20th Century Studios has unveiled the first trailer and poster for Predator: Badlands, the latest installment in the legendary sci-fi horror franchise. Set to hit theaters exclusively on November 7, 2025, this sixth chapter promises to redefine what fans know about the Predator universe—with a twist no one saw coming.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the visionary behind 2022’s critically acclaimed Prey, Badlands stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (The Panthers) in a tale of survival, rebellion, and unexpected alliances on a distant planet.
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Plot: Predator, but Not as You Know It
Set in a far-off future, Predator: Badlands introduces us to a young outcast Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi) who is banished from his clan and forms an unlikely alliance with Thia (Fanning), a human woman surviving under dire conditions. Together, they embark on a perilous journey across a savage alien landscape to face a threat more terrifying than either of them has ever known.
“You’re hunting something that can’t be killed,” Thia warns in the trailer—setting the tone for a story where the hunter becomes the hunted, and enemies must become allies.
This marks the first time a Predator film pivots from the traditional “man vs. alien” narrative to a thrilling man and Predator vs. greater evil setup. By the looks of the teaser, this new enemy may be a towering, dinosaur-sized beast that even the galaxy’s fiercest hunter fears.
A Sci-Fi Evolution
Trachtenberg, also producing alongside John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor, is doubling down on bold, narrative reinvention. Badlands not only ventures off-Earth for the first time since 2010’s Predators, but it also deepens the emotional and philosophical core of the franchise—exploring identity, exile, and survival in uncharted ways.
Speculation is already swirling that Fanning’s character may be more than human—possibly an android—after a brief scene in the trailer shows a mechanical shimmer passing over her eyes. If true, it would hint at deeper ties to the Alien franchise, long rumored to be intertwined with Predator lore.
Expanding the Universe
The trailer release of Badlands comes hot on the heels of Hulu’s surprise announcement of another Trachtenberg-helmed project, Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology exploring Predator encounters across different eras—from Vikings to samurai and WWII pilots. Both Badlands and Killer of Killers represent a major creative expansion of the franchise, giving Trachtenberg what appears to be full creative control after the success of Prey.
Meanwhile, fans are still clamoring for a sequel to Prey, which starred Amber Midthunder as a young Comanche warrior battling a Predator in 18th-century America. With Badlands pushing the timeline forward and Killer of Killers spanning multiple epochs, a Prey 2 could complete a compelling trilogy.
A Cinematic Spectacle
Predator: Badlands is set for a grand cinematic release in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and other premium formats, ensuring fans get the full, immersive experience. With its futuristic visuals, complex characters, and genre-bending storyline, Badlands is shaping up to be a must-watch for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
From the gritty jungles of 1987’s Predator to this interstellar odyssey, the franchise has come a long way—and with Badlands, the hunt has never felt so thrillingly unpredictable.
