Wrist Blades. An iconic weapon at every Predator's disposal. These close-quarter melee gauntlets have been featured in every single Predator film since 1987 and ever since Predator 2, the design and usage of this particular weapon has evolved with every subsequent installment. Alien vs. Predator (2004) introduced us to an extremely elongated version of the Wrist Blade, as well as dual-Wrist Blades which the unblooded young hunters used against their Xenomorph prey. In Predators (2010) the standard Wrist Blades were reserved for the iconic Yautja fans dubbed "Jungle Hunter", while the film's new super race Predator, appropriately named Super Predators utilized a long, single blade Wrist Gauntlet. This was the fist and only instance where the dual Wrist Blade was swapped for a singular blade. It was also unique to this specific Super Predator sub-specie.
Why is this relevant? Because in the first trailer for Shane Black's The Predator, we are given a glimpse at one of the film's Predators and during one of the cut-scenes we are shown one Predator using a similar, single blade Wrist Blade!
Not only this, but the functionality of this blade mimics that of the Berserker Predator's Wrist Blade in Predators! At the end of Predators, the Berserker is shot by Isabelle's sniper rifle - a daring move to save Royce. However after being shot the Berserker turns quickly and shoots the Wrist Blade out of its gauntlet and manages to pin Isabelle with it, striking her shoulder.
In The Predator trailer, this new Predator also launches its Wrist Blade in the exact same fashion:
What does this mean? Well, we know Predators is canon to this series, according to Shane Black. This means Super Predators exist. We also know The Predator will feature larger, evolved Predators than the Hunters witnessed before. Putting two and two together, we can theorize that the Predators in The Predator may in fact be a category of Super Predator after all! If so, this could lead to new information regarding the Super Predator species, expanding the mythology even further than what Predators did. However if not, that means we have a third tier of Predator specie, who have advanced their weaponry and technology even further than the Super Predator race. Where do they fall in the Predator food chain? Are they too prey to the Super Predators or do they hunt the smaller, iconic Yautja as well? Do they hunt Super Predators?! So many questions. Very few answers.
Have a theory? Sound off in the comments below or in the Predator forum!
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Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands released in theaters on November 7th, 2025! Visit the Predator Lore database - for information on the film's different Yautja and characters, the planet Genna, how it connects to Alien, where in the Predator movie timeline the film takes place and more!
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