The Hunt Moves to Hall H: Everything We Learned from the “Predator: Badlands” SDCC 2025 Panel

The Hunt Moves to Hall H: Everything We Learned from the “Predator: Badlands” SDCC 2025 Panel

The atmosphere in Hall H was electric on Friday, July 25, 2025, as 20th Century Studios officially staked its claim on the future of the Predator franchise. Fresh off the surprise success of the animated Predator: Killer of Killers, director Dan Trachtenberg took the stage to pull back the curtain on his next live-action vision: Predator: Badlands.

Accompanied by stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Trachtenberg proved once again that he is the primary architect of the “Yautja-Renaissance.” Here is a breakdown of the biggest reveals from the panel.

A Predator as the Protagonist

The most shocking confirmation of the night was the film’s narrative perspective. Unlike every entry in the franchise since 1987, the human is not the hero.

• The Lead: Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi plays Dek, a young Yautja “runt” who has been exiled from his clan.
• The Arc: Trachtenberg described the film as an “emotional and visceral journey” where the audience is meant to connect with the Predator.
• The Inspiration: The director cited Mad Max in The Road Warrior and Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” as the blueprints for Dek—a silent, ferocious antihero who is more “protagonist” than “villain.”

Elle Fanning’s Synthetic Secret

While rumors had swirled about Elle Fanning’s role, the panel confirmed she is playing Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani android.

“Reading the script, what really drew me in was the heart… there are no humans. I’m a synthetic android, he’s a Predator. But there’s so much humanity in these characters.” — Elle Fanning

In a visual nod that had the crowd cheering, Trachtenberg revealed that the inspiration for Thia being strapped to Dek’s back in certain scenes was the iconic image of Chewbacca and C-3PO in The Empire Strikes Back.

The Footage: First 15 Minutes

Fans in Hall H were treated to the opening sequence of the film, which established the setting: the “death planet” Genna.

• World Building: The footage showcased a vibrant, lethal jungle environment filled with “spike pods” and apex predators that make the Yautja look like the underdogs.
• New Tech: We saw Dek utilize an energy-based grapple to scale cliffs and a speeder bike that bridges the gap between the tribal feel of Prey and the high-tech future of the franchise.
• Family Conflict: The sequence introduced Dek’s brother, Kwei, and their father, the clan leader Njohrr, establishing a Shakespearian family drama that ends with Dek’s exile.

The “Killer of Killers” Connection

The panel didn’t just focus on the future; it addressed the present. Trachtenberg confirmed that the animated film Predator: Killer of Killers (currently on Hulu) would be updated with a new post-credits scene.

This scene features the return of franchise legends: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch and Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan, who are revealed to be held in cryo-stasis alongside Naru from Prey. This bombshell suggests a “multi-era” crossover might be on the horizon.

As the panel concluded with a surprise appearance by a live Predator performer stalking through the aisles of Hall H, the message was clear: the hunt has evolved. Predator: Badlands isn’t just another sequel; it’s a complete reimagining of what a Predator movie can be.

The hunt begins in theaters November 7.