Predator: Badlands Director Confirms 'Death Planet' Name, the New Predator’s Name, and Reveals Inspiration From Shadow of the Colossus

The debut trailer for Predator: Badlands has ignited curiosity among fans, particularly regarding the unique design of the new Predator character.

In a recent interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shared exciting details about Predator: Badlands, including his innovative approach to the iconic sci-fi hunter. The new Predator, named Dek, is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Unlike the traditional antagonist roles of Yautja in previous films, Dek is an underdog "runt" taking on the protagonist role.

Dek's design deviates from previous Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, which aligns with his "runt" characterization.

Predator: Badlands centers on Dek's journey, but he is not alone on Kalisk. He collaborates with a character played by Elle Fanning, who, as discussed by IGN, bears a striking resemblance to a synth from the Alien franchise, complete with the Weyland Yutani logo on her eyes.

That's the Weyland Yutani logo on Elle Fanning's eyes. Is she a synth?Trachtenberg drew inspiration for the dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character from the 2005 PlayStation game Shadow of the Colossus.

“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 explained.

He highlighted the emotional impact of the horse in Shadow of the Colossus and how it 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.”

Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, teasing, “There’s a unique hook to her character that is exciting in the pairing of [her and Dek].”

Predator: Badlands is set to launch on November 7, 2025. Before that, fans can look forward to Trachtenberg’s animated anthology, Predator: Killer of Killers, which will be released in June.