Get ready for a very different kind of hunt. Predator: Badlands, the next chapter in the long-running sci-fi franchise, is flipping the script—this time with a Predator as the unlikely protagonist. The teaser trailer dropped this week, and it’s got fans buzzing with theories, including some big crossover hints that are too bold to ignore.
Sharp-eyed viewers were quick to spot what appears to be a Harvester skull—straight out of Independence Day—featured prominently in the film’s opening shot. It sits front and center on a trophy wall alongside a T-rex skull, a human spine still attached to a skull, and a variety of other mysterious remains. While none scream “xenomorph” at first glance, one skull resembles a fellow Predator, adding layers to the lore. Whether the Harvester head is an Easter egg or a deliberate nod toward a shared universe is still unclear, but its placement seems intentional.
If that weren’t enough, there’s already a confirmed connection to the Alien franchise. Elle Fanning stars as Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic—yes, that Weyland-Yutani. As fans know, that company has deep roots in the Alien saga. Thia partners with a young Predator named Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey in search of “the ultimate adversary,” according to the official synopsis. Just who—or what—that is, remains a mystery.
At CinemaCon, Fanning teased the unexpected dynamic between her character and the Predator. “Something unprecedented happens in this movie, and my character is not the one being chased,” she said. “My character actually teams up with the Predator, and you get to see him in a whole new light.” In the teaser, she also warns, “You’re hunting something that can’t be killed,” hinting that their shared enemy might be even deadlier than either of them.
Director Dan Trachtenberg, who co-wrote the film with Patrick Aison, is no stranger to reinventing this world. His 2022 hit Prey was hailed as one of the best installments in the series, and he’s already expanding the lore with the upcoming animated project Predator: Killer of Killers, dropping this June. With Badlands, he seems set to push the franchise into thrilling new territory, possibly even a shared cinematic universe.
Whether or not Predator: Badlands dives headfirst into crossover territory, it’s clear this is more than just another sequel. With its hybrid team-up, ominous trophies, and hints of a grander cosmic playground, the movie might be setting up something far bigger than fans anticipated. One thing’s for sure: the game has changed. The film hits theaters and IMAX on November 7.
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