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Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The year promises exciting developments, including two new Predator films from the acclaimed director of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg. The live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers are set to captivate audiences. Additionally, the Alien universe is expanding with a new FX series, Alien: Earth, helmed by the talented Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo and Legion. While these projects are not officially connected, the shared history of Alien and Predator in a common universe, seen across films, comic books, and video games, fuels fan speculation about a potential crossover.
Recent promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth hint at Disney's groundwork for a new Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover. Let's delve into the latest developments in these franchises and explore why fans might see AVP return to the big screen sooner rather than later.
Evil Easter Eggs ----------------The initial teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands sparked speculation among fans about a potential AVP film. The trailer introduced Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with ties to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed as the film's protagonist by Trachtenberg. While the presence of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film isn't a direct sign of a crossover, the recent promotional videos for Alien: Earth add weight to this speculation.
The Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth is packed with Alien lore Easter eggs. It features the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leading to an egg sac reminiscent of one seen in Alien: Romulus. A mutated facehugger-like creature emerges, contained on a ship named the Maginot, which resembles the Nostromo from the original Alien film. The creature, labeled "Species 37" and noted for its unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR, suggests this discovery preceded the Xenomorphs' introduction in the Alien timeline, two years before the events of the first film.
A related teaser called Crate showcases specimen containers, with a narrator mentioning the collection of five different life forms from the universe's darkest corners. A classic Xenomorph appears, but the inclusion of five species suggests an expansion of the Alien universe. Could one of these species be linked to the Predators? Given that Predator: Badlands is set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial monstrosities, the possibility of a connection between the two series grows stronger. Perhaps Elle Fanning's android was searching for these specimens, or one of these creatures might evolve into something featured in Predator: Badlands or Killer of Killers. While we await the premiere to confirm, the presence of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth wouldn't be surprising.Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History
The connection between Alien and Predator spans decades, starting with the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator, long before the 2004 AVP film. Predator 2 in 1990 included a Xenomorph skull as an Easter egg on the Predator's trophy wall. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games reinforced the shared universe concept, which gained mainstream popularity with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite early attempts with AVP films in the 2000s, the series struggled with poor reception, even though they were financially successful. The era of serialized superhero and sci-fi blockbusters, influenced by trends set by the Star Wars prequels, didn't favor AVP, which was treated as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox. Yet, both Alien and Predator have iconic films like Ridley Scott's original Alien, James Cameron's Aliens, and John McTiernan's Predator. The 2010s saw further challenges with Ridley Scott's Prometheus series and Shane Black's The Predator, but recent successes like Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 have revitalized these franchises. With teases of upcoming projects, the prospect of a new AVP feels closer than ever.
AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------The upcoming sequel to Alien: Romulus, with director Fede Álvarez returning and expressing interest in directing an AVP film, adds to the excitement. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining ties to the Prometheus series through its Engineer-like monster. With characters Rain Carradine and Andy heading to Yvaga III in stasis, a direct sequel could pick up their journey. Álvarez suggests that the best AVP would surprise audiences by revealing the crossover mid-film, enhancing the thrill.
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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP offers hope for a successful new take on the crossover. Previous AVP films, set on contemporary Earth, limited their scope and failed to engage audiences with their characters. A fresh start, potentially featuring Dek as the lead in a new AVP, could explore the Predalien concept further or introduce a hybrid creature combining Alien, Predator, and Engineer elements, promising a thrilling addition to the saga.
With both franchises in a healthier state than in years, the idea of an AVP crossover film is likely on Disney's radar. Given the current popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling, a new AVP feels imminent. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, the iconic monsters of Alien and Predator might finally clash on the big screen in the epic battle fans crave.
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