Dek’s Mom’s Design & Introduction In Predator: Badlands Sequel Teased By Dan Trachtenberg

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I’m really excited for the new Predator movie, Badlands, and it sounds like Dek is going to have a lot on his plate even after dealing with his dad’s death. It’s not just about the Predators for him – he’s still got family drama to sort out, which adds another layer to the story, honestly!

Dek was the smallest and weakest of his Predator clan, so his father, Njohrr, constantly judged him. Dek almost faced execution, but his brother Kwei saved him by sacrificing himself and sending Dek to the dangerous planet Genna. After surviving his ordeal on Genna with Thia, Dek managed to defeat Njohrr in Predator: Badlands and take his father’s cloaking device. The film ends with Dek watching his mother arrive, signaling a hopeful future.

In a recent interview with Ash Crossan from ScreenRant, discussing the home media release of Predator: Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg shared some thoughts about Dek’s mother and her potential future appearances. He pointed out that a female Predator has only appeared in comic books so far, and while the design phase hasn’t begun yet, he’s currently focusing on developing her personality and how she’ll be introduced.

Trachtenberg mentioned he wants Dek’s mom to be introduced in a surprising way, while steering clear of clichés. He explained that her appearance in a future Predator: Badlands story will be carefully planned and will highlight the fascinating aspects of the Yautja culture. He also hinted that they might not directly copy the look of the Predators from the comics, and instead will create their own unique visual style.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of female Yautja, and it’s cool to see the franchise exploring that! While you can find them in some of the Predator comics and novels, as Trachtenberg pointed out, it seems like Predator: Hunting Grounds is the first official story to actually let you play as a female Predator, battling it out with other players. It’s a really neat addition to the lore!

Because the background of these characters isn’t fully established, especially in expanded stories, the next Predators movie gives Trachtenberg creative freedom when introducing Dek’s mom. The ending of Badlands suggests she’ll arrive with her own set of problems, much like Njohrr did, as the Yautja collected his sword and appeared prepared for another battle.

Trachtenberg has ideas about featuring Dek’s mother in a future film, but it’s not yet confirmed if that will happen. He told ScreenRant he’s juggling work on the next Predator movie and other projects for Paramount. He’s still developing ideas for the next installment, considering options like a sequel to Prey, a continuation of Badlands, or picking up the story from where Killer of Killers left off.

Now that Predator: Badlands has become the most successful film in the Predator series, 20th Century Studios is likely to continue exploring stories centered around the character Dek. This could lead director Dan Trachtenberg to develop a storyline featuring Dek’s mother. With Dek’s sister, Naru, held captive on the Yautja homeworld, and Dek having a changed perspective on Yautja culture, a sequel could involve Dek and Naru joining forces to fight his mother and forge a new path for their people.

Be sure to dive into some of ScreenRant‘s other Predator: Badlands-related coverage with:

  • Dan Trachtenberg on his Predator future after his Paramount deal
  • Trachtenberg on how Badlands almost included other Predator and Alien franchise cameos
  • Trachtenberg, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi & Alec Gillis reflecting on Badlands in a special post-screening Q&A

Predator: Badlands is now available on Hulu and will arrive on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD 2/17.

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2026-02-15 23:35