The only recap you need before Predator: Badlands

The “Predator” franchise has spawned several sequels and spin-offs over the years, and a brand new film is set to be added to the universe very soon in the form of “Predator: Badlands.” If you need a refresher before the next installment in the franchise arrives, the recap video above has all the information you need.

“Predator: Badlands” will be the first film in the series released theatrically since the release of “The Predator” in 2018, although fans were treated to the animated anthology film “Predator: Killer of Killers” in June 2025. “Killer of Killers” topped Hulu’s streaming charts when it debuted, and it received rave reviews from reviews, ending up with a Certified Fresh score of 95% on Rotten. Tomatoes.

2022’s “Prey,” the franchise’s most recent non-animated entry, also made a splash. The film, set in the 18th century, became Hulu’s most successful premiere, logging a record number of viewing hours in its first three days on the platform. It was also a big hit with critics and remained the highest-reviewed “Predator” film for a few years: with a score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, it is just behind “Killer of Killers.” “Badlands” certainly has some tough acts to follow, but this is shaping up to be another gripping “Predator” outing.

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Badlands connects the Predator and Alien franchises

The titular hunters of the “Predator” franchise (a race known as Yautja) were designed to be terrifying. It’s reasonable to assume that no one who worked on creating the villain of 1987’s “Predator” imagined that a member of this alien race would one day be the good guy in a movie, but that’s the plan for “Predator: Badlands.” The film will follow Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), the runt of his litter and an outcast from his clan because he is small. He is marooned on the most hostile planet in the universe where he meets Thia (Elle Fanning), a synthetic human, and they set out on a quest for redemption. And no, your eyes didn’t deceive you during the film’s trailer: Thia is a Weyland-Yutani creation from the “Alien” franchise, with the company’s logo clearly visible over her eyes.

Of course, the two franchises have crossed over in the past with the controversial “Alien vs. Predator” films, which were considered non-canon by many fans. However, this “Predator: Badlands” trailer confirms that the “Alien” and “Predator” universes are indeed linked, and with both franchises experiencing a resurgence, it’s a great time for fans. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, “Predator: Badlands” director Dan Trachtenberg revealed that it was his idea to make Dek’s companion a Weyland-Yutani synthetic. “They’re quite an interesting and bizarre couple to each other, and their chemistry is a big part of the fun of the film,” he added. While we wait for the film to release on November 7, 2025, why not watch Looper’s recap video to make sure you’re in the loop.

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Read the original article on Looper.