Predator: Badlands Emphasizes Relationship, No Xenomorphs

Predator: Badlands, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, follows a young Predator named Dek who teams up with Elle Fanning’s Weyland‑Yutani synthetic Thia on a hostile alien world and is framed as a buddy‑comedy relationship story that recasts the Predator as a relatable antihero. Trachtenberg and the trailer confirm the film includes Weyland‑Yutani nods but no Xenomorphs, with the studio’s presence presented as a slow‑burn connection rather than an Alien crossover. Trailer imagery — including a Power Loader‑like mech — and hints that Thia has been on the planet a long time and is “broken” tease deeper lore ties without promising an Alien rematch. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 7, 2025, and is being positioned as the second Predator release of 2025.