The debut trailer for *Predator: Badlands* has ignited a flurry of questions among fans, particularly about the new Predator's design. In an insightful interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shared fresh details about the film, including his innovative approach to the iconic sci-fi hunter.
The new Predator, named Dek, is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Described as an underdog Yautja "runt," Dek takes on the protagonist role, a departure from the typical antagonistic portrayal of the Yautja race in previous Predator movies.
Dek chooses a "Death Planet" called Kalisk as his hunting ground, where he battles to earn his father's approval and acceptance within his clan. His design differs significantly from previous Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller, aligning with his "runt" status.
*Predator: Badlands* focuses on Dek's journey, but he isn't alone on Kalisk. He collaborates with a character portrayed 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 in her eyes.
Trachtenberg revealed that the dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character draws inspiration from the 2005 PlayStation classic, *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 elaborated on the emotional impact of *Shadow of the Colossus*, particularly the bond between the protagonist and his horse, and how it influenced the relationship between Dek and Fanning's character. "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.
