(L to R) Alec Gillis, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning and director Dan Trachtenberg at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
Preview:
- ‘Predator: Badlands’ showed off new footage at Comic-Con.
- Director Dan Trachtenberg and star Elle Fanning were on the panel.
- Fresh information was revealed.
‘Prey’ director Dan Trachtenberg has become something of a ‘Predator’ specialist, having also made animated adventure ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’.
He’s back with a second outing this year, ‘Predator: Badlands’, which naturally took the opportunity to bring some footage and guests to Comic-Con to make sure audiences are primed.
“First hunt. Last chance.”
In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate… Read the Plot
‘Badlands’, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is live-action entry, and promises plenty of action.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’
What’s the story of ‘Predator: Badlands’?
(L to R) Thia (Elle Fanning) and Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Predator: Badlands’ film. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in artificial being Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
What happened at the ‘Predator: Badlands’ panel?
(L to R) Director Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Alec Gillis at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
Predator masks were handed out to the crowd at the start of the panel, which came in handy since a Predator took the stage to menace the assembled audience.
Filmmaker Kevin Smith moderated the panel, and admitted up front that ‘Badlands’ was his favorite ‘Predator’ movie so far.
Smith introduced Trachtenberg, who admitted how excited he was to be promoting a movie at Comic-Con after years attending as a fan:
“You could imagine bringing a movie to Hall H would be a dream for me. It’s something I’m really proud of, and I’m so happy to share it with all of you.”
The Predator carrying Fanning’s character (or half of her) on his back was inspired by Chewbacca carrying C-3PO in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’.
(L to R) Director Dan Trachtenberg and Elle Fanning at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
Here’s what Fanning had to say about taking the role:
“Reading the script, what really drew me in was the heart and emotions… there’s no humans. I’m a synthetic android, he’s a Predator. But there’s so much humanity in these characters.”
Trachtenberg was also thinking about emotions- particularly having the Predator face be uncovered a lot more this time, so as to display both the digital work and performance.
The panel closed out with the first 15 minutes of ‘Badlands’ shown to the crowd, which cheered the Predator-y goodness.
In related ‘Predator’ news, ‘Killer of Killers’ will be updated on Hulu with an additional post-credits scene featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s Dutch and Danny Glover‘s Mike Harrigan.
When will ‘Predator: Badlands’ be in theaters?
This latest ‘Predator’ outing stalks into cinemas on November 7th.
(L to R) Director Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Alec Gillis at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
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