Director Dan Trachtenberg Revives Predator Franchise with Futuristic Badlands Film

Director Dan Trachtenberg is widely praised by Shane Black and others for his impeccable work on the Predator franchise, including Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and the upcoming Predator: Badlands. Trachtenberg aims to keep Badlands grounded in a Conan the Barbarian-style adventure rather than a mainstream sci-fi space epic, emphasizing visual storytelling over dialogue due to the language barrier between protagonists. The film marks the franchise's first entry set far into the future, over 300 years ahead, expanding the Predator and Alien shared universe with new locations like Genna World. Practical effects expert Alec Gillis initially explored animatronics for the protagonist Predator's face but ultimately embraced digital enhancements by WETA Digital to better capture performance nuances. Filming in New Zealand's diverse landscapes contributed to the film's unique tone, described by Trachtenberg as "living in the silence between heartbeats," highlighting the importance of environment and movement. Additionally, the film presents a novel twist with a Predator as the protagonist, and features complex logistics in portraying the half-bodied android Thia, adding emotional depth to the monster movie.