The Predator franchise has always thrived on one promise — elite hunters, primal survival instincts, and sci-fi warfare that blurs the line between hunter and hunted. With Predator: Badlands, the saga evolves once again, stepping boldly into a new era and narrative style that fans could never have seen coming.
Releasing on November 7, 2025, Badlands represents the ninth feature film within the Predator universe. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the brilliant mind behind Prey (2022), this installment takes viewers into uncharted territory — not just in tone and theme, but also in timeline.
If you thought Prey reinvented Predator mythology, Badlands takes evolution to an entirely different league.
This guide covers everything we currently know about Predator: Badlands:
- Where it sits in the Predator timeline
- Whether Xenomorphs appear
- The surprising story direction
- Post-credits scene details
- Major creative inspirations (including video games and Star Wars)
- Key characters and the emotional bond at the heart of the story
And yes — there’s one massive narrative twist that has the fan community buzzing.
Let’s dive in.
Predator: Badlands — Release Date and Cast
Release Date:
🗓️ November 7, 2025
Main Cast:
- Elle Fanning as Thia — a Weyland-Yutani synthetic unlike any we’ve seen before
- Dimitrius Koloamatangi as Dek — a formidable yet emotionally layered Yautja warrior
Under Trachtenberg’s direction, both characters take center stage in a story that blends combat brutality with emotional depth — a risky, ambitious move for a franchise built on survival and instinct.
Where Does Predator: Badlands Fit in the Timeline?
On November 7, witness the rise of the ultimate Predator.
— Predator (@Predator) October 22, 2025
Watch the international trailer for Predator: Badlands, in theaters and IMAX November 7.
pic.twitter.com/3IDdNLxIad
Badlands is technically a successor to Prey, but don’t think of it as a sequel in the traditional sense. Instead of continuing the historical route, Trachtenberg hurls us into what he calls “the far future.”
Key Facts:
- Chronologically last in the Predator franchise timeline (so far)
- You do not need to watch prior films to follow the plot
- It exists after Predator (1987), Predator 2, Predators, The Predator, and Prey
This shift gives the franchise something it has never fully embraced — complete narrative freedom.
Expect futuristic tech, new environments, and lore expansion without being chained to past continuity. Think Alien: Romulus in terms of tone — story forward, timeline respectful but open.
Is Predator: Badlands Connected to Alien?
The Predator and Alien universes have always been intertwined through lore, comics, and the iconic AVP films. So naturally, fans wonder:
❓ Will Xenomorphs appear in Predator: Badlands?
No — Xenomorphs are not in this movie.
Director Dan Trachtenberg confirmed this directly. Although many expected a formal return to the Alien-Predator crossover, Badlands prioritizes its own story arc.
However — the Alien influence is unmistakable.
Alien-Era Elements Featured:
✔️ Weyland-Yutani Corporation (major presence)
✔️ Colonial Marines-style military units
✔️ MU/TH/UR-type artificial Intelligence systems
✔️ Synthetic androids
These nods firmly anchor the film in the shared universe without forcing a crossover rivalry.
Why No Xenomorphs Yet?
The franchise appears to be saving that spectacle for a future title — and Badlands might just be laying the emotional groundwork for that mega-event.
A New Core Relationship: Yautja Warrior & Synthetic Ally
For the first time in the franchise, the story doesn’t strictly revolve around humans fighting Predators.
Instead, Badlands centers on an unexpected partnership:
- Dek — a fierce Yautja warrior
- Thia — a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who experiences trauma, recovery, and self-discovery
When Thia’s body is torn apart in a brutal encounter with a monstrous adversary, Dek physically carries her — a symbolic and emotional gesture unlike anything previously seen in the franchise.
This relationship marks a historic thematic shift:
🔥 From predator vs prey → to hunter and companion
🧠 From primal survival → to emotional storytelling
🤝 From distrust → to reluctant alliance and mutual respect
Expect action and brutality — but wrapped inside a surprisingly heartfelt narrative lens.
Does Predator: Badlands Have a Post-Credits Scene?
Fans know the modern Predator era loves teases (see: Prey’s animated ending hinting at more Yautja arrival). So the big question:
❓ Is there a post-credit scene?
No — there is no post-credit sequence in Predator: Badlands.
Early screenings in the US and UK confirmed that the film ends without teasing future films or crossovers.
Instead, the ending invests in:
- Yautja cultural mythos
- Emotional closure
- Space to evolve future lore without forced teasers
While Prey and Killer of Killers used post-credit moments, Badlands opts for story purity and thematic weight.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than hype — and this choice feels deliberate and mature.
The Inspiration Behind Predator: Badlands
This is where the film becomes truly fascinating. Trachtenberg didn’t only draw from Predator and Alien tradition. Instead, his greatest influences came from:
🎮 Iconic Video Games
- Half-Life 2 (companionship & protective mech-like ally energy)
- Prince of Persia (reboot) (partnership-driven journey dynamic)
- Uncharted (character driven adventure rhythm)
- God of War (2018) (deep companionship and emotional father-figure arc inspiration)
These games master the emotional-combat balance — something Badlands seems set to do too.
🌌 Star Wars Inspiration
Trachtenberg revealed a Star Wars-like emotional thread:
- Lone warrior
- Unexpected fragile companion
- Growth through shared struggle
- Danger shaping trust
Think Mandalorian & Grogu, but reimagined through the savage, honor-driven Predator mythology — and far less cute.
Why Predator: Badlands Matters for the Franchise
Dan Trachtenberg confirms there’s “no Xenomorph” in ‘PREDATOR: BADLANDS’
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 23, 2025
“We’re not involving [the Alien franchise] just to smush the action figures together. There are great, organic story reasons for Weyland-Yutani to be in this film.”
(Source: https://t.co/waovCtE4BE) pic.twitter.com/BKHYeoe7op
This film isn’t just another Predator entry — it could be the beginning of a new storytelling model for the series.
What Makes It Different & Important
| Traditional Predator Films | Predator: Badlands |
|---|---|
| Human vs Predator | Synthetic + Yautja bond |
| Earth-based survival | Futuristic sci-fi world |
| Minimal emotional depth | Character-driven narrative |
| Standalone threats | Universe expansion & lore depth |
| Brutal hunts | Brutality + emotional evolution |
It’s a gamble — but one that could rebrand Predator for the next generation of sci-fi cinema.
Will We See an Alien-Predator Movie Again?
'Predator: Badlands' will be PG-13
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) October 7, 2025
• Will still be as violent as possible
• There's no human red blood
• First mainline Predator film to not be Rated-R
(via @IGN) pic.twitter.com/JqCaQMKkJi
Not now — but Badlands may strategically reset the chessboard.
Why Fans Believe AVP Return Is Coming:
- Weyland-Yutani presence
- Synthetic-Yautja alliance hints
- Reintegration of futuristic military tech
- Emotional foundations instead of pure combat
A future movie where humans, synthetics, Yautja, and Xenomorphs all collide?
Yes — this feels like the setup.
Final Thoughts — A Bold, Risky, Rewarding Evolution
Predator: Badlands isn’t just a film — it’s a reinvention.
It aims to be:
✅ Sci-fi world-building like Alien
✅ Emotional adventure like modern gaming epics
✅ Brutal, tribal, and powerful like classic Predator
✅ And emotionally bold like Star Wars-inspired arcs
If Prey revitalized Predator history…
Badlands might define its future.
Predator fans are in for a rare blend of action, meaning, and myth — one that could shape the franchise for a decade.