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Predator: Badlands – Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything We Know About the Next Sci-Fi Sequel
Predator fans, take note: 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the franchise. Hot on the heels of the acclaimed animated feature Predator: Killer of Killers—which delighted viewers earlier this year—the spotlight shifts to the highly anticipated live-action installment, Predator: Badlands. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who revitalized the series with Prey, this new chapter aims to push the boundaries of sci-fi storytelling and offer fans an experience unlike anything seen before in the Predator universe.
Release Date and Production Details
Predator: Badlands is officially set to hit theaters in both the UK and US on November 7, 2025. The film, distributed by 20th Century Studios, completed principal photography in New Zealand between August and October 2024. Notably, director Dan Trachtenberg has confirmed that every single frame of the movie incorporates visual effects, a detail contributing to the extended post-production schedule and heightened anticipation in the fan community.
For a comprehensive list of upcoming releases, be sure to visit GamesRadar’s guide to upcoming movies.
The First Look: Official Teaser Trailer
At this stage, fans have access only to a teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands, released online in April 2025. The trailer, which you can watch on YouTube, offers an atmospheric glimpse into the tone and direction of the film rather than spoiling major plot or character details. The promo opens with an eerie look at a Predator trophy room, featuring an array of skulls—ranging from dinosaur to kaiju to human—hinting at the formidable hunts to come. The visuals then shift to a ship racing over a desert wasteland, while the text proclaims: "The director of Prey welcomes you to a world of hurt." Fans also caught intriguing glimpses of diverse Yautja, unique flora, and a mysterious blonde character whose eyes roll back in a cryptic moment.
The line “You’re hunting something that can’t be killed” from the trailer has already sparked lively discussions on social media about possible crossovers and new villains.
Cast: Who’s in Predator: Badlands?
So far, the cast list only features two confirmed names, but both are significant:
- Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi stars as Dek, a young Predator—a Yautja outcast on a quest to prove himself to his clan by seeking the ultimate adversary.
- Elle Fanning takes on the role of Thia, a sophisticated android created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, known to fans of the wider Alien and Predator mythos.
For further details about the project and talent involved, visit IMDb’s Predator: Badlands page.
With such a central focus on these two characters, fans can expect a deep, dynamic interplay as Dek and Thia forge an uneasy alliance in hostile territory. More casting announcements are expected as the release date nears.
Plot and Setting: Turning the Franchise on Its Head
Unlike previous entries in the Predator series, which typically cast the Yautja as fearsome antagonists pitted against human protagonists, Predator: Badlands boldly shifts perspective. Here, Dek—the Predator himself—is the main character, giving audiences unprecedented insight into Yautja society and struggles.
The story unfolds on Yautja Prime, the Predators’ homeworld, which first appeared visually in Predator: Killer of Killers. Banished from his tribe, Dek joins forces with Thia, the Android, on a treacherous path to face an unspecified, seemingly invincible adversary. Early fan theories, sparked by brief shots in the teaser featuring what may be a Xenomorph skull, suggest that canonical connections to the Alien universe could come into play.
The film’s fresh narrative also allows for a deep dive into Predator culture and values, with Dek’s journey offering a rare look at their society’s outsider dynamics and deadly rites of passage. Director Dan Trachtenberg has hinted that “you’ve truly never seen a Predator movie like this one before,” underscoring the series’ commitment to innovation and surprise. For more speculation and trailer breakdowns, check the coverage at Bloody Disgusting.
What’s Next for the Predator Franchise?
After Predator: Badlands, the future for the franchise remains tantalizingly open. Director Dan Trachtenberg has teased that Badlands is just one of three distinct ideas he’s envisioned post-Prey, with another secret project already generating buzz among insiders. In recent interviews, Trachtenberg emphasized that the drive behind these films isn’t just commercial—but to keep innovating and defying genre conventions.
To learn more about Dan Trachtenberg’s vision and hints about future projects, see his latest comments in SFX Magazine.
As always, the Predator franchise continues to evolve, keeping fans guessing about where the Yautja will turn up next—and what forms their deadly hunts will take.
Stay tuned for updates about Predator: Badlands and make sure to keep an eye on social media, where fans are dissecting every second of the teaser for clues. For a full round-up of the best in science fiction cinema, don’t miss GamesRadar’s best sci-fi movies of recent years.
