Predator series and serve as an excellent starting point for newcomers to the franchise, as the Predator universe collides with that of the Alien franchise in this highly anticipated film.
