Between the 2025 film calendar and the 2025 TV schedule, we have now each Predator and Alien installments to sit up for within the close to future. Plus, since they’re each being made beneath Disney banners, followers have been questioning if the 2 franchises may merge as soon as once more. After I spoke to Predator: Badlands author/director at SDCC final week, he shared ideas on the likelihood.
Whereas at San Diego Comedian-Con, followers may look a method and see an enormous poster for the brand new Alien sequence coming to FX/Hulu this month, and look one other and see advertising for Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands film. So after I had the prospect to speak to the filmmaker, I requested him if the setting brings about any ideas relating to the following Alien and Predator crossover. Right here’s what he needed to say:
That is undoubtedly a toe dip into probably issues colliding extra aggressively. However, I do know for me, I’ve loved, if ever there to be the universe being related or no matter, that it is not like we’re grabbing our motion figures and we’re simply smushing them collectively, you recognize? That it may be dealt with somewhat bit extra elegantly.
By “this,” he’s speaking about Badlands, which already contains some nods to the Alien universe. For instance, Elle Fanning’s character Thea is an android from the Weyland-Yutani Company, which began within the Alien films. Trachtenberg has beforehand stated that when he was arising with the thought for his third Predator film, he determined he wished to make one with out human characters, and figured there was already “an organization that makes robots” from the Alien films.
As a fan of each franchises, I actually admire how he dealt with this query. The author/director seems like he’s into the thought, and he’s already discovering methods to attach the dots, however needs to make it possible for if he’s a part of the 2 coming collectively, it doesn’t really feel like two motion figures being smashed collectively for no motive. As Fanning added, maybe a “construct” to the following Alien vs. Predator is one of the best ways to go.
Whereas there are undoubtedly theories on the market that Predator: Badlands may grow to be a full-blown Alien/Predator film, Trachtenberg merely known as it a “toe dip” into them sharing universes. As you may need additionally observed within the trailers, there’s the cranium of a Xenomorph on a trophy wall, together with issues like a dinosaur head and so forth. After I requested him about these easter eggs, right here’s what he needed to say:
The enjoyable of an Easter egg is for me to not discuss them and we go, however there undoubtedly are hidden gems on the wall for certain.
I feel we’re going to have to attend for the film’s launch on November 7 to completely perceive the implications of Badlands on the Alien universe, however it’s undoubtedly price noting that Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez has shared curiosity in connecting them, as soon as suggesting that he and Trachtenberg may collaborate as administrators. I do know I’ll be paying shut consideration whereas watching each Alien: Earth and Predator: Badlands within the coming months.