The Predator is one ugly son of a bitch — and he's back. This week, 20th Century Studios shared the first trailer for the buzzy Predator: Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg's follow-up to 2023's Prey, a celebrated (and surprising) prequel that pitted the dread-locked alien against a Comanche woman in the early 1700s. (Trachtenberg also helmed an animated film, Predator: Killer of Killers, that's slated to drop this summer.)

The films arrive amid a renaissance of sorts for not just Predator, but also 20th Century's Alien franchise. Last year's Alien: Romulus scored big at the box office, prompting discussions of a sequel and driving hype for FX's upcoming Alien: Earth series. The properties are clearly a priority for the studio, leading fans to ponder if the space-horror titans could crossover as they have in the past.

Few would name 2004's Alien vs. Predator and its 2007 sequel among their favorites in the respective series, but that doesn't mean we're not curious about another go-around. Well, the good news is that Predator: Badlands' first trailer indicates that another Alien vs.

Predator brawl is very much a possibility. Let's break down how the crossover could shake out, plus Predator: Badlands' release date, cast, plot details, and more. What is Predator: Badlands about?

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi's Dek prepares for battle on a remote planet in 'Predator: Badlands'. Courtesy of 20th Century Studios Predator: Badlands isn't your old man's Predator movie. In fact, it's unlike any Predator movie that's come before.

Why? Because, for once, the Predator, a.k.a. the alien species Yautja, is portrayed as a hero, not a villain.

This is clear from 20th Century's official synopsis, which says the film is "set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary." Elle Fanning, who plays Thia, confirmed this twist at CinemaCon earlier this month. "Something unprecedented happens in this movie," she told the crowd.

"My character is not the one being chased. My character actually teams up with the Predator. And you get to see him in a completely new light."

Trachtenberg spoke about Badlands' bold approach in an interview with Empire last year. “The creature is front and centre, leading the charge," he revealed. "He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too.

Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.” He elaborated, saying that he wanted to "[push] the franchise's boundaries" and allow the audience to "root for a hero we rarely get to root for." This is all evident in the trailer, which finds our dread-locked, claw-mouthed hero staring down a much, much larger adversary.

"You're hunting something that can't be killed," warns Fanning's Thia, a sentiment that's plenty familiar in this franchise. But there appear to be other wrinkles to the narrative. The synopsis describes the protagonist, whose name is Dek, as an "outcast from his clan," and the trailer offers several glimpses of what appear to be battles with that clan, potentially teasing some intra-Predator fighting.

How does Predator: Badlands tease an Alien vs. Predator sequel? Elle Fanning as Thia in 'Predator: Badlands' — perhaps in the process of rebooting?.

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios The speculation about a potential Alien and Predator crossover comes from the trailer's reveal that Fanning's Thia is a synthetic, the Alien universe's term for its android characters. Synthetics have been a part of the franchise since 1979's Alien, where Ian Holm's Ash is revealed to be an artificial humanoid. Other prominent synthetics include Lance Henriksen's Bishop (Aliens, Alien 3), Michael Fassbender's David (Prometheus, Alien: Covenant), and David Jonsson's Andy (Alien: Romulus).

This is the first standalone Predator film to feature a synthetic. It's also the first time a connection has been made between the Alien and Predator franchises since 2007's Alien vs. Predator: Requiem.

Some brief lore: Synthetics are a creation of Weyland-Yutani, a decidedly evil corporation that, in addition to manufacturing, also has a stake in space colonization. Remember Paul Reiser's detestable Carter Burke in Aliens? Yeah, he was a Weyland-Yutani stooge.

Anyways, Weyland-Yutani's logo is all over this brief teaser, including in Thia's eyeballs at the 26-second mark. (In Alien: Romulus, Andy's eyes do the same when he's rebooting.) You can see the corporation's logo on Thia's clothing at the 50-second mark and on a totaled truck at the 53-second mark.

Fans believe this could lead to a potential Alien vs. Predator return for a couple of reasons. First, it shows a clear desire on the part of the creative team to connect the two franchises.

And second, Weyland-Yutani played a role in both Alien vs. Predator films. Who's in the Predator: Badlands cast?

Dimitrius Schuster-Doloamatangi as the Predator Dek in 'Predator: Badlands'. Courtesy of 20th Century Studios So far, all we know about the Predator: Badlands cast is that it stars Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Fanning is likely best known for her Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated turn as Catherine the Great in three seasons of Hulu's The Great (2020–2023).

She's also led several movies, including Maleficent (2014), The Neon Demon (2016), and 20th Century Women (2016). Last year, the actress starred alongside Timothée Chalamet in the Oscar-nominated film A Complete Unknown. Schuster-Koloamatangi, a relative newcomer from New Zealand who plays the Predator Dek, previously appeared in projects such as The Panthers (2021), Red, White & Brass (2023), and Far North (2023).

Is there a Predator: Badlands release date? Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi's Dek, sword in hand, navigates the jungle in 'Predator: Badlands'. Courtesy of 20th Century Studios Predator: Badlands slashes into theaters and IMAX on Nov. 7, 2025.

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