How James Cameron Played an Unexpected Role in ‘Predator: Badlands’

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As a huge movie fan, I was really surprised to hear that James Cameron – the guy who brought us classics like The Terminator and Avatar – had a hand in the new Predator movie, Predator: Badlands! Apparently, director Dan Trachtenberg revealed that Cameron actually gave him the boost of confidence he needed to make the film happen. It’s cool to know someone with that kind of filmmaking experience believed in his vision.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Trachtenberg discussed how James Cameron was involved in making Predator: Badlands. It began because the movie was filmed in New Zealand, where Cameron currently lives. However, their collaboration really took off when Cameron became a fan of Trachtenberg’s 2022 film, Prey.

I feel very fortunate, and a lot of that is likely due to both of us working with the same team at 20th Century. He saw my film, Prey, and really enjoyed it, so we started talking. When I went to New Zealand to begin preparations for Badlands, he invited me to visit his set in Wellington. I got to spend some time with him on set and in the editing room for Avatar: Fire and Ash. While we were editing, I shared the unusual and innovative approach we were taking with our film – something completely fresh for the franchise and for me as a director.

We each drove to dinner, and as soon as he arrived, he told me he believed my project would succeed. His encouragement was a huge boost, and I immediately drove back to Auckland to share the good news with my team. Coming from someone who’s overcome incredible challenges himself, his support meant the world.

Cameron initially had doubts about Trachtenberg’s vision for the project. However, after seeing the finished film, he openly admitted he’d been skeptical at first, but was ultimately happy to be proven wrong. Trachtenberg felt he needed to acknowledge Cameron’s support by including him in the film’s credits.

We showed him a rough cut of the film before it was totally finished, mostly because I had some specific questions and really wanted his feedback. He saw it a couple of months ago, and honestly, his reaction meant the world. He told us he was skeptical when he first heard about the project, but then he said, ‘Wow, you actually *pulled it off!’ It was such a huge boost of confidence exactly when we needed it, so we definitely made sure to give him a special shout-out in the credits.

Is the Future of the ‘Predator’ Franchise in Dan Trachtenberg’s Hands?


20th Century Studios

The new movie, Predator: Badlands, just came out in theaters, and despite many sequels being released this year, early predictions for its success were positive. While it’s unclear if the Predator series will continue past its two planned 2025 movies, director Trachtenberg is likely to be involved if they do decide to make more.

The director has already created three well-received films within a franchise not typically known for quality, even including the crossovers with Alien. If the studio decides to make more, they know exactly who to turn to. Here’s what the director had to say about the future of the series:

Having worked on these films for a while now, I’ve been thinking about how I managed to create the stories I envisioned within this world. I believe the key is understanding the core principles of the Predator itself.

The Predator is a fantastic setup for both exciting action and emotionally resonant stories. The character embodies a constant search for what’s truly worthy, something we all do – comparing ourselves to others and facing life’s challenges. The Yautja, as a creature, naturally reflects our own feelings and allows for incredibly creative and visually stunning action sequences. Ultimately, this franchise enables the kind of filmmaking I’m passionate about – movies that are both thrilling and meaningful.

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2025-11-08 20:48