Started by ace3g, Jun 05, 2025, 03:35:55 PM
QuoteQuestion: Hello Dan! What led you to the broader scope of Predator Badlands? I'm excited to see such a fresh perspective in this next chapter, but I was also surprised by how completely different this feels from Prey. Were you inspired by anything in particular when placing the story in a more futuristic setting and centering the narrative on a Predator, rather than a human character?Answer: Sooo many sci fi films feature creatures and alien races as the sidekicks or villains to the human characters, while often times those creatures are the most interesting! I just thought how cool it would be to see a movie where the creature was the MAIN character. And what if that creature wasn't the most obvious choice...but one of the most badass, vicious, and formidable in all of sci fi. What if a Predator was Arnold this time. What if he's the "David" on a planet filled with "Goliaths." Would anyone let me make something this crazy?Turns out-- yes!
QuoteQ: Hi Dan! With both Prey and 10 Cloverfield Lane, you've made franchise movies that feel really original and distinct from their predecessors while still fitting in nicely with the established films. How do you strike that balance and make something that both feels fresh and organically ties into the existing lore of a franchise?A: For me, they key has been thinking of stories that would be incredibly intense and interesting even if there were no "IP" involved. BUT when you add the elements from the franchise into the mix that story is EVEN BETTER...and the franchise elements are EVEN COOLER.
QuoteQ: Hey Dan, how many times do you think we can have movies focusing on predators on Earth before it starts to feel like a weird fixation on the predators' part/an incredibly small universe? What do you think can be done to counter that with upcoming pictures?My girlfriend and I were both big fans of Prey (and she wasn't even a fan of the original - blasphemy, I know). Can't wait to see more!A: Both Killer of Killers and Badlands make that universe SO MUCH bigger.
QuoteQ: Dan, I will always remember you from the Totally Rad Show; my friends and I back then watched every episode! Anytime I see your successes, I think to myself, "Dan became a man!"My question is, are you still friends with Alex and Jeff? Any particularly fond memories of the Rev3 days back then?A: We are all still best friends. They both have small vocal cameos in Killer of Killers!!!
QuoteQ: Hi Dan, I'm a budding filmmaker, I'd love to hear you talk specifics on how you leveraged the success of Portal: No Escape into a prolific film and television career.Were you repped prior to when the short went viral? Did Kickin' help you get a foot in the door or was that a pure learning experience? What doors did it open up for you and did the nature of a fanfilm create limitations ie. festival attention?Big fan dude and massive thanks for just getting Predator the way you do. Cheers!A: Hey dude!Before Portal: No Escape came out I had done another short on youtube called "More Than You Can Chew" for a company called Black Box TV. It was off of that that I found representation. But when the Portal short came out- the studios became much more interested in my ideas.I think that short in particular broke out because- if you didn't know the game you were watching something incredibly inventive and visually/conceptually arresting. But if you did know the game-- you were not expecting a movie to be made from it and not one with that tone/take.
QuoteQ: To Dan: Will we see any connections between Killer of Killers and Badlands in terms of story beats, callbacks, Easter eggs, etc?Will Alan Silvestri's themes be featured in either film in any capacity?Also can we expect more crossovers with Alien in the not-to-distant future?A: Alan Silvestri's themes are both DIRECTLY in Killer of Killers and also inventively and rousingly interpreted by the incredible composer of our score Benjamin Walfisch!
QuoteQ: Hi Dan! I enjoyed 10 Cloverfield Lane a great deal, and loved Prey. I'm excited for Badlands!You grew up playing video games, and obviously talked about them professionally as part of your hosting career as well. Do you think that knowledge has influenced your filmmaking style or process at all, and if so, how?A: Very much so.When I started to study video games as much as I had movies- I found myself learning even more from that medium. How to make a watching a movie feel more like a physical experience- pull people through a journey they feel primally connected to.
QuoteQ: Howdy Tenno, any plans to do something more in the Warframe universe? Could you maybe talk about what it was like working with Digital Extremes?A: It was my experience directing that opening Warframe cinematic that led to my interest in directing an animated movie and making Killer of Killers!! So i have my friends over at DE to thank!And also, I've played a little bit of SOULFRAME and was LOVING it!!
QuoteQ: Hi, Dan. I enjoyed Prey, so looking forward to Killer of Killers tomorrow and Badlands in November. Do you have further plans and ideas for Predator?A: Yes!!
QuoteQ: The Weyland-Yutani hat is great. What's your Wawa order?A: Meatball sub with provolone. Salt and pepper. Tastycake Kandy Kakes (the regular not the peanut butter)
QuoteQ: How do you think Predators would go against Supes? Would they need compound V to compete?A: They would definitely need Compound V!
QuoteQ: I miss the Totally Rad Show. That is all.A: Me too!
QuoteQ: Hi Dan! Thank you for doing this AMA!In a battle between the Cloverfield monster and 100 predators, who do you think would win?Also, you've made resurrecting the predator franchise look effortless. I'm so glad they were able to get Pray out on 4k steelbook so I'm hoping the next two projects get physical releases as well. Thank you!A: Hopefully Badlands proves....you may not even need 100....
QuoteQ: I would imagine you were a kid when you decided you wanted to get involved in film making ; at which point did you make this decision , what was the film that most strongly influenced you and, if someone gave you an unlimited budget to remake a film from your childhood, which one would it be?A: I misinterpreted your question the first time I read it, so I am now going to answer "If someone gave you unlimited budget to make a film WHEN YOU WERE A KID which one would it be?"When I was 11 or 12 years old I wrote, on a black and white Mac SE, a sequel to Ridley Scott's LEGEND. So the answer to your question is "LEGEND 2: LEGENDARY JOURNEYS"
QuoteQ: Where'd you get that sick wey yu hat?? And what other ideas for killer of killers did you have that did not make the cut? A: Last Exit To Nowhere Dot ComBut I think the exact version I have they don't sell anymore. I've had it for years. You can see me wearing it in many of the Prey production stills!
QuoteQ: Whats your favourite Totally Rad Show moment?A: (not) drinking tea...
QuoteQ: what have you caught lately that's blown you away?A: I've been playing Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon and absolutely LOVING IT!
