20th Century Studios has officially dropped the first teaser for Predator: Badlands, confirming that director Dan Trachtenberg’s latest installment—arriving in theaters this November—will subvert franchise tropes by positioning a Predator as the film’s central protagonist.
A New Perspective on the Hunt
Following months of speculation, the official synopsis from Disney reveals a radical shift for the series. Set in the future on a remote planet, the story follows a young Predator outcast who forms an unlikely alliance with a character named Thia. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to track down the ultimate adversary.
Fixing the Maskless Predator Design
The teaser footage offers a clear look at the protagonist, highlighting a significant visual evolution for the creature. Unlike previous iterations, this outcast Predator spends substantial screen time without his iconic mask. This creative choice provides a detailed look at the alien’s facial anatomy and mandibles, effectively addressing and correcting the criticism surrounding the “goofy” maskless design seen in Prey. The creature’s appearance is significantly more refined, ditching the disproportionate forehead design that previously distracted fans.
Double the Predators in 2025
If you feel like you’ve already seen footage from a Trachtenberg-led Predator project recently, you are not mistaken. Earlier this month, a trailer debuted for Killer of Killers, an animated feature also directed by Trachtenberg. Unlike the live-action Badlands, this project explores various Predators across different time periods and is slated for a Hulu release on June 6. While it remains unclear if the two projects share narrative threads, the franchise is clearly entering a period of rapid expansion.
Predator: Badlands is scheduled to hit theaters on November 7, marking a rare year where fans receive two distinct entries in the long-running sci-fi saga.
