Movies

Director Reveals What Makes Predator: Badlands Unique to Franchise

BBG News

During a visit to the editing suite, director Dan Trachtenberg shared insights about the forthcoming sci-fi film “Predator: Badlands” with journalists, including Ebaster. As a sequel to the highly praised and generally excellent “Prey”, Trachtenberg opted to explore a more science fiction-oriented take on the Predator franchise, departing from the Earth-bound setting of the previous film. The new Predator movie appears to center around a specific Yautja member named Dek, who is pursuing an apparently impossible quarry. “Predator: Badlands” promises to be a unique and immersive cinematic journey.

In conversation with the press (attended by Ebaster), Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg revealed the significant efforts taken by himself and the filmmaking team to create a captivating and thrilling movie. He shared unexpected influences on the film, detailed the construction of a distinctive language for the franchise, and highlighted what sets this movie apart from other Predator series entries.

The Importance Of Restraint While World-Building For Predator: Badlands

“When People Hear The Premise, They May Think This Is Going To Be All About The Inner Workings Of The Yautja Culture. That’s Not What We Want To Do.”

The movie’s intentional spotlight on a particular Yautja species required certain adaptations in filmmaking techniques. A key adjustment was addressing the language barrier, since Predators have never been shown speaking English before. To preserve the authentic alien quality of these characters, Trachtenberg felt it essential to develop a distinct language for the Predators, reflecting their unique culture and race. “We chose to handle this aspect carefully.

We contacted the individual responsible for creating the Navi language in Avatar, who was extremely busy and suggested one of his students instead. Similar to how The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones approached Elvish and Dothraki respectively, we opted to create a new language from scratch, unlike the Yautja language in previous Predator films which is essentially gibberish with no underlying meaning. People on the internet have attempted to decipher it, but these interpretations were not intentional. Consequently, we chose to develop our own language with clear intentions.

In creating the language and world of the Predators, we left no stone unturned. Every word they utter follows definite rules and has a structure. Initially, we simply experimented with concept art to envision the possibilities. This dedication to world-building is evident in the film’s elaboration of the Predators’ customs and technology, enriching the setting without overshadowing it. Trachtenberg, who was determined not to let the film delve too deeply into lore at the cost of a captivating narrative, ensured this balance.

Trachtenberg playfully remarked, “It seems that many individuals who take on greater roles within franchises often find themselves in Senate trading committees.” He continued, “While we’d love a taste of that, we don’t want the storyline to be about it. When people hear our premise, they might assume this is all about delving into the Yautja culture. However, that’s not our intention. The premise itself is an invention. In our narrative, the Predator finds himself on a new planet and must evade being hunted, using his wit to navigate the situation.

Creating A New Kind Of Predator For Badlands

“It’s Still A Little Different Than When You See A Fully CG Gollum Or Any Alien Creature.”

In the heart of “Predator: Badlands,” we have Dek, a young Yautja tribe member, who finds himself on an extremely perilous planet, tracking down impossible creatures for hunt. Consequently, a large portion of the movie needed to be shot with extensive Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), even some of the Yautja themselves. Notably, unlike all previous Predator iterations that primarily used practical effects, this film demanded a significant amount of blending between real and digital performances for Dek as the main character due to his extensive screen time.

In order to ensure that Dek’s suit appeared authentic and convincing, Trachtenberg highlighted that a significant amount of effort went into creating the costume using practical effects, makeup, and costume design. However, it should be noted that “it’s not quite the same as seeing a fully computer-generated Gollum or any alien creature.” As a result, it was necessary to digitally augment the alien face during post-production, providing Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi with greater flexibility in portraying Dek.

Upon reflecting on the filming process, Trachenberg shared that Schuster-Koloamatangi proved to be an ideal choice for the movie. “Originally we thought we needed a stuntman. However, since all other Predators required a height of around 7.6 feet, it was challenging to find someone who fit that description and was also trained in stunts. This time, we realized we could hire a professional stuntman for the role, someone who could move according to his capabilities. It turned out to be the first instance where I thought, ‘Ah! We can find a suitable stuntman for our character.’

As per Trachetenberg, Schuster-Koloamatangi immersed himself wholeheartedly in the process, going so far as to learn the Predator’s language autonomously.

Following the filming, they took the captured footage into post-production where they delved into enhancing the Predator’s face with distinctive features, as some aspects needed refinement due to the unique characteristics of the Yautja species, unlike previous creatures such as Gollum or Planet of the Apes. It has been a challenging process because the Predator has mandibles and other distinct features that required innovative approaches for blinking, eyebrow movement, smiles, and snarls. However, we are successfully navigating this complex process.

Elle Fanning’s Thia And Trachtenberg’s Inspiration For Predator: Badland’s Inspiration

“If You Want The Same Old Predator Experience, You Can Hit Play On Predator Or Prey… I Wanted To Give People A Brand New Thing.”

Since the film “Predator: Badlands” primarily communicates without spoken language, a large portion of it relies on visuals and acting. This aligns with the director’s long-standing curiosity, as they expressed a fascination with creating a movie that requires minimal dialogue or could potentially be wordless. Originally, “Prey” was intended to have no words at all, but once scriptwriting began, the team found pleasure in the few words they were using. However, the dialogue remains sparse compared to many other films.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “Predator: Badlands” deviates from the usual pattern in the series by starting off with detailed exposition before turning into an exhilarating ride. This film shares some thematic parallels with “Prey,” but it ventures into a unique narrative path that showcases self-discovery and proving one’s mettle, setting it apart from its predecessor. After honing my skills on the set of “Prey” to make every moment count and be impactful, I can confirm that Dan Trachtenberg sees these two films as fundamentally distinct. Though they share common origins, they branch off into different territories of self-expression.

In the enigmatic world of “Badlands”, one intriguing aspect is the presence of Elle Fanning’s character Thia. The trailer hints at her role, and Trachtenberg has suggested that there’s a unique connection between their characters that adds an exciting dynamic to the storyline. This concept of pairing a main character with a contrasting supporting character was drawn from video games, as the director directly referenced Shadow of the Colossus as a source of inspiration for his filmmaking approach.

In your story, you have a main character who is accompanied by another individual, serving as a contrast and enhancing the connection. For instance, think of the horse from Shadow of the Colossus, which adds depth when you play the game. This inspired me in a similar way, as I envisioned the Predator with someone else, a character who is his opposite. He’s quiet, she’s talkative. She possesses skills he does not. Furthermore, there’s a physical aspect about her that I can’t wait for everyone to discover.

Dan Trachtenberg expressed that making something similar to Predator: Badlands was a “bold move”. Yet, this is precisely the type of film he feels should grace the big screen. “I believe we’re in an era where films like this are what attract audiences. People yearn for an unparalleled experience. If you’re seeking the familiar Predator tale, feel free to press play on any Predator movie. My aim was to offer something fresh and unique. I hope it will be appreciated.

The movie “Predator: Badlands” is set for a theatrical debut in the United States on November 7, 2025.

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2025-04-23 22:00

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