Alien and Predator Surge: Is AVP Sequel on the Horizon?

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The lineup includes two new Predator films from the acclaimed director of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers. Additionally, the Alien universe is expanding with an FX show titled Alien: Earth, crafted by the showrunner of Fargo and Legion, Noah Hawley. While these projects are not officially linked, the rich history of Alien and Predator as part of a shared universe, intersecting in films, comics, and video games, keeps fans hopeful for a new crossover.

Analyzing the promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth might offer hints that Disney is setting the stage for a fresh Alien vs. Predator (AVP) encounter. Let's delve deeper into these franchise developments and explore why an AVP revival could be imminent.

Evil Easter Eggs ----------------

The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new AVP film. It introduced Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic linked to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg as the film’s protagonist. While the inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film isn't a definitive sign of an impending Alien crossover, it gains more significance with the new promotional materials for Alien: Earth.

The Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth is packed with Easter eggs tied to Alien lore. It features the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leading to an egg sac similar to one seen in Alien: Romulus. The creature emerging resembles a facehugger but with new mutations. This specimen is housed on a ship reminiscent of the Nostromo, named the Maginot, and is labeled "Species 37" with unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR. Set two years before the events of the original Alien, this suggests that Species 37 may have been Weyland-Yutani's initial encounter with Xenomorphs.

A related teaser called Crate showcases specimen containers, with a narrator mentioning that the ship collected five different life forms from the universe's darkest corners, each a unique species. A classic Xenomorph appears, hinting at an expansion of the alien creature roster. This raises the possibility that one of these species could be linked to the Predators, especially since Predator: Badlands is set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial monstrosities. Could Elle Fanning's android be searching for these specimens, or might one of these monsters evolve into a creature featured in Badlands or Killer of Killers? While we await the premiere for confirmation, the presence of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth wouldn't be surprising.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The Alien and Predator franchises have been part of the same universe since their first clash in the 1989 Dark Horse comic series, Aliens vs. Predator. This connection was further cemented in Predator 2 with an Easter egg featuring a Xenomorph skull on the Predator's trophy wall. The 2000s saw the release of two AVP films, but they received poor critical and audience reception despite their box office success. Although the superhero and sci-fi genre was gaining traction, AVP was treated as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox, despite the iconic status of films like Ridley Scott’s Alien, James Cameron’s Aliens, and John McTiernan’s Predator.

The 2010s brought further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series ending after Alien: Covenant's commercial disappointment and Shane Black's The Predator failing to rejuvenate the franchise. However, the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 has revitalized both franchises, making the prospect of a new AVP film more enticing than ever.

Is it time for a new Alien vs. Predator movie? ----------------------------------------------

Yes.No.Let's discuss in the comments.Uh, whoever wins... we lose?

AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------

A sequel to Alien: Romulus is in development, with director Fede Álvarez returning and expressing interest in directing an AVP film. Romulus was a critical and commercial success, relaunching the franchise while maintaining connections to the Prometheus series. The sequel will likely follow Rain Carradine and Andy as they continue their journey through space. With Predator: Badlands also set among the stars, there's potential for cameos or Easter eggs linking the two films.

Álvarez has suggested that the best way to approach an AVP film would be to surprise audiences by integrating the other creature unexpectedly into a standalone movie. He envisions a scenario where viewers think they're watching a Predator or Alien film, only to be shocked by the sudden appearance of the other species.

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

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Álvarez's enthusiasm for an AVP project suggests a promising new direction for the crossover. The previous films were constrained by their Earth-bound settings and lacked depth in character development, leading to fan rejection. A new AVP could ignore these films and start fresh, perhaps with Dek as the protagonist if he survives Predator: Badlands. Additionally, exploring the Predalien concept further, or even introducing a new creature part Alien, part Predator, and part Engineer, could offer a thrilling twist.

With both Alien and Predator franchises thriving, a new AVP film feels increasingly inevitable. As cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling gain popularity, a new AVP event seems more a matter of "when" than "if." With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg at the helm, fans might soon witness the epic showdown they've been longing for.