This text accommodates SPOILERS for Predator: Killer of Killers
Predator: Killer of Killers has been launched on Hulu and will be stated to kick off a yr of Predator, which is able to proceed on Nov. 7, 2025, with the discharge of Predator: Badlands in theaters. Predator: Killer of Killers is co-directed by Dan Tractenberg, who additionally helms Predator: Badlands and directed the wonderful 2022 movie Prey, the film that kicked off this new period for the Predator franchise. For years, followers have been hoping for a sequel to Prey, with star Amber Midthunder teasing the venture for a while.
But as a substitute of a direct sequel, Tractenberg opted to take the Predator in two distinctive instructions by giving the franchise its first animated anthology with Predator: Killer of Killers and the primary movie with a Predator protagonist by means of Predator: Badlands. Regardless of being an animated venture, Predator: Killer of Killers connects to Prey in a major method, one teased in the direction of the tip of the movie and one main one on the very finish that would change the franchise’s future, together with if followers can count on Prey 2 and in that case, what is going to it appear to be?
‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Mid-Credit Scene Defined
Shortly after the title card for Predator: Killer of Killers lands, the movie reveals one last scene earlier than the credit roll. Two Predators escort one of many movie’s serving warriors in a cryochamber right into a corridor crammed with cryochambers. This scene is visually much like the ultimate shot of the warehouse in Raiders of the Misplaced Ark, which was revealed to be Space 51 in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Cranium. In Killer of Killers, this hints at many extra people the Predators have kidnapped and introduced again to their homeworld.
Two Predators move one cryochamber, and the digicam zooms in to disclose Naru (Amber Midthunder), the protagonist of Prey. Predator: Killer of Killers teased some connection to the occasions of Prey when earlier within the movie, within the area the place the movie’s three protagonists meet, there may be the flintlock pistol of Raphael Adolini, the Italian translator whom Naru encountered in her movie. Ralphael Adolini was a reference to the bigger Predator franchise, as he was beforehand alluded to in Predator 2 by means of this identical pistol.
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Predator: Killer of Killers now fills a spot within the Predator timeline and solves a plot gap created in Prey. Prey ends with Naru in possession of Raphael Adolini’s pistol. Nonetheless, in Predator 2, which is ready 287 years after the occasions of Prey, the gun is within the possession of the Predators, who reward it to Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) as a trophy. Many followers puzzled how the Predators might have gotten Raphael Adolini’s pistol if Naru had killed one in every of their very own in battle, a activity that, till Predator: Killer of Killers, appeared to earn a human the respect of the Predators from being hunted.
Prey‘s finish credit function a collection of caves that depict the occasions of the movie and tease what would possibly come after. The ultimate portray reveals three Predator vessels arriving over the tribe. Whereas this initially appeared to arrange Prey 2, now, inside the context of Predator: Killer of Killers, it reveals that Naru herself was captured and brought prisoner by the Predators. With this massive reveal on the finish of Predator: Killer of Killers, what does that imply for Prey 2, or will there even be a Prey 2?
What Does This Imply for ‘Prey 2’?
Since Prey hit Hulu in August 2022 and earned among the finest evaluations within the Predator franchise, followers have been hoping for a follow-up movie. Nonetheless, whereas director Dan Tractenberg was stated to be engaged on follow-ups to Prey, a direct Prey 2 was by no means talked about. In 2024, it was reported that Tractenberg was growing two Predator movies, which have been initially reported as Predator: Badlands and Prey 2. Prey 2 ultimately turned out to be Predator: Killer of Killers, a top-secret venture with the concept of a direct sequel to Prey getting used to throw scoopers off the scent.
The reveal of Amber Midthunder’s Naru within the cryo pod container means that Predator: Killer of Killers is Prey 2, or no less than a free sequel to these occasions. Like Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers follows the Predator in several time durations, going through off towards totally different warriors all through historical past. Each movies have been launched on Hulu, giving them a distribution hyperlink and a thematic and stylistic one.
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Now we’ve got a free two-parter that would repay with a 3rd religious sequel to make it a trilogy. This could possibly be Predator: Badlands or one thing far larger, bringing again an concept for Predator 3 that was pitched within the Nineties. This could open the door for varied franchise leads like Arnold Schwaranegger, Danny Glover, Adrien Brody, and Alice Braga to return alongside Amber Midthunder’s Naru.
There’s additionally the robust risk that Predator: Killer of Killers is perhaps teasing future developments and potential reveals in Predator: Badlands. With Dan Tractenberg directing each movies and Prey, there are more likely to be robust hyperlinks between the three movies. One of many species within the coliseum resembles one of many kaiju-like aliens seen within the Predator: Badlands trailer.
It’s value noting that the ultimate battle in Predator: Killer of Killers happens in an unspecified interval. All we all know is that it is after World Struggle II, however given the movie by no means reveals how a lot, if any, time has handed for the reason that final abduction to being awoken earlier than battle, Predator: Badlands is perhaps happening within the Earth’s far future. Characters in Predator: Killer of Killers, doubtlessly even the Naru tease, would possibly repay this fall when Predator: Badlands hits theaters.
Predator: Killer of Killers
- Launch Date
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June 6, 2025
- Director
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Dan Trachtenberg, Josh Wassung
- Writers
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Micho Robert Rutare, Dan Trachtenberg