"Death Planet" Named in New Predator Film, Inspired by Shadow of the Colossus

The debut trailer for Predator: Badlands has ignited a flurry of excitement and curiosity among fans, particularly regarding the new Predator's unique design.

In an insightful interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shed light on several intriguing aspects of Predator: Badlands, including his innovative approach to the iconic sci-fi hunter. The new Predator, named Dek and portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, takes on the role of an underdog Yautja "runt," marking a departure from the traditional portrayal of Yautja as antagonists in previous Predator films.

Dek chooses a "Death Planet" named Kalisk as his hunting ground, where he battles to earn his father's approval and acceptance within his clan. His design diverges from past Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, which aligns perfectly with his "runt" protagonist status.

Predator: Badlands centers around Dek's journey, but he's not alone on Kalisk. He teams up with a character portrayed by Elle Fanning, whose appearance suggests a connection to the Alien franchise, as evidenced by the Weyland Yutani logo on her eyes. This has sparked speculation about her being a synth.

That's the Weyland Yutani logo on Elle Fanning's eyes. Is she a synth?Trachtenberg drew inspiration from the 2005 PlayStation classic Shadow of the Colossus for the on-screen dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character. "As inspired as I am by movies, I’ve been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection," Trachtenberg shared.

He further elaborated on the emotional impact of Shadow of the Colossus, particularly the bond between the protagonist and his horse, which influenced the relationship in Predator: Badlands. "There’s a thing with a horse in Shadow of the Colossus that’s devastating when you play the game. And so [Predator: Badlands] was a little bit inspired by that in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else, this character who’s the opposite of him. He’s very laconic, [Fanning] is not. She’s capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she’s got a real thing that I’m so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself."

While Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he hinted at a "unique hook" that enhances the pairing of Dek and Fanning's character.

Predator: Badlands is set to premiere on November 7, 2025. Fans can also look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, Predator: Killer of Killers, which will be released in June.