"Predator: Badlands Director Unveils 'Death Planet' and New Predator's Name, Cites Shadow of the Colossus as Inspiration"

The debut trailer for *Predator: Badlands* has ignited a flurry of questions among fans, particularly about the design of the new Predator. In an interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shed light on several intriguing details about the film, including his unique approach to the iconic sci-fi hunter.

The new Predator, named Dek, is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Unlike previous Predator films where the Yautja (the alien hunter race) typically play the antagonist, Dek is an underdog "runt" who takes on the protagonist role. This fresh perspective on the Yautja character has fans buzzing with anticipation.

Dek's chosen battleground is the "Death Planet" Kalisk, where he strives to prove his worth to his father and earn acceptance within his clan. His design diverges from previous Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, which aligns with his role as an underdog.

*Predator: Badlands* centers on Dek's journey, but he's not alone on Kalisk. He interacts with a character portrayed by Elle Fanning, whose appearance suggests she might be a synth from the Alien franchise, as indicated by the Weyland Yutani logo on her eyes. 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 between Dek and Fanning's character. "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."

While Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he teased, "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.