Director Dan Trachtenberg Discusses Future Setting in Predator: Badlands

The highly anticipated film Predator: Badlands, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, explores a distant future within the beloved Predator and Alien franchises. During an interview with Variety, Trachtenberg elaborated on the film’s timeline, emphasizing that the decision to set the story far into the future allows it to stand apart from other projects, particularly Alien: Romulus.

The narrative centers on a Yautja named Dek and a damaged synthetic character, Thia, created by the infamous Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Trachtenberg explained that he aimed to avoid conflicting with ongoing developments in the Alien universe while carving out a unique space for Badlands. He stated, “Very intentionally, it is the furthest into the future in both Predator and Alien. I wanted to make sure we were doing our own thing.”

By placing Dek and Thia’s journey beyond even Alien: Resurrection, the film embraces a distinct narrative direction. Meanwhile, Alien: Earth occurs just two years before the original Alien film, and Alien: Romulus takes place two decades after Ellen Ripley’s first encounter with a Xenomorph. This strategic timeline allows Badlands to venture into unexplored territory, paving the way for fresh storytelling opportunities.

Reviews for Predator: Badlands have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics and audiences alike responding favorably to its ambitious approach. The film has earned a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting a remarkable 95% audience score. Financially, it has achieved significant success, recording the franchise’s best domestic opening weekend with $40 million and a global debut totaling $80 million. This impressive box office performance has already surpassed the entirety of Predator 2, which grossed $54.8 million worldwide.

As the storyline progresses, Badlands sets the stage for potential sequels, leaving viewers eager for more adventures involving Dek and Thia. Although no sequel has been officially confirmed, the film’s strong opening weekend and favorable reviews suggest that there is ample interest in further exploring this future within the Predator and Alien timelines.

In addition to the excitement surrounding Badlands, discussions about renewing Alien: Earth for a second season are underway, along with potential sequels for Romulus. Regardless of how these projects develop, Trachtenberg’s choice to establish a distant future for Dek and Thia ensures that any future endeavors will remain distinct from existing narratives.

As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, the success of Predator: Badlands highlights a growing appetite for innovative storytelling within established franchises. Fans of both the Predator and Alien series can look forward to a thrilling journey ahead, as Trachtenberg’s vision promises to push boundaries and explore new horizons in this rich cinematic universe.