/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/07/28/feature-predator-badlands-2025-07-28-12-23-15.png)
At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Disney wowed the crowd by showing the exciting opening scene of its new animated sci-fi film, 'Predator: Badlands'. The studio brought fans inside Hall H to witness 15 intense minutes of the film, which set the tone for what promises to be a bold new chapter in the Predator franchise.
Attendees were treated to more than just early footage. Every one of the 6,500 fans in the crowd received exclusive Predator masks, creating an unforgettable immersive experience. The reveal also included surprise cameo appearances by franchise legends Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover, whose animated versions are being integrated into the film starting today.
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/07/28/predator-badlands2-2025-07-28-12-23-15.png)
Image Courtesy: IMDb
'Predator: Badlands' builds on the critical success of 'Predator: Killer of Killers', the gritty animated feature that premiered on Hulu and Disney+ in June. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the latest instalment pushes the boundaries of the franchise by placing a Predator at the centre of the narrative—not as a hunter, but as a reluctant hero.
Trachtenberg, a self-proclaimed fanboy-turned-filmmaker, shared his emotional journey with the audience. Having attended Comic-Con for eight years as a fan in the early 2000s, he described returning as a filmmaker as a full-circle moment. He reflected on witnessing iconic Hall H moments, including the debut of the first 'Iron Man' trailer, and said being back with a project that truly mattered was a career milestone.
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/07/28/predator-badlands1-2025-07-28-12-23-15.png)
Image Courtesy: IMDb
'Predator: Badlands' Opening Scenes
The film’s opening scene unfolds entirely in the Predator language, with subtitles for the audience. It introduces two Predator brothers, one of whom—Dek—is considered weak and unfit by his clan. When his older brother refuses to execute him, their father intervenes in a brutal confrontation that sends Dek offworld. What follows is a survival story on a hostile planet where Dek must prove his strength and reclaim his honour.
For the first time in the series, the Predator is the main character. Elle Fanning plays a synthetic being who unexpectedly partners with Dek on his perilous journey. Fanning compared their dynamic to the classic 'Empire Strikes Back' pairing of Chewbacca and C-3PO, revealing that much of the film was shot outdoors in New Zealand’s rugged landscapes.
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/07/28/predator-badlands-2025-07-28-12-23-15.png)
Image Courtesy: IMDb
Trachtenberg noted that the actors spent much of the shoot in natural settings, often physically strapped together to navigate treacherous terrain—including eel-infested trenches. This hands-on approach adds gritty realism to the animated film's adventurous tone.
Alec Gillis, a veteran Predator effects artist and student of Stan Winston, joined Trachtenberg onstage to talk about how Dek's character was brought to life with new techniques. For the first time in the franchise, the Predator’s face is rendered digitally to allow for nuanced emotional expression, while the body remains in practical suits.
'Predator: Badlands' opens in theatres on 7th November, 2026, and marks a bold new direction for the iconic sci-fi series—blending tradition, innovation, and heart.
