In the wake of the remarkable triumph of Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey, movie fans can anticipate the emergence of two distinct adaptations within the Predator universe in 2025: <em>Predator: Badlands</em> and Predator: Killer of Killers. After a four-year break for these fearsome, honor-bound hunters, the Predator franchise made a stunning return with the critically acclaimed Prey. This film introduced audiences to a more primitive version of the legendary alien as it clashed with a courageous young Comanche warrior set against the breathtaking backdrop of early 1700s America. This innovative approach has rekindled interest in the franchise, especially after a string of less successful sequels.

Before this resurgence, the franchise primarily focused on contemporary settings featuring technologically advanced Predators. While both Predator 2 (1990) and The Predator (2018) showcased humans battling Predators in modern-day Earth, the 2010 film Predators added a twist by transporting its human characters to an alien planet for a deadly contest against the trophy-hunting Yautja. The phenomenal success of the streaming hit Prey has motivated its director, Dan Trachtenberg, to boldly explore two new narratives within the Predator lore, both set to debut in 2025.

Dive into the Exciting Releases of Predator: Killer Of Killers & Predator: Badlands in 2025

Discover the Unique Formats of Each Predator Movie

Both Predator: Badlands and Predator: Killer of Killers will serve as independent entries in the expansive Predator universe. While there may be some subtle Easter eggs connecting them, they will not be directly tied to previous films within the franchise. The trailer for Predator: Badlands suggests a futuristic setting far removed from Earth. Intriguingly, this installment will feature a groundbreaking twist: the central character will not be the human protagonist, played by Elle Fanning, but rather a young Yautja hunter embarking on his inaugural hunt. This hunter unexpectedly forms an alliance with Elle Fanning’s character, who is rumored to be an android.

Predator: Killer of Killers aligns more closely with Prey as it depicts Predators pursuing humans on Earth. This animated anthology will showcase three distinct narratives, each featuring a different breed of Predator hunting some of humanity’s most formidable warriors throughout history. The anthology will spotlight a Viking raider accompanied by her son, a pair of brothers from Feudal Japan—one a samurai and the other a ninja—and a WWII pilot engaging in aerial combat against a Predator. Dan Trachtenberg is at the helm for both films, which were produced in tandem following the success of Prey.

Unpacking the Release Strategy: Killer Of Killers Goes Direct to Streaming While Badlands Hits Theaters

Anticipate the Release of Killer Of Killers Five Months Ahead of Badlands

Although Predator: Killer of Killers will be an animated feature, the trailer suggests that it will not shy away from the franchise’s hallmark intensity. The animation style appears to maintain the same level of bloodshed and violence that fans have come to expect from live-action Predator films. Continuing the trend set by Prey, this animated anthology will premiere directly on streaming services. Set to be released on June 6, 2025, it will be available on Hulu and Disney+ for subscribers of the typical bundled package.

In contrast, Predator: Badlands will receive a broad theatrical release, benefiting from the elevated production costs associated with its live-action format. This film marks the return to theaters more than seven years after the last live-action Predator film was shown. Its scheduled release on November 7, 2025, means that Predator: Badlands will hit theaters just five months after Predator: Killer of Killers debuts on Hulu. If the animated anthology finds success, the sci-fi and horror fan communities are likely to be eager for additional Predator content, allowing both films to leverage the heightened interest surrounding their releases.

Exploring the Connection Between Predator: Killer Of Killers and Predator: Badlands

Unveiling the Shared Director and Consistent Rules Across Both Films

Dan Trachtenberg serves as the visionary director behind both Predator: Badlands and Predator: Killer of Killers, which suggests that viewers can expect stylistic similarities and action sequences that reference one another. As both films are integral to the Predator franchise, they will likely adhere to a consistent set of physical and power constraints regarding the Predators themselves. Furthermore, both films will certainly respect the Predators’ honor-based code that governs their hunting practices, ensuring the thematic resonance between the two projects.

However, it seems that there will be minimal overlap between the two projects, which appears to be intentional. During the development of Prey, Trachtenberg explored multiple narrative concepts, and he now has the opportunity to delve into them further. Predator: Killer of Killers serves as a creative exploration of how various human warrior cultures have faced off against the galaxy’s ultimate hunters, while Predator: Badlands is poised to take the franchise in an exciting new direction, with the initial trailer hinting at an interconnected universe between the Predator and Alien franchises.