Following the excitement of the release of the teaser trailer and first poster for the upcoming Predator: Badlands, Bloody Disgusting has just shared a new interview with the film’s director Dan Trachtenberg.
They talk about a number of topics such as casting, effects, the world, story, genre, and influences.
The director confirmed that this movie partially takes place on Yautja Prime, a planet of the Predators not seen since 2007’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and only briefly in that case.
“One of the cool things about the movie is that we’re on Yautja Prime—there’s a lot in this movie from the extended universe.”
But Yautja Prime isn’t the only planet we’ll be seeing. “Dek’s” (The Predator) hunting journey to prove himself will take him to the hostile world of Kalisk or the “Death Planet.”
Like with Prey being influenced by God of War or Predator: Hunting Grounds, Trachtenberg was again inspired by video games when it came to creating the world of Predator: Badlands and spoke about what he drew from this time around. Interestingly, naming the dynamic between Wander and his horse Agro in the game Shadow of the Colossus as a key inspiration.
“As inspired as I am by movies, I’ve been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection. There’s a thing with a horse in Shadow of the Colossus that’s devastating when you play the game. And so [Predator: Badlands] was a little bit inspired by that in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else, this character who’s the opposite of him. He’s very laconic, [Fanning] is not. She’s capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she’s got a real thing that I’m so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself.”
While the film draws on the expanded universe and will feature nods for fans to pick up on, Trachtenberg stressed that this standalone film is its own bold new story that he feels will be appealing for moviegoers.
“It’s a big, crazy swing, and I think that’s what drives butts into seats.“
Head on over to Bloody Disgusting to read the full interview.
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*Throat clicking noise
Thank you for validating why I hate that site.
Wasn't that just a bullshit fanon term that Xenopedia made up that somehow became ascended canon?
Perhaps we'll get to hear what they call their own homeworld now that their language is going to be revealed here.
I agree 100%. It's such a lazy name, and I think I find it a little more frustrating because it's another one of those cases where when it ends up on Xenopedia, it becomes canon because it's being used as a resource without the people diving more into it. This was some fandom term that ended up in an official piece of media once, and now it's the name. As a Trekkie (Cardassia Prime) it might feel a little hypocritical of me to hate Yautja Prime, but it just feels so uninspired and boring. Especially when the Alien homeworld is also down as Xenomorph Prime...
I absolulely agree. The Predator's individuality is one of the strengths of the series to me. It offers a chance to explore different interpretations of them as actual characters.
Maybe so but the Alien franchise gets royal treatment. In terms of respect for the property and respect for the original film. We almost always are treated to high level content that always has the original films tone at heart. Even original ideas from Scott though unique may turn some Alien fans heads but they are special in itself.
Predator on the other hand, until Prey receives the opposite. Predator as a franchise until Prey became almost a gimmick and even Prey doesn't truly capture what the original so successfully accomplished. With each new film after P2 all falling further and further away from what made the franchise to begin with especially in terms of quality. I'm just hoping Badlands is able to keep with what Prey reestablished.
Not that I'm bitter or anything, I just find it funny how often twentieth century studios gives in to Predator fans' demands while we Alien fans can't even get the bare minimum.
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Only one of the people trained with military weaponry lived, if briefly, at the films conclusions.
If we get to see on-screen the moment where the Predator encounters the Alien for the first time, I want them to use that "Maybe they don't show up on infra-red at all." beat.
This is how I remember it going...
Pre-2004
Alien fans annoyed at the AvP comics/novels/games typically have one Predator beat multiple Aliens, but not complaining as much when Colonial Marines do the same. I guess this is understandable from an Alien perspective. They felt their creature was being watered down. I get it, as a Pred fan.
Between 2004 and 2007
Alien fans happy they finally got to see one Alien beat more than one Predator. Some were claiming the older comics/novels/games were non-canon. Only AvP (2004) was canon (it's a movie)...and maybe the Pred trio wasn't even Youngbloods. They were actually elite Preds facing the ultimate trial against Aliens! I heard it all
After AvP-R (2007)
I remember many Alien fans claiming ridge-heads are weaksauce Aliens (only dome-heads are true Aliens) and/or switching to "all of the 'AvP-verse' is non-canon, including the films".
Ummm...this is a predator thread.
Twentieth century studios: "OK OK! Here's AVPR, a movie where a single predator kills and humiliates tons of Aliens!"
Predator fans: "YAY!"
*Years later*
Predator fans: "The Predator Sucks! What is this weird sci-fi comedy crap!? Go back to basics and give us a good old fashioned Predator hunt!"
Twentieth Century studios: "0k, here's Prey: a back to basics Predator film."
Predator fans: "YAY!"
Predator fans: "This sucks! Why can't a predator ever be the main character and survive a movie for once!?"
Twentieth century studios: "Ok, here's Predator Badlands. A movie where the Predator is the lead."
Predator fans: "YAY!"
Alien fans: "can we have an Alien or AVP movie where the Aliens are treated with respect and are portrayed as an actual threat?"
Twentieth Century studios: "SHUT UP, NERDS!"
Alien fans:"......"
That's fine. To each his own. I have a percuilar taste...in certain bad movie sometimes. Despite AVPR doing its best to make me hate it, I don't.
AvP (2004) is total horsesh*t from a Predator fan perspective. And I'm not just talking about Gill and Celtic getting offed early. The family-friendly PG-13 vibe and Predator facial design were atrocious.
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Team-up was straight-up cringe. Worked better in AvP Prey, and I liked Prey despite the team-up.
I just feel the sudden inclination to complete... research, in light of the upcoming release.
Nothing wrong with watching bad movies necessarily. AVPR is entertaining to watch in a sort of guilty pleasure sort of way for me. Yes its an awful movie (made worse with pizza boy surviving in the end), so it is the absolute nadir of both the Alien and Predator franchises no question...but I don't hate it for some reason. Strangely entertaining in a way...hahaha.
Yeah I mean this video sums up exactly how I feel about the dreds and I'm sure a lot of other people as well.
Just don't make them look and move too much like a human warrior.
The Elder design with the horned mask is badass as f*ck in the trailer. Dek looks like a preda-dude with the Killmonger haircut
maybe spin off Space Jockey or Ossian
For comparisons sake, i totally get it.
Don't do it, it's not good for mental health. Especially The Predator..
Oh, I'm certainly not expecting any impact. I just almost feel as though I should... reacquaint myself with what "Alien vs Predator" as a concept was on screen for a period of time, as we are about to step foot into a whole new take on the material, given the "shared universe" element of Badlands.
Completionism is overrated, if I had to guess AVP/AVP:r/The Predator will have zero impact on what's coming.
As long as Joss Weadon is not involved, I'm good!
He's a creep!
I can't believe I'm going to make myself endure rewatches of AVP/AVPR/The Predator before Badlands releases, just for silly completion's sake.
Of course, it's possible that none of that will be true once we've seen the Badlands but hey! that's the fun part before the premiere; the forums, the speculation.
Alien vs Predator had some good concepts with badass yautja designs, but kind of fell flat due to PG-13 rating and inexperienced young predators (Scar had some very good scenes). AVPR had Wolf and not much else. Predators had so much promise, but if I have to be honest with myself the movie is a bit boring and the Super Preds are a bit wasted. We got to see a bit of Predator vs Predator action but was a bit underwhelming. The Predator gets no comment from me. Prey was so so good, but Feral being killed at the end didn't sit well with me the first time I saw it, but then I warmed up to the idea and it only made sense to be that way.
Now we finally get to see something that can potentially "fix" all of the "issues" I mentioned above, I know I am a bit too excited at this early stage, but I can't help it. I want this movie to succeed so bad and put the franchise where it belongs, at the top!
This doesn't feel like an "out there" story imo it's just a Predator on a mission to prove itself. That isn't unheard of. Haven't fans been wanting a movie like this for a long time? And Trachtenberg didn't say the previous films are obsolete at all. He used their story formula like 3 years ago.
Not seeing the ninja comparison but saying a movie is subpar to Predator based on a teaser is damn easy, even Predator 2 is subpar to Predator.
Exactly.
Sometimes "out-there" stories shouldn't be praised for mixing up a successful recipe.
And the more out there stories we get, the further from the original source we go - which is not necessarily a good thing when they aren't being done right.
And sometimes I find it almost ego driven for a director to forcefully change a story for the sake of doing so because they think they know best and the other films are obsolete.
There's a reason ALIEN and ALIENS are still the most watched in the franchise along with the original Predator...why would that be the case if these stories are better than an outdated film from the 70s? The answer: because they're not. Those films at the end of the day are great stories along with films.
What I see here is ninja predators fighting with a mid design, and action sequences to ooohhh ahhhh the audience when in reality you're seeing a subpar film (as the case with Romulus)
THIS x1000
Badlands taking place in a future that seems subtly shared with Wey-Yu, on Yautja Prime, nothing about it should be formulaic or anything like any other films in the series.
If I do I shall surely reach 7000 comments in no time!