After the success of the movie “Prey,” 20th Century is progressing with the next film in the Predator franchise. According to THR, Dan Trachtenberg is set to return as both writer and director for “Badlands,” a standalone movie expected to begin filming later this year. The studio considers this film a top priority, and Trachtenberg, along with executives, is already in discussions with potential actors for the lead role. Trachtenberg collaborated with Patrick Aison on the script.
“Badlands” won’t serve as a direct sequel to “Prey,” even though both films belong to the same franchise and share the same director. Due to the different time periods depicted in each film, it would be challenging to directly link the two projects. Instead, the Predator series is taking a new direction with the upcoming title. Patrick Aison, who penned the screenplay for “Prey,” is returning to collaborate on “Badlands,” with the story being jointly created by him and Trachtenberg. The studio is currently preparing for filming to commence on the new movie this summer, indicating that Aison, Trachtenberg, and the team have been working on “Badlands” for some time.
“Badlands” will provide Dan Trachtenberg with another opportunity to delve into the world of enigmatic creatures, such as the Predators. Prior to his work on “Prey,” the filmmaker directed “10 Cloverfield Lane,” the second installment in the Cloverfield franchise. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher Jr., the film followed a woman trapped in an underground bunker under the premise that Earth had been devastated by a major disaster. “10 Cloverfield Lane” received critical acclaim, propelling Trachtenberg to the forefront of the Predator franchise, a legacy that will continue with “Badlands.”
Badlands Story Details
One of the fascinating aspects of the Predator franchise is the flexibility of the Yautja, who can appear anywhere and at any time due to their long history of space travel. “Prey” featured their arrival in North America in the early 18th century, and earlier installments featured their encounters in modern-day Earth. Director Dan Trachtenberg has only given hints about the plot of “Badlands,” but it’s likely to unfold in the future.
It’s also revealed that the lead character will be a woman, following the trend set in “Prey” with Amber Midthunder’s character, Naru. “Prey” took the Predator story further back in time than ever before, and “Badlands” could explore the opposite by portraying how the Yautja hunt humans in a distant future where they are technologically advanced. The movie might aim to expand upon ideas introduced in “Predator 2,” which offered a semi-futuristic depiction of Los Angeles.
The Release Date
As the movie is still in its early stages of development, there is currently no set release date. It’s possible that the film might hit theaters sometime around 2025 or 2026.
