Imagine a movie that could have been a sprawling crossover event, blending iconic characters from the Predator and Alien universes into one epic adventure. That’s almost what happened with Predator: Badlands—but here’s where it gets controversial. While the film stands beautifully on its own, it was originally envisioned with even deeper ties to these legendary franchises. But did the creators make the right call by scaling back those connections?
The genius of Predator: Badlands lies in its flexibility. Set hundreds, if not thousands of years beyond any other story in the Predator universe, it’s deliberately untethered from previous events. Yet, it’s also rich with lore, subtly weaving itself into the broader tapestry of Yautja culture and the Alien and Predator franchises. For instance, eagle-eyed viewers might have caught a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo of Naru, the Comanche warrior from Prey. Her appearance wasn’t just a random Easter egg—it was a relic from an earlier version of the film that hinted at even grander connections.
Naru’s cameo occurs early on, when Dek is aboard his brother Kwei’s ship. Kwei explains that to join the clan, Dek must choose a dangerous prey and hunt it across the universe. As Dek scrolls through holograms of potential targets, Naru’s silhouette briefly appears—a nod to her 1719 battle with a Yautja, as revealed in Predator: Killer of Killers. But here’s the part most people miss: Director Dan Trachtenberg revealed to Screenrant that the original scene included holograms of other iconic characters, like a xenomorph from Alien, Dutch from Predator, and even the Back Biter creature from Killer of Killers. These were meant as tributes to the Predators’ most formidable foes.
So, why were they cut? As the film evolved, the scene was trimmed to keep the focus squarely on Dek and Kwei’s story. Trachtenberg explained, ‘We really wanted to nod to our favorite characters, but ultimately, anything that distracts from this story and these characters could hurt it.’ But is that the right call? Or did the film miss an opportunity to thrill fans with a franchise mashup?
While it’s fun to imagine what could have been, the final version of Predator: Badlands feels more cohesive and character-driven. Still, the question lingers: Would you have preferred a bolder crossover, or do you appreciate the film’s focused approach? Let us know in the comments.
Predator: Badlands is now available on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. And if you’re craving more sci-fi and fantasy updates, check out the latest on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and Doctor Who.
