Convention - SDCC 2025 : Predator Badlands Transforms Hall H Into a Hunting Ground

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, Hall H, 25 july 2025

The Predator: Badlands panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 will go down as one of those rare Hall H moments that felt both like a spectacular theatrical event and a true unveiling of something bold within a long-running franchise. Hours before the presentation began, anticipation was already humming in the lines outside the convention center as fans queued up, knowing the franchise’s first-ever Hall H showcase would bring something special. Once inside, each attendee was handed a Predator helmet mask, a gesture that instantly fostered a sense of belonging and immersion. When the lights dropped, fog rolled across the stage, and a full-sized Predator strode into view, the room erupted. This was not a cosplay, nor a cheap gimmick, but a fully realized Yautja, complete with glowing targeting system and menacing sound effects. The creature locked onto the audience and even targeted moderator Kevin Smith, creating an unforgettable opening that bridged Comic-Con spectacle with the promise of cinematic authenticity.

When the Predator left the stage, Kevin Smith introduced the creative team and stars to equally thunderous applause. Director Dan Trachtenberg, visibly moved, described the surreal emotion of returning to Hall H not as a fan but as the filmmaker charged with reshaping the Predator saga. He was joined by Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, and veteran creature designer Alec Gillis. Trachtenberg spoke about the genesis of Badlands, conceived as a radical departure from formula, with the story unfolding not from the perspective of human survivors, but through the eyes of a Predator named Dek. This central conceit, he explained, allowed him to craft a film that humanizes the alien species without softening their brutality, exploring the emotional arc of an outcast warrior torn between tradition, family, and survival. For the first time in the franchise’s history, the Predator is not the antagonist but the protagonist, opening the door to a deeper understanding of their culture and values.

The panel’s high point came with the screening of the opening fifteen minutes of the film, still unfinished in spots but brimming with energy and weight. The sequence transports viewers to a desolate alien landscape where Dek faces a ritual combat challenge against his brother Kwei. The duel, staged in a vast cave system, is both a test of strength and a study in familial tension. Dek falters, and Kwei spares him—an act of mercy that enrages their father, who demands absolute adherence to the clan’s code. The fallout is brutal: in a harrowing battle, Kwei loses his arm, suffers fatal wounds, and yet, in his final act of defiance, ensures Dek’s survival by launching him into exile aboard a ship bound for Kalisk, the infamous “Death Planet.” The scene was met with hushed awe and gasps from the audience as it delivered not only the expected Predator savagery but also rare emotional depth, cementing the idea that this film seeks to transform how fans perceive these creatures.

Discussion after the footage delved into the immense creative work required to bring this vision to life. Trachtenberg revealed that a fully functional Yautja language was developed for the film by the linguist behind the Na’vi tongue in Avatar. This allowed dialogue and nuance to carry meaning without undermining the alien nature of the characters. Gillis described how Studio Gillis and Wētā Workshop collaborated on animatronic facial rigs and performance suits that allowed for both ferocity and subtle emotional expression. The Predator design, long celebrated for its imposing presence, now gains a new range of performance through subtle eye flickers, mandible movements, and head tilts—details that turn Dek into a character audiences can connect with, rather than simply fear. Trachtenberg also cited wide-ranging influences on the project, from Frank Frazetta paintings and Conan the Barbarian to Mad Max 2, The Book of Eli, and even the video game Shadow of the Colossus, reflecting his intent to create a mythic, visually striking journey with thematic resonance.

The cast added to this sense of depth. Elle Fanning explained how she approached her role as Thia, a synthetic who becomes Dek’s unlikely ally on Kalisk. She highlighted the physical challenges of the part, often acting in harnesses or literally perched on the Predator’s back in demanding scenes, but also emphasized her desire to imbue Thia with empathy and humanity. Rather than being a lifeless machine, Thia is a mirror, giving the Predator someone to connect with emotionally and philosophically. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi described his intensive preparation to play Dek, learning the newly constructed Predator language and training to embody the weight, rituals, and predatory grace of the Yautja. He spoke about how the opening act’s fraternal tragedy shaped Dek’s motivations and identity, distancing him from the one-dimensional hunters seen in earlier films and giving him the layers of a true anti-hero.

The panel concluded by looking toward the future of the franchise. Trachtenberg admitted that the Predator series has too often fallen into formula, dropping the alien into new settings without fundamentally evolving the mythology. With Badlands, he hopes to establish a new foundation, one where the Predator is not only terrifying but also relatable, layered, and mythic. He revealed that this film is the seventh in the mainline series and ninth in the overall franchise, and that if successful, it could lead into a planned trilogy he has envisioned since the breakout reception of Prey. Fans were thrilled to learn about a Marvel Comics one-shot prequel, written by Ethan Sacks with art by Elvin Ching, due to release just after the film’s theatrical debut in November. Posters and masks were handed out as the cast posed with fans, cementing the sense that Hall H attendees had been part of something historic.

With a release set for November 7, 2025, in RealD 3D and IMAX, Predator: Badlands stands as not just another entry in the franchise but a bold reimagining that dares to reframe its entire perspective. Combining a mythic tone, cutting-edge effects, and emotional storytelling, it left Hall H buzzing with the sense that the Predator saga has found new life. This wasn’t simply a panel; it was a declaration that the hunt has changed forever.

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Synopsis : 
In the future, on a distant planet, a young Predator, cast out from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a journey into hostile territory in search of the ultimate adversary.

Predator: Badlands
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
Written by Patrick Aison
Story by Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison
Based on Characters by Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, Brent O'Connor
Starring  Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Cinematography : Jeff Cutter
Edited by Stefan Grube
Production companies : 20th Century Studios, Davis Entertainment, Lawrence Gordon Productions
Distributed by 20th Century Studios
Release date : November 5, 2025 (France), November 7, 2025 (United States)

Photos and video : Haitem Gasmi / Mulderville