Following the success of 2022’s “Prey,” which revitalized the sci-fi brand at 20th Century Studios, the director Dan Trachtenberg is once again on the search. Trachtenberg is making a return to the sci-fi action horror franchise with a new entry. Trachtenberg received an Emmy nomination for his 2022 Predator film, Prey.
The latest Predator film, titled “Badlands”, tells a very different tale than the 1719 original Prey, which followed a young Comanche woman who must battle extraterrestrial aliens in order to survive. Although the specifics of the plot are being withheld, it is said to take place in the future. It will, however, also have a female lead, just like Prey.
Similar to Prey, Patrick Aison authored the screenplay while Trachtenberg penned the story. The project has been under wraps for a while, but it has advanced to the point where production is set to begin in July.
There are more projects under development besides Badlands. The unexpected triumph of Prey won over both reviewers and viewers, revitalizing the series. At the core of the studio’s current Predator project plans is Trachtenberg.
History of the franchise
Over the years, the “Predator” franchise has grown to include other films featuring the recognizable alien. This is a synopsis:
- “Predator” (1987): The original film directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer. It follows a team of commandos hunted by a technologically advanced alien creature known as the Predator.
- “Predator 2” (1990): Directed by Stephen Hopkins, this sequel is set in a crime-ridden Los Angeles in the near future. It features Danny Glover as Lieutenant Mike Harrigan, who faces off against a new Predator hunting in the urban jungle.
- “Alien vs. Predator” (2004): Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, this crossover film brings together the iconic creatures from the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises. Set in Antarctica, a team of archaeologists and mercenaries discovers an ancient pyramid and becomes caught in a battle between Predators and Xenomorphs.
- “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem” (2007): Directed by the Brothers Strause, this sequel to “Alien vs. Predator” is set in a small Colorado town where a Predator and a Xenomorph wreak havoc, leading to a battle between the two species.
- “Predators” (2010): Directed by Nimród Antal, this film follows a group of elite warriors from various backgrounds who find themselves stranded on an alien planet and hunted by Predators. The cast includes Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, and Laurence Fishburne.
- “The Predator” (2018): Directed by Shane Black, this film serves as a sequel to the original “Predator” and ignores the events of the other sequels. It follows a group of soldiers and scientists who must stop a genetically enhanced Predator from wreaking havoc on Earth.
Evolution of the Predator Franchise: Cinematic Journey and Beyond
In the muscular action film Predator from 1987, Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers, and Arnold Schwarzenegger as commandos being pursued by a menacing extraterrestrial. The film was directed by John McTiernan, who further cemented Schwarzenegger’s star status. Prey is regarded as a prelude to the three sequels that followed, which are The Predator (2018), Predator 2 (1990s), and Predators (2010). Along with video games, the franchise has also spawned successful comic books (Marvel Comics released Predator vs. Wolverine last year).
From Theatrical Plans to Streaming Triumph: “Prey’s” success
When Prey made its Hulu debut, it became an enormous streaming success, breaking records for the streamer’s viewership. However, the film was initially intended for a theatrical distribution. But everything changed when 20th Century was acquired by Disney; based on insider information, the Fox-owned studio had an output agreement with HBO, meaning that Prey would have gone to a competitor studio following its theatrical debut.
Disney, the new owner, thought that releasing the film on Hulu was the best course of action, as the pandemic was still hurting box business and bolstering streaming services was a primary priority during those heated days of The Streaming Wars.
