The new issue of Empire magazine is out this week, and inside, you’ll find a spread all about Predator: Badlands as well as one for Alien: Earth. Empire has just published a little teaser of the article about Badlands on their website, along with a new production still of Dek and another Predator (presumably his brother) teaching him how to fight!
Yes, meet Dek, a Yautja who – by the brutal standards of his tough-as-nails race – is seen as the “runt of the litter,” Trachtenberg says. Cue a mission to prove himself. The filmmaker puts Dek – played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi – in the lineage of stoic outcast heroes like Conan The Barbarian and Mad Max. “He’s a thing of few words, pretty blunt,” Trachtenberg teases. “He cuts straight to the point. Literally and figuratively.” Since that’s Dek’s father (Note: We’ve since been informed this is not the father character) wielding that weapon in our exclusive image above, you can guess how our protagonist has ended up that way. (We’re guessing there’s not a lot of nurture in this particular Yautja family.)
The production still shows a side shot of Dek, the Predator, with another predator, who is unmasked, in the background, wielding the blade we see in the recent trailer.
Director Dan Trachtenberg reiterates that after 2022’s Prey, he had three ideas for future films. One of them was the recent animated film Predator: Killer of Killers, the second is Predator: Badlands and a mystery one he hasn’t started yet. The third film is commonly believed to be a sequel to Prey, with Amber Midthunder returning as Naru.
You can pick up the new issue of Empire magazine on Thursday, 3 July – the cover image features Tron: Ares.
Thanks to ace3g for the news.
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Update:
Empire’s article described the larger Predator in the featured image as Dek’s father, but director Dan Trachtenberg has since clarified on social media that this is not the case. We’re assuming this is Dek’s brother.
The article states the character in this picture holding the sword is Dek’s father….he is not the father. https://t.co/1xrsQ3ndsm
— Dan Trachtenberg (@DannyTRS) July 1, 2025
Looking again, I think you're right. He has that same "hairline" and the dreads run solely down the middle, nothimg at the sides or back, but you're right, not a top knot.
I think his dreads are loose. Or it looks like it to me.
Not sure about the hairline. Wonder why they decided to go with that?
Either because he's young and will grow a crest? Or does Dan just not like large Predator heads with a crest?
I always like how the Predator Top Knot looked in the AvP comics.
Looking forward to getting a clearer look at Dek with his mask on.
Just lift that mouth and mandibles up closer to his eyes at least PLEASE....
I imagine they'd have been able to still do the top-knot without moving the dreadlock-line. The style has existed in the comics since AvP. And we've seen other dread-styles through the EU too. I am really curious to hear why they did it, though - whether it's something to do with the technicalities of the effect, or just a stylistic choice.
That said, I do love we are getting a top-knot on the big screen. It's been one of my favourite appearances for ages. My Predator in Hunting Grounds has the style.
I think I'd like it more if it was a practical effect. It has such a fake plastic look to it.
It's most apparent in pics comparing Dek to Jungle Hunter.
I agree that the eyes need fixing. They do look like 2 cgi lights floating in his eye sockets.
I'm sure they've gone with cgi for the face to make it more expressive, given he's the lead.
in the teaser they just look like cgi yellow lights hovering around inside his skull.
Runt or not, he's young and the "menacing look" could very well come later in life.
Or...maybe its the second duel, with the brother losing this time and the Stag coming after him after he refuses to kill himself as honor demands.
Or...I am guessing "Stag" killed off another predator, not Dek or Dek's dad. Maybe the defeated opponent of Dek after he came back to reclaim his honor.
The possibilities are endless at this point.
When this goes through post-prod (and I assume it is right now) it's going to look beyond epic with Weta involved.
RE: The new pics - I can only assume that the Dek/Brother battle scenes are an opening flashback of sorts. The brothers duel to the death, Dek loses, Dad can't finish him and then the Clean up Pred ('Stag') is dispatched to resolve matters and it serves to show how Dek is banished for being a weakling (maybe they kill their dad or something).
But then that doesn't explain how 'Stag' turns up mid-duel.
Whatever the weather - Dan T has put the Ped front and centre ina f**king space opera and has everyone guessing. And, more importantly, talking about the Pred again.
I'm beyond happy!
Also true.
I do have to agree with those that say Dek's side profile here isn't all that great. Especially compared to his (brother)? The brother looks far more menacing and aggressive.
But I guess that's the point with Dek being a runt.
I mean Prey by all accounts was "better than the original" ( it wasn't but it was good!) and that had the worst face of any Predator.
Ain't no way they are going to notice the face.
Don't exaggerate, they might look good but I wouldn't say that they are the best in the franchise.
These Predators look great, easily the best in the franchise! Dan rocks!
https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2025/06/predator-badlands-dek-excl.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=4096&q=2160
We are getting closer.
A lot of people, especially in nerd circles that review or cover over things like games, comics, movies, and what not still count AVP in the overall franchises. Some of them count them, some of them don't.
But I wouldn't say they know the nitty gritty (right down to obscure EU details or BTS facts) like us fine folks at this forum, now would we?
I can go so far in terms of design. Fugitive and Upgrade were cool and followed the OG traits. They looks like, well, you know, like well known predators.
Or, Weyland-Yutani does also exist in the Predator/AVP continuity too... Cause we did have Charles Bishop Weyland, and we did have Ms. Yutani at the end of AVP-R.
Now... granted, with the way things are looking... You MIGHT be correct, especially with how Trachtenberg and Alvarez have been supposedly having talks, and the direction Disney wants to go. I WILL give you that.
But... then it just gets so damn confusing.. At least to the normies it will.
I wouldn't go that far... I REALLY... wouldn't go that far.
But I will say this... Trachtenberg might be going full Kenner.
You never go full Kenner.
But AVP very likely isn't canon to Badlands. Badlands has clearly hitched itself to the Alien continuity, given the presence of Weyland-Yutani and Thia, and the AVP films have already long since been knocked out of the Alien continuity by Prometheus.
To this day a lot of people like Wolf...
Yeah, a lot of people hate him too for perfectly valid reasons and even tactical ones... but I find that off-site and off-community, more people liked him.