At San Diego Comic-Con, Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg discussed the inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani android in his film and the potential for a new Alien vs. Predator movie. Both the Predator and Alien series have a long history, which includes their merging in the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, followed by a sequel, Requiem. These films, however, did not receive favorable reviews.
Trachtenberg has recently emerged as a prominent director in the Predator series. He began with the prequel Prey, which garnered positive reviews upon its release in 2022. His success continued with Predator: Killer of Killers, and he is now set to release Predator: Badlands this fall.
During a panel at SDCC, attended by SR‘s Brandon Zachary, Trachtenberg spoke about the complexities of creating a new Alien vs. Predator film. The director stated that executing such a crossover can feel like “the seduction to grab all the action figures and smush them together,” but incorporating an android from the Alien universe felt appropriate for this project:
“First, it was Predator and a robot. It’s essentially a human story, but it involves a predator and a robot. Then I thought about who makes robots, and that led me to Weyland-Yutani. This opens up many exciting possibilities, but when dealing with cinematic universes, the temptation is often to mash everything together. I wanted to avoid that and strive for something more sophisticated.”
Trachtenberg did not rule out directing another Alien vs. Predator film when asked. He responded intriguingly:
“Wouldn’t it be cool? Wouldn’t it be cool.”
Implications for the Alien Franchise
Prospects for Improvement in the Alien vs. Predator Series
The Alien vs. Predator series has historically underperformed, with the 2004 film achieving only a 21% rating on the Tomatometer and its 2007 sequel doing even worse at 12%. Despite these scores, the films were financially successful; Alien vs. Predator grossed $177.4 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, and Requiem earned $130 million against a $40 million budget.
After a pause in crossover projects, both franchises continued with standalone films, though not without their share of criticisms, as seen with Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and 2018’s The Predator. Despite past struggles, the recent films Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, along with Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus, have revitalized interest in both franchises.
Our Perspective on a New Alien Vs. Predator
Why Now Is the Optimal Time for This Crossover
Creating a successful Alien vs. Predator film is challenging, requiring a delicate balance of story and character development. Directors like Trachtenberg are aware of these challenges, which may explain their hesitation. However, the timing may now be right. Recent successes such as Alien: Romulus and Predator: Killer of Killers have rekindled fan interest after a period of decline. With the upcoming release of Predator: Badlands, the possibility of Trachtenberg directing an Alien vs. Predator film could become more plausible.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
