Tag: weyland-yutani

Predator: Badlands Director Says He Wanted to Explore New Terrain

Predator: Badlands Director Dan Trachtenberg Breaks Down His Approach to Giving the Film a Distinct Look with New Environments

Predator: Badlands pushes the long-running sci-fi series into new territory, both in terms of story and setting. Unlike previous entries that centered on soldiers on Earth and the familiar jungle environment, this film follows a young Predator on the hostile planet Genna. Utilizing sweeping landscapes and an unlikely buddy dynamic, it aims to shake up the classic Predator formula.

While promoting the film’s theatrical release, director Dan Trachtenberg—who also helmed the popular 2022 film Prey—shared with Screen Rant his determination to avoid relying on familiar Predator imagery.

Dan Trachtenberg on Filming Predator: Badlands in New Zealand

Trachtenberg explained, “I just wanted it to be as distinct as possible and give the movie scope and scale to really feel like we’re traversing from one kind of planet to a completely different kind of planet. In fact, I was really hyper-focused on going to New Zealand so that we don’t find ourselves just in another jungle. I think sometimes we tend to associate forests with fantasy and jungle for sci-fi.”

He continued, “That was what was really unique about New Zealand—it’s an interesting combination of both. To set a sequence in the open field with those crazy spiked pods and the razor, all those things that just aesthetically were a little bit more distinct, interesting, and dangerous feeling.”

Within this stunning new landscape, the film’s central character Dek begins his journey as the runt of his Yautja clan, barely escaping execution and embarking on an adventure to prove his worth. His hunt for the seemingly unkillable Kalisk forces an uneasy alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic (crossing over with Alien continuity), and a local creature nicknamed Bud.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi portrays Dek under a detailed creature suit, enhanced meticulously with motion capture technology, while Elle Fanning delivers double duty as Thia and her more ruthless counterpart, Tessa. And if you’ve seen any of the trailers so far, you know there’s plenty of action and grand visuals to look forward to.

Predator: Badlands officially arrives in theaters on November 7, 2025, from 20th Century Studios, offering fans a thoughtful new chapter to anticipate within the franchise.

With all that in mind, what are you most excited to see in the new Predator film? Let us know in the comments below!

https://bleedingcool.com/movies/predator-badlands-director-on-exploring-new-terrain/

Predator: Badlands Has A Stranger Things Cameo Only Hardcore Fans Noticed

**Predator: Badlands – A Recap and a Surprising Cameo You Might Have Missed**

*Contains minor spoilers for “Predator: Badlands.”*

To fully appreciate *Predator: Badlands*, ideally you’d be familiar with both the *Predator* and *Alien* franchises. The story centers on Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a Yautja warrior who ventures to a perilous world to prove himself to his father. Along this dangerous journey, Dek receives unexpected assistance from a Weyland-Yutani synthetic named Thia (portrayed by Elle Fanning).

From the first trailer, the connection to the *Alien* universe was clear, which led fans to hope for more *Alien* references—perhaps even the appearance of a Xenomorph. Unfortunately, a third *Alien vs. Predator* movie isn’t on the horizon just yet. However, there is an intriguing, subtle Easter egg: a brief voiceover cameo that many viewers likely missed.

### The Duffers’ Unexpected Cameo

Fans of *Stranger Things* might be surprised to learn that the creators of the show, Matt and Ross Duffer, lend their voices in *Predator: Badlands*. The cast list is quite small, and when the final credits roll, the Duffer brothers are credited as the voice of Kwei’s (Mike Homik) computer ship. Kwei is the character who sends Dek on his mission to the world of Genna to kill the Kalisk, a task meant to help Dek prove himself to their father—an endeavor that ultimately costs Kwei his life.

Since Matt and Ross Duffer are not actors by profession, their voices are not easily recognizable. Adding to this, they speak in Yautja, the language of the Predator species, which further disguises the cameo. Nonetheless, this fun Easter egg has a meaningful backstory that connects to the production.

### Behind the Scenes Connection

The involvement of the Duffer brothers in *Predator: Badlands* isn’t just a random choice. It stems from a longstanding relationship between director Dan Trachtenberg and the Duffers. Trachtenberg was originally slated to direct an episode of *Stranger Things* Season 5, titled “The Turnbow Trap.”

However, when *Predator: Badlands* was greenlit, Trachtenberg had to pivot immediately from directing *Predator: Killer of Killers* into *Badlands*, leaving no room in his schedule for *Stranger Things*. Speaking to Dexerto, Trachtenberg revealed that the overlap in post-production schedules made the cameo possible.

> “They were doing their mix of *Stranger Things*, as we were finishing our mix for *Badlands,*” Trachtenberg explained. “And I just thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to have you guys cameo in the movie?’ And they were, like, super awesome about it.”

### A Missed Opportunity and a Worthy Role

With *Stranger Things* Season 5 marking the show’s final season, Trachtenberg’s chance to work on the hit Netflix series won’t come around again. It’s a shame, as his talent for crafting thrilling action sequences would have been a great fit for the world of Hawkins.

Still, serving as the overseer of the *Predator* franchise is no small feat and a remarkable opportunity in its own right. For fans curious about how Trachtenberg’s *Predator* films stack up in the overall franchise, [click here to find out more](#).

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Whether you’re a longtime fan of the *Predator* series or just diving into *Badlands*, be sure to keep an ear out for that subtle voice cameo—it’s a neat reminder of the connections behind the scenes and the collaborative spirit that helps bring these stories to life.
https://www.looper.com/2018967/stranger-things-creators-duffer-brothers-predator-badlands-cameo/

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