‘Predator: Badlands’ Launches in Cinemas Worldwide

The legendary Predator franchise roars back onto the big screen today with Predator: Badlands, a bold new chapter that shifts the focus to the Yautja themselves. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and starring Elle Fanning and newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, the sci-fi action thriller opens exclusively in cinemas worldwide in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D and other premium formats.

Set in the distant future on a perilous alien world, Predator: Badlands follows Dek, a young Yautja outcast who must prove his worth by hunting an unkillable creature known as the Kalisk. In his quest, he forms an unlikely partnership with Thia, a half-destroyed but irrepressibly talkative robot brought to life by Fanning. Together, the pair navigate a planet where everything that moves is lethal, uncovering the brutality and code of honour that define Predator culture.

For the first time in the franchise’s history, audiences see the story through the eyes of a Predator. Trachtenberg, who previously revitalised the series with Prey in 2022, described Badlands as an exploration of Yautja society, a clan-based civilisation ruled by strength and survival. The director developed the screenplay with Patrick Aison, with both drawing inspiration from the mythology established in the 1987 original while expanding its scope to reveal the species’ home world and traditions.

Schuster-Koloamatangi, best known for his breakout role in The Panthers, delivers a physically demanding performance beneath the elaborate prosthetics and motion-capture work created by W?t? FX and long-time Predator designer Alec Gillis. The young actor also learned a fully constructed Yautja language, devised for the film by linguist Britton Watkins. His portrayal marks the first time a Predator has been depicted with visible facial expressions for the majority of a film, adding emotional depth to the franchise’s iconic creature.

Fanning’s Thia serves as both comic relief and emotional counterpart to Dek. The actress, who shot the film entirely on location in New Zealand, endured complex wire work and motion rigs to create the illusion of her character’s missing lower half. Her scenes were filmed with practical harnesses and rigs that were later digitally enhanced, blending physical performance with visual effects to seamless effect.

The production, filmed across New Zealand’s North Island, employed natural landscapes to craft the look of Genna, the hostile planet where the story unfolds. Oscar-nominated production designer Ra Vincent used the country’s black sand beaches, waterfalls and dense forests to bring the alien terrain to life, with minimal digital alteration.

Composer duo Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch provide the score, combining electronic tension with orchestral power. The result complements Trachtenberg’s blend of high-stakes action and emotional storytelling, maintaining the visceral energy of earlier Predator films while exploring new thematic ground.

Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt and Brent O’Connor, Predator: Badlands also features visual effects from ILM, Framestore and Trixter. The film continues the long-running partnership between 20th Century Studios and the creative teams that have kept the Predator universe evolving for nearly four decades.

Predator: Badlands is now playing exclusively in cinemas, offering fans a fresh perspective on one of science fiction’s most enduring icons.

Predator: Badlands trailer