SAN DIEGO – At a Comic-Con panel on July 25, director Dan Trachtenberg discussed his latest project, “Predator: Badlands,” set to hit theaters on November 7. Trachtenberg, who previously directed “Prey,” expressed his lifelong admiration for the Predator franchise, recalling his early experience of wanting to see an R-rated movie for the first time.
“Badlands” takes a groundbreaking approach by making the Predator the protagonist rather than the villain for the first time in the series’ history. The film centers on Dek, a young alien hunter portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, as he embarks on a journey to gain respect within his clan. Trachtenberg revealed that the film is inspired by the idea that Predators, known as the ultimate hunters, have never emerged victorious in their movies.
In a creative twist, Trachtenberg showed the first 15 minutes of the film, which introduces Genna, a perilous “death planet” where Dek must confront an “unkillable” foe to prove himself. He likened Dek’s character arc to that of Dutch from the original 1987 film, stating, “We really have never in movies seen the Predator hunting on a planet where everything could kill you.”
Adding depth to the adventure, Dek receives assistance from Thia, an android with a unique backstory. Trachtenberg liked the parallel between Thia’s predicament and the iconic dynamic between Chewbacca and C-3PO in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.” Notably, “Badlands” aligns with the “Alien” franchise as Thia is a Weylandi-Yutani android, hinting at potential crossover possibilities, which Trachtenberg playfully acknowledged.
An innovative filming technique was employed in “Badlands,” moving away from previous methods to provide a more emotional portrayal of the Predator character. Schuster-Koloamatangi wore the armor with an open face to allow for expressive motion capture, enabling the filmmakers to explore emotional depths that have not been realized in prior films. Trachtenberg emphasized this duality of traditional and digital filmmaking, crediting Dimitrius’ performance for enriching the depicted experience.
Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike can look forward to this fresh take on the Predator mythos, which not only honors its roots but also aims to create a compelling narrative that emphasizes growth, perseverance, and the complexity of its characters.