Predator: Badlands is the sixth Predator film installment in the iconic 20th Century Studios franchise spanning 38 years. This latest entry in the iconic sci-fi series will flip the script and feature a Predator being the one who's hunted for once, instead of the hunter! Dan Trachtenberg's alternative take on the Predator story will position a young Yautja as the film's primary protagonist for once!
Media, posters, set photos and other images from Predator: Badlands are constantly being uploaded to our gallery here.
What is Predator: Badlands about?
Predator: Badlands takes place on an undisclosed alien planet, where a teenage Predator is left abandoned by his clan to fight for his survival. Why he is left abandoned, we don't yet know. Much like in the game Predator: Concrete Jungle, it's possible this Predator committed a crime or went against the Hunter's code, leading to his exile. Or, he's an unblooded warrior being tested - but unlike the young Yautja in Alien vs. Predator, he is alone, not accompanied by other young bloods and the prey this time are not Xenomorphs.
While on this planet he will find Thia, a Human (or potentially Android) character played by Elle Fanning. Thia will aid the young Predator on his mission to survive this hostile planet and his pursuit of neutralizing a massive Kaiju-sized alien creature, which Thia warns is an unbeatable adversary.
Cool facts about Predator: Badlands
- Predator: Badlands will introduce Yautja Prime - a Predator home world
- The protagonist Predator is named Dek.
- Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi is the suit actor who will play the role of Dek.
- Badlands draws heavy inspiration from expanded lore in games, novels and comic books!
- An entire Yautja language was created for Predator: Badlands.
- While the Predator suit is practical, the face will be purely digital with visual effects being handled by Weta Workshop.
Is Predator: Badlands a sequel to Prey?
Despite Predator: Badlands being directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who also directed Prey, the new film is NOT a sequel, no. Not only is it not a sequel, but it has no notable connections to the Prey storyline whatsoever. Instead, Predator: Badlands acts as another stand-alone Predator film set in an entirely different time period, featuring entirely new characters.
What does the Predator look like in this movie?
While no official media has revealed the Predator's appearance yet in Badlands, reports from CinemaCon's preview footage claimed the Yautja in this film more closely resembles the appearance of that of the original Predator - only with a slightly darker complexion. This will be a dramatic contrast to the alternative design we witnessed in Prey.
Official plot synopsis for Predator: Badlands
When a young warrior is outcast from his clan on a [indistinguishable] planet, he discovers he must fight to the top of the food chain but he’s not alone on this journey…
Predator: Badlands CinemaCon Trailer
The first glimpse of Predator: Badlands was shown at CinemaCon 2025 and while the footage remains unavailable, descriptions of what was shown did make their way online. Below are a compiled recollection by DiscussingFilm:
The footage sees a Predator crash-landing on what could either be an alien planet or a post-apocalyptic Earth. For the first time in franchise history, the Predator is truly outnumbered, with alternating shots of human gangs hunting down the Predator with laser rifles. Elle Fanning plays a mysterious and possibly cybernetic human, since we see her eyes roll to all white, who is trying to help the Predator. We see a new variant of a Predator chief with long white braids performing some sort of ritual.
The teaser ends with Elle Fanning telling the young Yautja protagonist that what he’s hunting is unbeatable, only to briefly see a massive kaiju-like creature that the Predator is going up against. The main Predator, without his helmet, lets out a mighty yell at the giant beast before he takes it on.
The mask seen here reminds us of the Falconer Predator's mask from Robert Rodriguez's Predators (2010) - which also introduced the Predator as prey to the much larger subspecies of Super Predators. Perhaps the young Predator in Badlands belongs to a Super Predator clan?
What is the Predator: Badlands release date?
Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands will officially arrive in theaters on November 7th, 2025!
New information is constantly being added as we approach the film's release date, so check back often for updates!
