If Prey was the spark that reignited the Predator franchise, then Badlands looks like the wildfire set to spread. The just-dropped trailer for Predator: Badlands is more than just a continuation, it feels like a full-on reimagining, expanding on the groundwork laid by Prey with a bolder, dustier, and more mythic vision. And what’s wild is that it all seems to have happened by creative chance. This is thanks to director Dan Trachtenberg, whose return to the franchise feels less like a studio mandate and more like a filmmaker doubling down on a vision – confident, stripped-back, and fiercely cinematic.
Following Prey’s stripped-back survivalist intensity and stunning direction, Badlands steps confidently into new terrain, quite literally. The arid American Southwest replaces the forests and jungles of past entries, giving the iconic hunter a stark new hunting ground. It’s the kind of shift that feels both unexpected and perfect, instantly reinvigorating the series with fresh visual language and mood.
With Prey, the franchise found its pulse again. With Badlands, it might just be finding its soul. Watch the trailer below.
Predator: Badlands will release in cinemas November 7th 2025
