Predator’s New Team-Up? You Won’t Believe What Happened Before!

by

Summary

  • Predator: Badlands features a human-Predator team-up
  • Previous films in the franchise have also shown this dynamic
  • Badlands’ unique twist may shift the Predator from antagonist to protagonist, posing new narrative questions.

In the upcoming movie titled “Predator: Badlands“, there will be an unusual alliance between the Predator and a human character, although the series has had such collaborations previously. Director Dan Trachtenberg, who directed the last episode, “Prey“, is once again at the helm, continuing to explore intriguing tales about the Yautja, the species known as Predators. Elle Fanning stars in this enigmatic upcoming film, and during her CinemaCon appearance to promote “Predator: Badlands“, she hinted (via THR), “An unparalleled event takes place in this movie.” She then clarified that unlike the norm, her character won’t be hunted by the Predator. Instead, they will join forces, a departure from the standard storyline; however, a similar scenario was depicted in the 2004 film “Alien vs. Predator“.

In most “Predator” movies, the Yautja are portrayed as adversaries, starting from the 1987 original where Arnold Schwarzenegger played the main character. Each subsequent film in the series has continued this pattern, including Trachtenberg’s “Prey”. The Yautja are given more depth through minor details, such as only attacking when armed, which reveals their honor and culture. However, they are never depicted as heroic characters. But when the “Predator” series merged with the “Alien” films, it resulted in two movies – “Alien vs. Predator” and “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem”. The first one features a human character collaborating with one of the Yautja.

What is Alien vs. Predator About?

The Alien and Predator series initially collided in comic books back in 1989, with Predator 2 hitting theaters the year after. In the movie’s final scene, a Xenomorph skull adorned the Predator’s ship, stirring excitement among fans eager to witness this crossover on the big screen. Although there were earlier crossovers in comics and video games like 1993’s Alien vs Predator for the Super Nintendo, it wasn’t until 2004 that a movie crossover was produced by director Paul W.S. Anderson, who is famous for Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil films. The film, titled Alien vs Predator, featured Sanaa Lathan, Ewen Bremnar, Colin Salmon, Tommy Flanagan, and Lance Henrikson as Charles Bishop Weyland.

In this movie, a group of explorers journey to Antarctica to examine a mysterious pyramid hidden beneath the ice that was constructed by an alien race called the Yautja. As they delve deeper into their investigation, they gradually uncover that the structure was designed for breeding monstrous creatures known as Xenomorphs, used for the Yautja’s ritualistic hunts. However, the researchers unwittingly find themselves caught in the middle of a new hunt and realize too late their precarious situation.

The film features three compelling taglines that highlight its suspenseful nature. One of them reads: “The enemy of my enemy… is my friend.” This phrase directly alludes to a pivotal moment in the third act, when the last remaining human character, Alexa “Lex” Woods (played by Lathan), is forced to join forces with a Predator to ensure their survival.

The Human and Predator Team-Up Explained

In the third part of Alien vs. Predator, chaos ensues as Xenomorphs wreak havoc, leaving the Yautja and human characters at a disadvantage. In this critical moment, Lathan’s character, Lex, encounters a Predator. Recognizing that her best chance for survival lies in assisting this hunter, she carefully retrieves the weapon she had picked up earlier and slides it towards him while saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” However, before he can grasp the gun, a Xenomorph attacks him, causing him to drop his spear. Seizing the opportunity, Lex grabs the spear and slays the alien aggressor, thus aiding the Predator. Despite this, he remains hostile towards Lex, aiming his gun at her instead of focusing on the incoming Xenomorphs. Meanwhile, the Alien Queen, who had been restrained for a ritual hunt, manages to break free and starts ravaging through the pyramid.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Regardless of initial reservations, the Predator recognizes that Lex possesses the ability to eliminate a Xenomorph. To prepare her for this challenge, he offers a rapid tutorial on their strengths and vulnerabilities through a holographic presentation using an alien carcass. Swiftly grasping the concepts, she is then armed with a spear fashioned from the creature’s tail and a shield made from its skull. With danger rapidly approaching, they jointly launch into combat, annihilating countless Xenomorphs on their journey to the surface. There, the Predator brands Lex with alien blood – a traditional Yautja ritual signifying that she is capable of hunting solo. As they confront the Queen, both Lex and the Predator emerge victorious, but at a heavy cost: the Predator meets his end in battle. Upon arrival, other Yautja warriors retrieve their fallen comrade’s body, sparing Lex due to the “Blooded” symbol etched onto her face.

What is actually ‘Unprecedented’ about the Predator: Badlands human team-up?

In contrast to previous collaborations between humans and Predators, the upcoming film “Predator: Badlands” promises to offer a distinct take. Unlike previous instances where Predators were merely antagonists, Thia, played by Fanning, will not only fight alongside a Yautja hunter but also share the role of protagonist. Previous franchises have flipped villains into heroes, but this unique team-up between Fanning and the Predator leaves us wondering about several aspects. Will they communicate through visual cues as before, or will the movie experiment with verbal communication, hinted in “The Predator” of 2018? Additionally, the film raises intriguing questions: if there’s a Predator that needs human assistance, what could be even more formidable than that?

In the upcoming movie “Predator: Badlands,” it appears that the collaboration between Fanning’s human character and the Predator will play a crucial role, driving both the action and emotional intensity of the film. Unlike “Alien vs. Predator” where this team-up occurred near the end, it seems “Predator: Badlands” will establish these stakes earlier in the movie. This early revelation suggests that this project is one of the key elements they are choosing to disclose at an early stage, hinting at a richer narrative. A trailer for the film was shown at CinemaCon, and as summer blockbusters start releasing, it’s expected that more details about “Predator: Badlands” will be shared with audiences, providing further insights into this intriguing production, which is set to hit cinemas on November 7.

Read More

2025-04-15 21:36