Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg reveals an intriguing twist in the film's original version, which featured surprise cameos from iconic characters of the Alien and Predator franchises. The movie, set in a futuristic universe, centers around a young Yautja named Dek, who forms an unlikely alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic android. This connection to the Alien franchise is already significant, but the director had even more ambitious plans.
Trachtenberg, in an interview with ScreenRant, confirmed that the film almost included references to Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch, the Xenomorph from Alien, and a creature known as 'the backbiter' from Killer of Killers. However, due to time constraints, these cameos were cut. The director explained that the scene, originally longer, was truncated, making it difficult for audiences to spot the characters. He emphasized the importance of the creatures in the sci-fi genre and expressed his desire to explore Naru's potential in future projects.
The director's vision for the film's narrative included a scene where Naru, a character from the animated Predator: Killer of Killers, would have met Dek on a planet. Trachtenberg's thoughts on the potential crossover were intriguing, but he decided to focus on the core story. The film, set on a remote planet, follows Dek's journey as an outcast Predator seeking an ultimate adversary, alongside Thia, played by Elle Fanning. Despite the film's moderate success at the box office, the director hints at the possibility of future installments, leaving fans eager for more Yautja adventures.
Predator: Badlands is set to be released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on February 17, offering fans a chance to explore the expanded universe of the Predator franchise. The author, a self-proclaimed comic book enthusiast and film critic, has praised the movie's unique take on the Predator universe, showcasing a blend of action and futuristic storytelling.
