Predator: Badlands Confirms New Villain, Death Planet Details

The debut trailer for Predator: Badlands has ignited fan speculation, particularly around the redesigned Predator. Director Dan Trachtenberg shared exclusive insights with Bloody Disgusting about this fresh take on the iconic alien hunter.

A Predator Unlike Any Before

Introducing new Predator "Dek" (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), an underdog Yautja runt – marking the franchise's first protagonist Predator. Unlike traditional antagonistic Yautja, Dek selects the hostile "Death Planet" Kalisk as his hunting grounds, battling to earn his clan's respect.

Dek's distinctly more humanoid appearance and smaller stature reinforce his runt status, departing from previous Predator designs. His story intertwines intriguingly with Elle Fanning's mysterious character, whose Weyland-Yutani branded eyes spark Alien franchise connections.

Video Game Inspiration

Trachtenberg cites 2005's Shadow of the Colossus as core inspiration for the pair's dynamic: "Their contrasting personalities mirror that game's emotional protagonist-companion relationship. Dek's stoic nature contrasts with Fanning's vibrant, physically capable character."

While remaining coy about Fanning's character origins, Trachtenberg teased: "Their unique pairing contains exciting elements that will gradually reveal themselves."

Release Timeline

Mark your calendars for Predator: Badlands' November 7, 2025 premiere. First, Trachtenberg's animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers arrives this June.