The hunt begins again.
After years of silence, the Predator franchise is returning to the big screen with “Predator: Badlands,” a bold new entry directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed prequel Prey (2022).
The film is set to hit theaters on November 7, 2025, with Elle Fanning leading the cast — marking the first time a woman headlines a Predator film since Amber Midthunder’s breakout role in Prey.
The Story
Predator: Badlands is described as a post-apocalyptic survival thriller, set in a desolate, drought-ridden future where remnants of humanity hide among the ruins of once-modern cities.
Fanning plays Mara Keller, a scavenger who stumbles upon an ancient Predator craft buried beneath the desert.
When the alien hunters return to retrieve their lost technology, Mara becomes the target of a hunt that spans both Earth and orbit.
“We’re stripping the franchise down to its primal core — survival,” Trachtenberg told Empire.
“No soldiers. No commandos. Just a woman, the wasteland, and a hunter older than civilization.”
Cast and Characters
Alongside Fanning, the film features a striking ensemble:
- John David Washington (Tenet) as Callen, an ex-pilot haunted by a failed colony mission.
- Kaya Scodelario (Crawl) as Iris, a nomadic mechanic who joins Mara’s fight.
- Lance Reddick in one of his final screen roles as General Keller, Mara’s estranged father.
A Franchise Reborn
Following the critical success of Prey, Badlands continues 20th Century Studios’ effort to reinvent Predator through standalone, character-driven stories.
This new installment avoids direct sequels or crossovers, focusing instead on intimate tension and visual storytelling.
The cinematography, handled by Jeff Cronenweth (Gone Girl), leans on long takes and harsh natural lighting to heighten the desolation.
“The original 1987 film was about fear of the unknown,” said Trachtenberg. “In Badlands, the unknown is everything.”
Production and Setting
Filming took place across New Mexico, Utah, and Namibia, giving the film an expansive yet barren aesthetic.
Practical effects once again play a leading role, with creature designer Alec Gillis returning to craft a new Predator variant known internally as The Warlord.
The team reportedly used drone cinematography and infrared rigs to create “Predator vision” sequences with unprecedented realism.
Early Buzz and Expectations
At a closed preview for exhibitors in late October, 20th Century Studios revealed the first teaser — a minimalist sequence showing Fanning facing the Predator beneath a blood-red sky.
Reactions online were immediately positive, with fans praising the return to horror-survival roots.
“If Prey was about courage, Badlands is about despair,” one critic posted on X.
“It’s Mad Max meets Predator — and that’s exactly what fans wanted.”
Release Strategy
Predator: Badlands will debut exclusively in theaters on November 7, 2025, followed by a streaming release on Hulu and Disney+ Star in December.
20th Century Studios plans to develop additional self-contained Predator Chronicles entries if Badlands performs well — with future films exploring other eras and biomes.
Predator: Badlands looks ready to restore the franchise’s primal fear and stripped-down suspense.
With Elle Fanning’s powerful lead performance, Dan Trachtenberg’s precise direction, and a fresh desert-apocalypse setting, this could be the reinvention Predator fans have been waiting for.
