"Badlands Director Confirms 'Death Planet' and New Predator Names, Inspired by Shadow of the Colossus"

The debut trailer for Predator: Badlands has ignited a flurry of excitement and questions among fans, particularly regarding the new Predator's design. In an insightful interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shared intriguing details about the upcoming film, including his unique vision for the iconic sci-fi hunter.

The new Predator, named Dek, is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Described as an underdog Yautja "runt," Dek takes on the protagonist role, a departure from the typical antagonist portrayal of Yautja in previous Predator films. Dek's mission unfolds on a "Death Planet" called Kalisk, where he strives to prove his worth to his father and gain acceptance within his clan.

Dek's design diverges significantly from previous Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, aligning with his "runt" characterization. Predator: Badlands centers on Dek's journey, but he is not alone on Kalisk. He collaborates with a character played by Elle Fanning, who, as IGN has noted, bears a striking resemblance to a synth from the Alien franchise, complete with the Weyland Yutani logo in her eyes.

Trachtenberg drew inspiration from the 2005 PlayStation masterpiece Shadow of the Colossus for the on-screen relationship between Dek and Fanning's character. He explained, "As inspired as I am by movies, I've been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection." He likened their dynamic to the emotional bond between the protagonist and the horse in Shadow of the Colossus, highlighting the contrast between Dek's laconic nature and Fanning's character's verbosity and unique capabilities. Trachtenberg teased, "She's capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she's got a real thing that I'm so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself."

While Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he hinted at an "exciting" and "unique hook" to her character that enhances her pairing with Dek.

Predator: Badlands is set to launch on November 7, 2025. Before that, fans can look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, Predator: Killer of Killers, which will be released in June.