Elle Fanning has been confirmed as the lead character(s) in Predator: Badlands.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has long been rumoured to reprise his role as Dutch in a Predator sequel. When a new Predator film is announced, there are always some rumblings that Dutch might make an appearance. For Predators, Robert Rodriguez made it clear from the outset that he wanted Arnie to make an appearance but he was still busy.
In March 2016, Arnold Schwarzenegger had lunch with director Shane Black to discuss The Predator. In an early draft of The Predator, Arnold’s character Dutch appeared in the closing moments of the film. He emerges from a chopper and asks Quinn, Casey and Rory to come with him. Schwarzenegger was very unhappy with the script and refused to take part, saying he’d only do it if “there’s a chance that they rewrite it, or make it a more significant role.”
Other people who have been in the spotlight was WWF wrestler The Rock who would have taken over the Dutch role. In September 2003, The Rock denied that he had any involvement in a Predator movie. In 2005, another wrestler, John Cena, was also rumoured to be involved in a remake of Predator.
Unlike Prey which was set in 1719, Predator Badlands will be set in the future and will feature a female lead.
In August 2024, we had discovered a casting call for a film codenamed Backpack which was indeed Predator: Badlands. A synopsis of the film as well as a description of the lead characters was leaked. The story in Predator: Badlands features two storylines that deal with the bond between two sisters whose relationship is put to the test as they go on different paths.
Synopsis: A groundbreaking film in which one of the two main storylines delves into the intricate bond of two very different sisters, their familial ties are put to the ultimate test as they pursue divergent paths and missions.
The page mentions a casting call for the lead actress to play two sisters called Thia and Tessa. The actress would be in her mid 20s to mid 40s. Thia has spent most of her life in a laboratory and “is going on her first big adventure in the world”. Her sister is called Tessa and “has a militant intensity” when it comes to completing her goals and objectives.
[THIA/TESSA] – This casting is for a dual character, and describes both characters. Character identifies as female or non-binary, open ethnicity, mid 20s – mid 40s. Thia has spent most of her life in a laboratory and is now embarking on her first big adventure in the world. She is incredibly smart, witty, enthusiastic, and unflappable. She has an innate disregard for danger, not because she’s fearless, but simply because she’s naive. Strong comedy chops required. // The other sister, Tessa, has a militant intensity when it comes to achieving her family’s goals and mission objectives. She will not let anything get in her way, not even her twin sister.
The casting call also mentions they are in New Zealand between June and September 2024. It says the lead actress must be 5’8″ or shorter, must be comfortable training for heavy action as well as wearing prosthetics/heavy makeup.
A lot of information came out at the Disney panel in Cinemacon in April 2025. Elle Fanning was on stage and confirmed she was playing a character called Thia who teams up with a Predator. The film is about a Predator who is outcast from his clan on a planet and must fight to the top of the food chain.
A trailer at Cinemacon was also shown. The Predator crash lands on an alien planet and has to fight to survive. The Predator is the one being hunted by much bigger beasts. Elle Fanning’s character helps him. There’s a shot of a few dozen people hunting the Predator. The trailer reportedly shows off the Predator using a speeder bike and a sword that looks heats up at the end. There’s a quick glimpse of the Predator without his helmet, and it reportedly looks a closer to Classic’s design but with a darker skin tone.
New information was released across various interviews when the first teaser trailer was released in April 2025.
The main Predator is called Dek and is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi who wore the costume and did motion capture. The Yautja language that Dek uses was developed by the mentee of the person who invented Avatar’s Na’vi dialect.
Some of the film takes place on the Predator homeworld – Yautja Prime. The film begins with Dek flying over a landscape. An action sequence is shown between Dek and his Yautja brother training. Dek selects the planet Kalisk as his hunting ground – known as the Death Planet, to prove his father wrong. Dek is fighting to be accepted in his own clan. His first challenge on Kalisk to defend against killer vines in a forest.
The film’s story is influenced by The Book of Eli, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Shane and the video game Shadow of the Colossus.
Filming began in New Zealand between June and September 2024. An article in the New Zealand Herald mentioned in July that an American movie was being filmed in Rotorua. Production then moved on to filming in Te Kuiti. Production was then said to be heading to South Head next, the peninsula just north of Helensville.
Another article also posted three set pictures of a big Hollywood movie filming in Hamurana Springs in Rotorua. Chances are this was also Predator: Badlands.
In October 2024, some images were posted showing the crew on set and we can see the Predator costume in the background.
In November 2024, Empire had posted a snippet from their upcoming January issue with the first official behind-the-scenes still from Predator: Badlands. In an interview with Dan Trachtenberg, he says the Predator will be the hero of the film and the article confirms our earlier leak that Elle Fanning will be playing two characters.
“The creature is front and centre, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg grins, speaking to Empire in the Andor Season 2 issue. “He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.” The idea, he says, came from a desire to “find another essential piece of cinema that does what Prey did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting us root for a hero we rarely get to root for — but in a different way. And that transformed into this big idea of rooting for the Predator.”
The first teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands was released April 23, 2025.
Predator: Badlands will be released theatrically on November 7, 2025. Deadline reported that Blade had been moved from its release date and the new Predator film took its place.
Predator: Badlands Teaser Trailer Discussion – AvP Galaxy Podcast #207 ()
Predator: Badlands Teaser Trailer Breakdown & Easter Eggs ()
“Big, Crazy Swing” – Dan Trachtenberg Interviewed by Bloody Disgusting on Predator: Badlands ()
Predator: Badlands Teaser Trailer & First Poster Released! ()
Dan Trachtenberg Talks Developing A Predator Language & Predator Effects in Predator: Badlands ()
You can view the full news archive for Predator: Badlands here.
