New Predator Unveiled in Badlands First Trailer

The monster returns for another round: the teaser trailer for the highly anticipated sci-fi action sequel, Predator: Badlands, has just launched online.

In the exclusive preview below, we're introduced to star Elle Fanning's character, who seems to inhabit a perilous, distant future planet. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the Predator she encounters is fundamentally different from previous iterations—potentially even serving as the story's protagonist this time. "The director of Prey welcomes you to a world of pain," the teaser boldly states.

Beyond this redesigned Predator, the footage contains unmistakable connections to the Alien universe, fueling speculation that Badlands might lay the groundwork for a new Alien vs. Predator crossover. Fanning's eyes undergo the same Weyland-Yutani transformation seen in Alien: Romulus, suggesting her character could be artificial. A brief shot even reveals the Weyland-Yutani corporate logo—the notorious megacorporation central to the Alien series—displayed on a wrecked vehicle.

Predator: Badlands was first announced in development during February 2024, with its official release date confirmed later that October. Although the trailer premiered exclusively at CinemaCon earlier this month, this marks the first public opportunity for fans to see what the film has in store.

At CinemaCon, 20th Century Studios also shared the official synopsis: "Set in the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, exiled from his clan, forms an unexpected alliance with Thia and embarks on a dangerous quest to find the ultimate opponent."

"This film delivers something truly unprecedented," Fanning explained to reporters and cinema professionals at the event. "My character isn't the one being hunted—she actually joins forces with the Predator. Audiences will experience him in a completely new way. And... I should probably stop there!"

Dan Trachtenberg, acclaimed for directing 10 Cloverfield Lane and the Predator prequel Prey, helms the project from a screenplay he co-wrote with Patrick Aison. Predator: Badlands is scheduled to hit theaters on November 7, 2025.