Next Predator Movie Reportedly Begins Filming, First Plot Details Released

August 28, 20243 Mins Read

The Predator has been released. The first plot details for the next Predator movie, Badlands, have reportedly been shared as production kicks off in New Zealand.

According to reports gathered by franchise fan site AvPGalaxy (via ComicBook.com), a mystery movie has begun filming in New Zealand under the working title “Backpack.” A casting call page for the movie, however, mentions 20th Century Studios, director Dan Trachtenberg, and Badlands, which AvPGalaxy notes makes it pretty clear that “Backpack” is the codename being used for the new Predator movie. Furthermore, story details for the movie have also been shared, with Badlands set to focus on two sisters who are put to the ultimate test as they pursue divergent paths and missions. It is worth noting that 20th Century Studios hasn’t confirmed AvPGalaxy’s report at this time.

Who Is Leading Predator: Badlands?

No cast members have been officially announced for Badlands, although Elle Fanning was previously reported to be in negotiations for the lead role back in June. Perhaps best known for her Emmy-nominated performance as Catherine The Great in the Hulu series, The Great, Fanning has also appeared in several notable movies, such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Super 8 (2011), and The Beguiled (2017), and as Princess Aurora in the live-action Disney movies Maleficent (2014) and its 2019 sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. She will next be seen in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, opposite Timothée Chalamet.

Badlands was announced in February 2024 following the success of the 2022 Predator prequel, Prey, starring Amber Midthunder. Despite Badlands reuniting Prey director Trachtenberg and screenwriter Patrick Aison (who co-wrote the upcoming installment with Trachtenberg), the sixth installment in the main Predator film series is not a direct sequel to the 2022 movie. Instead, Badlands will be set “sometime in the future.” Badlands is expected to be the first of many new Predator projects developed in partnership between 20th Century and Trachtenberg.

Prey 2 Is Still Happening

A sequel to Prey remains in early development at 20th Century Studios. Released directly on Hulu, Prey was set in the Northern Great Plains in 1719, following Midthunder’s Comanche warrior, Naru, as she tries to save her tribe from a primitive Predator. If Prey 2 moves forward, and Midthunder returns, the sequel would make franchise history as being the first installment to bring back a protagonist as the star. All seven movies (including the two Alien vs. Predator spinoffs) released so far have introduced someone new in the lead role. Though Midthunder hasn’t signed on for Prey 2 just yet, she has made it clear in past interviews that she’d love to return as Naru.

Badlands does not yet have a release date. It is also unknown whether 20th Century has a theatrical release planned for the movie or if it will be released straight to Hulu like Prey.

Source: AvPGalaxy, via ComicBook.com