That’s Not What We Want To Do."
The film’s deliberate focus on one of the Yautja necessitated some natural changes to the filmmaking approach.
Chief among them was the language barrier that exists, as the Predators have never been portrayed speaking English.
“We decided to really treat that properly.”
We did it the way that The Lord of the Rings does Elvish or Game of Thrones does Dothraki.
Except with those, there’s more of a precedent.
Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore
So we decided to make it with intentions."
“We completely developed the language.
Everything they’re speaking has actual rules and structure and all that was written as verbal.
Early on, we just did explorations with concept art of what we could do.
“I thought we… should have a sliver of that, but not let the movie be that.
That’s not what we want to do.This is an invention of the premise.
Looking back at the filming process,Trachenberg revealed that Schuster-Koloamatangi was a perfect pick for the film.
“We thought we would want a stunt guy.
It’s a very specific kind of person who isn’t often a trained stuntman.
They just happen to be that size and they decide to get into this business.
This was the first time I was like, ‘Oh!
He was just so cool.
We set up a little physical obstacle course, and he did that.
Then he did some dramatic stuff from the movie, and it was awesome.
I was not prepared for it all.”
[Yautja] have got these mandibles and stuff.
We just discovered the other day, whenever Demetrius blinks, we might want to see the Predator blink.
We might just want the eyebrow movement.
I Wanted To Give People A Brand New Thing.”
Then, when we started words, we started enjoying the words we were writing.
But it was still quite minimal.”
I wanted to give people a brand new thing.
Hopefully, that will be enjoyed.
One of the most mysterious elements ofBadlandsis the inclusion ofElle Fanning’s Thia, who the trailer somewhat teases.
“You have a protagonist that is paired with someone else that provides color and connection.
I was a little inspired by that, in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else.
This kind of character, the opposite of him.
He’s very laconic, she’s not.
She’s capable in ways he’s not.
Dan Trachtenberg acknowledged something likePredator: Badlandswas a “big swing.
“However, that’s also exactly the kind of film Trachtenberg believes needs to be in theaters.
“I think we’re in a time where this kind of movie is what drives butts in seats.
People are like, ‘I want to have an experience that I’ve never had before.’
I wanted to give people a brand new thing.
Hopefully, that will be enjoyed.”
Predator: Badlandsis scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 7, 2025.
