The Predator film franchise made a critical comeback with director Dan Trachtenberg’s 2022 effort Prey. The stand-alone prequel to Predator successfully rejuvenated the franchise, and set the stage for Trachtenberg’s next upcoming effort Predator: Badlands. Now, unlike Prey which was released on Hulu, we know Predator: Badlands will have a 2025 theatrical release.
This exciting announcement was shared on Disney, via THR, which revealed that the movie actually replaced the spot for a differently high-anticipated project from the studio. As fans know, Marvel Studios has been hard at work with trying to get a new Blade film off the ground, but the studio seems to have taken the film off their schedule altogether.
As such, this allows Predator: Badlands to be released on November 7, 2025 instead. This is certainly a welcomed change, especially for fans that were disappointed they couldn’t have seen Prey on the big screen. Of course, the critical reception of Prey seems to have shown Disney that the Predator franchise might be meant for theaters after all. Especially with the recent theatrical success of Alien: Romulus to also consider.
As mentioned, Dan Trachtenberg will be returning to helm the upcoming Predator movie. The project will be written by Trachtenberg along with Patrick Aison. Elle Fanning is set to star in Predator: Badlands. Aside from this, plot and cast details are being kept under wraps, but fans are certainly anxious to see what Trachtenberg is coming up with next.
The Predator franchise has always had issues finding its own trajectory. The original film, a hit in 1987, was followed by 1990’s Predator 2. Though that sequel has acquired a cult following, it wasn’t as successful as the first, leading to a hiatus until Alien vs. Predator was released in 2004. The attempts at a crossover franchise received mixed-to-negative reactions, however, forcing stand-alone sequels to be released in both 2010 and 2018 as Predators and The Predator, respectively. Fortunately, Prey seems to have saved the brand, and the franchise might finally have found a trajectory worth following.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for more information regarding Predator: Badlands and the rest of the Predator franchise as we have it. In addition to Badlands, a direct follow-up to Prey has been reported to be in the works, so hopefully more details on that front will be revealed soon.