Dan Trachtenberg directed 2022’s “Prey,” a nifty straight-to-streaming “Predator” spin-off. It was a word of mouth hit on Hulu and even had some folks wondering why it didn’t get a theatrical release that summer.
Following the success of “Prey,” 20th Century is moving forward with Trachtenberg’s next ‘Predator’ movie; “Badlands,” which stars Elle Fanning. A teaser has just been released for the film.
This is certainly an unusual new direction for the franchise as the Predator, named Dek, is portrayed as a protagonist rather than a villain. In an unprecedented move, Dek forms an alliance with Thia, a brilliant but naive scientist, as they navigate a hostile alien wasteland. The trailer showcases their journey through a desolate, technologically advanced planet, emphasizing themes of survival, trust, and the blurred lines between hunter and hunted.
I’m glad that Trachtenberg is now getting these gigs. His debut, 2016’s “10 Cloverfield Lane,” was an impressive feat in tension — it also featured one of John Goodman’s very best performances. You can just sense a good filmmaker by the way a shot is structured, or a scene is composed, and Trachtenberg just has it.
Trachtenberg, who has “Prey 2” in development, is also releasing a side project this summer, the three-part animated anthology, “Predator: Killer of Killers,” which is set to hit HULU on June 6.
Unlike “Prey,” which broke viewership records on Hulu, “Predator: Badlands” will be released in theaters on November 7.