"Badlands Director Reveals 'Death Planet' and New Predator Details"

The debut trailer for *Predator: Badlands* has ignited a flurry of excitement and questions among fans, particularly regarding the design of the new Predator character. In a revealing interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shared fresh insights into the film, including the unique design and backstory of the new Predator, Dek.

Dek, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is a Yautja "runt" who takes on the protagonist role—a departure from the typical portrayal of Yautja as antagonists in previous Predator movies. Dek's mission takes him to a "Death Planet" named Kalisk, where he aims to prove his worth to his father and gain acceptance within his clan.

Visually, Dek stands out with a more human-like appearance and a smaller stature than the iconic Predators seen before, aligning well with his underdog status. *Predator: Badlands* centers on Dek's journey, but he's not alone on Kalisk. He teams up with a character played by Elle Fanning, whose appearance has sparked speculation about connections to the Alien franchise, given the Weyland Yutani logo seen in her eyes.

Trachtenberg drew inspiration from the 2005 PlayStation game *Shadow of the Colossus* for the dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character. He highlighted the emotional depth of the protagonist's relationship with a companion in the game, likening it to the bond between Dek and Fanning's character. Trachtenberg teased that Fanning's character offers a stark contrast to Dek's laconic nature, being both talkative and capable in unique ways.

While Trachtenberg remained tight-lipped about the specifics of Fanning's character and any direct connections to the Alien universe, he hinted at an exciting and unique hook to her character that complements her pairing with Dek.

*Predator: Badlands* is set to launch on November 7, 2025. In the meantime, fans can look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, *Predator: Killer of Killers*, which will be released in June.