After the high praise and positive audience reaction to Dan Trachtenberg‘s “Prey,” a period film set within the greater “Predator” franchise, 20th Century Studios and Disney pushed forward with a second film titled “Predator: Badlands“ starring Elle Fanning (now confirmed) in the main role after having such success with Amber Midthunder leading the last installment. However, there is actually even more coming. Steve Asbell of 20th Century Studios recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and revealed that the filmmaker has directed TWO “Predator” movies, not just one installment.
“I’ll tell you very simply. After ‘Prey’ became a success, Dan [Trachtenberg] came back and said he didn’t want to do ‘Prey 2.’ And we’re like, “What do you want to do?” And he rattled off a bunch of ideas that were really crazy but really cool. We’ve actually done two of them. Two are coming out next year. One I can’t talk about yet, but the other one is the live-action ‘Predator‘ film with Elle Fanning that just wrapped in New Zealand. That’ll be out theatrically sometime next year,” Asbell told THR in a one-on-one interview about the future of the studio’s big franchises.
He added, “There’s a secret Predator movie that will come out before the theatrical one, but I can’t say anything about it yet.”
I think we can infer from these quotes that this “secret” film is likely heading to Hulu since Asbell is quite specific about “Yes, a ‘Predator’ movie will have a theatrical [release].” This doesn’t exactly suggest this second project coming out before “Predator: Badlands” will be in theaters, too. Then again, you have to assume that Hulu and Disney were hellbent on getting another “Predator” property on the platform alongside the upcoming “Alien: Earth” series from Noah Hawley.
“Predator: Badlands” already has an official theatrical release date of November 7, 2025, and would be the first film from the franchise to grace the big screen since Shane Black’s long-forgotten attempt, “The Predator.” Again, we shouldn’t be surprised if this other movie ends up being a Hulu exclusive release.
“Alien: Romulus” has turned out to be a huge shot in the arm for “Alien” franchise after being on life support when Ridley Scott’s “Alien: Covenant” failed to replicate the success of “Prometheus,” and put his third prequel movie “Alien: Awakening” (Scott had mapped out plans with screenwriter Michael Green for many more installments beyond that) into limbo for foreseeable future. The movie has a budget of $80 million (modest in comparison to other genre-focused studio tentpoles) and is set between the events of “Alien” and “Aliens,” now projected to earn an impressive $100 million-plus at the global box office and nabbing over $40 million domestically. This makes “Romulus” the second-biggest domestic opening (previously held by “Alien Vs. Predator“) for the franchise behind the $51 million “Prometheus” (Budget was $130 million) opening weekend in 2012.
Of course, this success certainly bodes well for more movies, including the potential for a “Romulus” sequel (without spoiling the film, it ends with the open-ended plausibility of a sequel). While on the red carpet promoting the film, director Fede Álvarez was asked by Deadline (See video below) about the potential for a new “Alien Vs. Predator” film project (the IP actually titled “Aliens Vs. Predator” for the video games, comic books, and other material).
Álvarez didn’t exactly reveal too many details on what he would do with the property, but he pitched the idea of co-directing the big-screen crossover with “Prey” director Dan Trachtenberg.
[Laughs] I don’t know, depends on how well [“Alien: Romulus”] does and if people still want to see that. I think [it’s] maybe something I have to co-direct with my buddy Dan [Tranchtenberg]. That could be something we could do…I direct one half, and he directs the other half,” the filmmaker told Deadline.
Álvarez also compared the idea to the collaborative working relationship between Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez on films like “From Dusk Till Dawn” (Fede misspoke as Tarantino wrote the script and Rodriguez helmed) and “Grindhouse” (their horror double-feature). They did co-direct together on “Sin City” and “Four Rooms.”
When we consider 20th Century Studios’ recent attentiveness to these franchises, it’s really only a matter of time before they attempt another “AVP” project.
For his part, Trachtenberg is overseeing the next two installments in the “Predator” franchise, with both “Badlands” (Elle Fanning reportedly is in the mix to potentially lead it) and an untitled follow-up to “Prey.” The latter will most likely feature Naru (Amber Midthunder) being invited into a predator clan, not unlike the “AVP” comic book character Machiko Noguchi, and potentially extending her lifespan via pred-tech, allowing Naru to potentially be still alive in a futuristic setting. Giving them plausible wiggle room to add Naru to a hypothetical “AVP” reboot that could connect to “Alien: Romulus” via the yet-to-be-explored planet of Yvaga.
“Alien Vs. Predator” was released back in 2004 and had director Paul W.S. Anderson take direct cues from things like the schlock sci-fi exploitation movie “Galaxy of Terror” (Roger Corman’s “Alien” knockoff that a young James Cameron worked on at New World Pictures) and H.P. Lovecraft’s “At The Mountains of Madness” (also takes place in ancient ruins hidden in Antarctica with unspeakable monsters awaken by explorers). The PG-13 movie ended up making the studio money but got ripped apart by fans and critics alike, leading to a smaller budget for the R-rated sequel “AVP: Requiem.” A sequel that felt worse than the previous film due to the small-town contemporary setting (used to save studio money on production costs) and weak/unforgettable characters.
Given the poor reception of those movies, don’t expect too much of a continuation or any direct links moving forward. Its been seen those movies take place outside of the main “Alien” franchise timeline/canon and a reason to simply reboot. A couple of integral elements were always missing from those movies, such as the return of the Colonial Marines (oddly enough, we haven’t seen them on the big screen since 1986 despite being a massive part of the “Alien” expanded universe) and a futuristic off-world setting (the Jackson’s Star Colony was a massive highlight from “Romulus”). Those might be more expensive additions but that would be sort of no-brainer if they’re going to take a third crack at this property.
While the bungled video game “Aliens: Colonial Marines” botched the single-player campaign and the game itself was buggy as hell, it did add creative variant types of Xenomorphs (just as “Aliens: Fireteam Elite” did), which really should be a huge part of a new “AVP” film. They could easily give audiences multiple different takes on the creatures, like Rhino, Burster, Spitter, Boiler, Prowler, Bull, Flying Queen, and the Alien King.
How they would get to those variants wouldn’t be all that hard, given an off-world colony would likely have established agriculture farms on the colonized planet, using a mix of animal life imported off-world (think the oxen and dog from “Alien 3”) alongside other inhabitants on an alien planet as their hosts instead of only humans. Another angle could be doing warring Xenomorph hives (A conflict between hives and red xenos introduced via the Dark Horse Comics run “Aliens: Genocide” from 1991-1992) are expansion elements that could be perfect fodder for these new movies, given the aim of each installment seems to be adding to lifecycle lore and creating different variants of the species.
In a perfect world, a new “AVP” installment could bring together “Alien: Romulus,” and whatever Trachtenberg is doing with his “Predator” movies. Instead of simply being it’s own standalone.
I also wouldn’t be terribly shocked if the ‘Alien: Romulus” box office success may boost the idea at the studio of revisiting never-made “Alien” projects like the aforementioned “Alien: Awakening” or even the twice-nixed “Alien 5” with Sigourney Weaver reprising the Ellen Ripley role. Although, the former seems a lot more realistic between the two, allowing for franchise stewards Ridey and Scott Free Productions to complete their planned prequel trilogy and potentially bring back the Engineers (Paradise wasn’t apparently their homeworld but possibly one of many of their terraformed/seeded planets inhabited by devoted humanoids that may have worshiped them as Gods) alongside Michael Fassbender’s David, Katherine Waterston’s Daniels, and Danny McBride’s Tennesse. At the end of the film, we see David now in complete control of the Covenant ship, the final two crew members, and the entire group of sleeping colonists.
20th Century Studios, FX/Hulu, and Scott Free are behind the new streaming series “Alien: Earth” from creator/showrunner Noah Hawley (“Fargo”) and could be another puzzle piece to getting the money folks at the studio to give Scott his wish to complete his David Saga trilogy. Raising the demand and profile of a franchise launched all the way back in 1979 will be key to finding a new generation of audiences to support it.
We’ll just have to be patient to see what the studio does next with these characters and if a crossover like “AVP” or “Alien: Awakening” will ever materialize.
Fede Álvarez reveals his pitch for ‘Alien vs. Predator’ : “Maybe something that I have to co-direct with my buddy Dan (Trachtenberg)” pic.twitter.com/HmhabAXN84
The next phase of the “Predator” franchise was previously announced as they’ll be making a follow-up to director Dan Trachtenberg‘s “Prey” with “Badlands.” However, its been said the new movie is going to be set further into the future and won’t be a direct sequel to “Prey” (But one is also in the works).
A big casting update has been shared by Deadline, as they have announced that Elle Fanning (“The Great”) is in talks to take the lead role in the new sci-fi actioner.
The studio is in negotiations with a popular actress like Fanning could suggest that 20th Century Studios may attempt to release the film in theaters after “Prey” headed to Hulu/Disney+.
20th Century Studios is also about to release Fede Alvarez’s “Alien Romulus” which is said to be a standalone story set between the events of Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” (produces the film) and James Cameron’s “Aliens” as the filmmaker hopes to find a balance where “Romulus” invokes a balanced tone of both those movies. “Romulus” was originally meant to be a Hulu exclusive until the studio changed its mind after how well-received “Prey” was (the studio missing out on box office dollars on that one).
There is the potential that “Alien Romulus” and “Badlands” future settings could eventually lead audiences to a new, more faithful take on “Aliens vs Predator,” where a boring/dull Earthbound setting is avoided to go completely off-world as seen in the video games and comics books which the crossover originally took place. Some of the more common occurrences where humans, androids/synthetics, predators/yautja, and xenomorphs interact with each other happen on off-world colonies/mining operations connected to Weyland-Yutani.
“Prey” seemed like a big success for both 20th Century Studios and director Dan Trachtenberg as they attempted to infuse new blood into the “Predator” franchise after Shane Black‘s “The Predator” seemed to feel like they were running on fumes. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that a second film from Trachtenberg and the sixth franchise installment is indeed on the way under the working title of “Badlands.”
While details are scarce they are quick to point out that the film isn’t a direct sequel to “Prey” (Set in 1719) but will continue the last film’s angle of using a female protagonist and is said to jump into the future, which seems like a cue to the studio’s “Alien” franchise. This should give “Predator” fans hope that the franchise might start pushing toward the comic book and video game incarnations of the “Alien vs Predator,” where the hunters would bump into humans trying to colonize planets that happened to be gaming preserves.
How far into the future remains to be seen and if this will be another Earthbound adventure.
Patrick Aison (“Prey”) wrote the screenplay for “Badlands” with Trachtenberg working with Aison on the story. The report also mentions that more “Predator” projects are in the works that involve Trachtenberg, without dishing on exact details of what that means. Perhaps, we could end up getting a streaming series on Hulu/Disney+ not unlike what is happening with the “Alien” prequel show that hails from Noah Hawley (“Legion,” “Fargo”), but that is just an early assumption on our part.
UPDATE: Deadline adds in their version of the story that while it’s only in early development, “Prey 2” is still in the works and that Midthunder is expected to reprise the Naru role in it.
Rumors had pegged that a “Predator 6” would be a direct sequel to “Prey” with actress Amber Midthunder returning after a cliffhanger ending that teased the alien hunters’ return and potentially inducting Naru into one of the clans. Mirroring other humans that have joined Predator clans after proving themselves to be great warriors, similar to Machiko Noguchi (A character from the “AVP” comics). Given this reported time-jump there is nothing stopping them from bringing back Midthunder to play an ancestor of Naru, depending on the actual setting of the film as there is a good chance with a “future setting” they could move forward enough into this universe where there are off-world colonies (“Alien: Romulus” will feature a colony of humans fighting off a Xenomorph).
We’ll keep our fingers crossed that we’ll eventually get “Prey 2” but sounds like “Badlands” might be moving the franchise in a different direction. Perhaps, the ultimate goal is to lead directly in a futuristic off-world crossover between the “Alien” and “Predator” universes after the lackluster attempts with less-than-impressive “AVP” movies that took place in a contemporary Earthbound setting (Yawn, boring).
Back in September, The Ronin confirmed that the next Predator film would be a co-production between 20th Century Studios and Hulu.
However, Predator 5 is a co-production between 20th Century Studios and Hulu, which means it could skip a traditional theatrical release to become a Hulu exclusive.
It’s now been confirmed that Predator 5, titled Prey, will become a Hulu exclusive as we mentioned and as trades predicted will be dropped sometime in the summer of 2022.
Deadline also now adds a synopsis:
Set in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, following Naru, a skilled female warrior who fiercely protects her tribe against a highly evolved alien predator.
Three actors had been announced for the cast for the film, two of which The Ronin previously mentioned were involved with the new Predator film. They Include Amber Midthunder (Legion), Dakota Beavers, and Dane Diliergo.
Filming by director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) had shot the sci-fi prequel in Calgary, Alberta, Canada under the working title of Skulls, many got confused with the film’s final title, which is now Prey.
It’s officially a wrap on Predator 5! Cinematographer Jeff Cutter reveals on Instagram that the film has finished production after spending the summer filming in Calgary, Alberta.
He also confirmed three actors for the film two of which The Ronin previously mentioned were involved with the new Predator film. They Include Amber Midthunder (Legion), Dakota Beavers, and Dane Diliergo.
UPDATE: Kyle Strauts, who we first revealed in May would be back in the predator role after appearing in Shane Black’s The Predator has also confirmed his role in the pic.
The new pic directed by 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Dan Trachtenberg will follow a group of Indigenous humans, the assumption has been this will be the first film in the Predator franchise taking place before the events of the original and will be a period film.
Predator 5’s production team consists of the aforementioned cinematographer Jeff Cutter (10 Cloverfield Lane), production designer Kara Lindstrom (Den of Thieves), and stunt coordinator Steven McMichael (Damnation).
Predator 5 isn’t the only project from the Alien/Predator franchise in the works has Ridley Scott has been teasing a third Alien prequel era film is on the table at 20th Century Studios and Scott is producing an Earthbound Alien series from Noah Hawley (Legion, Fargo) at FX.
It’ll be curious to see if Trachtenberg’s film will be a one-off or connect to future installments or a series.
Disney hasn’t announced a release date but trades had been speculation it would land a spot in the Summer of 2022.
However, Predator 5 is a co-production between 20th Century Studios and Hulu, which means it could skip a traditional theatrical release to become a Hulu exclusive.
PREDATOR – Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
We’ve all been extremely interested to see what has been cooking with Disney/20th Century Studios’ next Predator installment as Predator 5, helmed by 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg (The Boys), has been quietly shooting in the Calgary area this summer.
The Ronin has learned that actor Samuel Marty, best known as Truckee from Netflix’s Godless, will have a role in the new untitled Predator movie. The young actor has also appeared on shows such as Fargo, Ray Donovan, and Hell On Wheels.
20th Century Studios and director Dan Tratchenberg have been mostly tight-lipped about Predator 5, but small details have been confirmed over the last couple of weeks/days.
Producers John Davis and John Fox while speaking with Collider, compared the film to The Revenant, teasing the period setting and supporting previous reporting that the film would focus on Native American characters.
This was amplified when cinematographer Jeff Cutter (10 Cloverfield Lane) posted a set photo from Skulls (working title) on Instragram with a Native American village seemingly in the background of the shot.
We first confirmed that Kyle Strauts (The Predator) would be back in the predator suit and mentioned Amber Midthunder (Legion, The Ice Road) as the potential female protagonist of the new film.
Midthunder and Marty would be the more high-profile of the cast members which are expected to be made up of mostly newcomers.
It was also announced by producer John Davis during an interview with Collider, that Dan Trachtenberg will be directing a Waterworld streaming series for Universal Television that will take place 20 years after the events of the Kevin Costner movie.
Predator 5 has yet to be given an official release date despite previous teases from trades about a date next summer and while producers have stated they’re shooting for an R-rating they’re open to the idea of it becoming PG-13 during the editing process (I really hope not).
PREDATOR – Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
The Ronin is hearing that a trio of unknowns might have roles in 20th Century Studios’ next installment of the Predator franchise. The project directed by Dan Trachtenberg shares the same casting director as Martin Scorsese’s Killers of The Flower Moon, which hinted to unknowns potentially joining Predator 5’s cast. Production began recently in Calgary and creature effects house Studio ADI confirmed their return to the franchise.
Those three unconfirmed names are model/activist Quannah Chasinghorse, musician Dakota Beavers, and Harlando Khat.
UPDATE: We’ve learned two more names with Cree actor Tymon Carter and Skye Pelletier.
The Ronin mentioned almost a full month ago they might be pursuing unknowns for the sci-fi movie.
We’re still waiting on casting announcements concerning who’ll be playing the humans in the new film, but we’re hearing that Dan might end up hiring unknowns for some of the lead roles.
Filming is expected to wrap in August.
We’ve confirmed a while ago that Kyle Strauts (The Predator) would be back in the predator suit and mentioned Amber Midthunder (Legion, The Ice Road) as the potential lead actress on the project, the latter was backed-up by Discussing Film.
The film is reportedly going to involve a group of Comanche warriors with a female protagonist, assumed to be played by Amber Midthunder and would suggest this could be the first Predator installment that entirely takes place before the events of John McTiernan’s original installment. Given the project’s setting, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them fill out roles with a bunch of new actors.
Predator 5’s production team consists of cinematographer Jeff Cutter (10 Cloverfield Lane), production designer Kara Lindstrom (Den of Thieves), and stunt coordinator Steven McMichael (Damnation).
A big thanks to Nicholas Whitcomb, who has been helping with our recent Predator and Alien franchise coverage. Please give him a follow over on Twitter and subscribe to his channel on YouTube. Nick and I previously worked together at HN Entertainment, we both share a mutual passion for these two sci-fi franchises.
Disney hasn’t given Predator 5 an official release day but trades had suggested a possible drop next summer.
PREDATOR – Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
Predator 5 started production this week in Calgary and we finally know who will be tackling the creature effects on the fifth installment. Studio ADI, who tackled Alien vs. Predator, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, and The Predator, is officially back for the latest project.
Some folks over at Studio ADI have confirmed on Instagram they’ll be returning to handle predator creature effects on Predator 5, including Alec Gills himself. The film is being directed by 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Dan Trachtenberg and it’s said that the alien hunter will clash with a group of Comanche warriors, something that the crew shirt reflects.
Predator 5’s production team consists of cinematographer Jeff Cutter (10 Cloverfield Lane), production designer Kara Lindstrom (Den of Thieves), and stunt coordinator Steven McMichael (Damnation).
Neither Disney nor 20th Century Studios have announced a release date but trades had been speculation it would land a spot in the Summer of 2022.
A big thanks to our pal Nicholas Whitcomb for sending this our way, please give him a follow over on Twitter and subscribe to his channel on YouTube. Nick and I previously worked together at HN Entertainment. So, if you like what we’re doing here at The Ronin, I would advise you check him out as well as he’s equally as passionate about genre projects, if not more.
PREDATOR – Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
It looks like production Disney’s Predator 5 has kicked off in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The project spent months being under the radar until the trades discovered the film from director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane, The Boys), was really a Predator installment as the working title threw people off originally.
Jhane Myers took to Instagram yesterday to announce that Day 1 of filming landed her a predator desert. Something Dan had been teasing on his own Instagram account.
Predator 5’s production team consists of cinematographer Jeff Cutter (10 Cloverfield Lane), production designer Kara Lindstrom (Den of Thieves), and stunt coordinator Steven McMichael (Damnation).
Disney hasn’t announced a release date but trades had been speculation it would land a spot in the Summer of 2022.
PREDATOR – Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
THE RONIN 
