The expansion of the Predator universe may be adding Elle Fanning to the upcoming film Badlands, Deadline exclusively reported.

Sources told the entertainment outlet that the actress is currently in talks to star in Dan Trachtenberg film. He also co-wrote the script with Patrick Aison.

20th Century has not commented.

Prey and Predator

The film’s plot is still under wraps. However, it’s said to feature the fan favorite alien big game hunter, Predator. While the last film, 2022’s Prey, was exclusively streamed on Hulu, which broke the streamers viewership records, 20th Century may opt to release the upcoming movie in cinemas. The studio has begun to premiere its movies in theaters such as Boogeyman and the upcoming Alien: Romulus.

Not only did Prey broke streaming records for Hulu, it is also one of the best reviewed installments in the franchise’s history. Its Tomatometer is at 94% and an audience rating of 74%. Its meta score on Metacritic is at 71% and an audience score of 6.2, both puts the movie in “generally favorable” territory. This is also reflected at the Emmys where it received a nomination for best movie.

Due to the film’s success, 20th Century is not only moving forward with another movie but also expand its universe with Trachtenberg at the helm.

The studio is also changing its strategy with casting. Prey featured relatively unknown actors like Amber Midthunder, now 20th Century and Trachtenberg want to proceed with an established star for the upcoming standalone film and started taking meetings with talents. Project insiders said that Fanning is a fan of the Predator franchise and when the studio executives heard of it, they set up a meeting with her and the director.

After the meeting, the actress was reportedly on board. Once the deal is closed, the hope is that the movie will start production later in the year.

As for Prey 2, the sequel is reportedly is still in its first stages of development, but will most likely return to its original. Star Midthunder may also reprise her role. Sources have said that while there aren’t any actors attached to the sequel. However, it’s interesting to note that in the franchise’s history of seven films featuring the extraterrestrial, no star has returned to the movie.

Elle Fanning: from Catherine The Great to the Badlands?

Fanning has experience in battling aliens since her first big break was in J.J. Abrams’ 2011 sci-fi film Super 8. The actress recently came off the final season of The Great, for which she earned a Primetime Emmy nomination as outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for playing Catherine The Great opposite Nicholas Hoult as her husband Peter the Great.

She’ll next be heard in Hideo Kojima’s upcoming video game Death Stranding 2 as she voices one of the characters. Fanning will star as Sylvie Russo opposite Timothée Chalamet as  Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown.

The actress has three projects currently in pre-production: the series adaptation of Rufi Thorpe’s upcoming novel Margot’s Got Money Troubles opposite Nicole Kidman on Apple TV+, the drama I Am Sybil with Sarah Paulson and the drama thriller Rosebushpruning with Josh O’Connor and Kristen Stewart.