Disney’s ‘The Predator: Badlands’ – Is This the End of the Franchise?

by

Let me get this out of the way right now. The Predator: Badlands trailer is trash.

Watch:

I actually laughed out loud while watching it.

This comment on the YouTube trailer sums up my feelings…

The end of this trailer is not as impressive as 20th Century Studios thinks it is.

— ebaster.ru (@BleedingFool) April 23, 2025

It’s been proposed that the predator appears so human-like because it might be a crossbreed of humans and predators created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation from the Alien series. This idea aims to combine both franchises since Alien: Earth is set in a world where these two species might coexist… frankly, the details beyond that aren’t particularly important.

Alex Gherzo from Geeks and Gamers might have expressed it clearly when he referred to Predator as a “dying franchise“. A franchise that’s still moving, but not for much longer.

Alex says:

I’d rather see the ‘Predator’ franchise disappear. The movies after ‘Predator 2’ aren’t great (except for ‘Prey’, which I haven’t seen because ‘The Predator’ was so disappointing that it dampened my enthusiasm for watching more of these films; it’s the only Shane Black film I don’t enjoy), and while it’s unlikely they’ll stop making them due to their brand recognition, eventually some of these intellectual properties will have to be allowed to die out.

I couldn’t agree more.

A significant aspect that added to the appeal of the first Predator film was its reliance on real-life effects. Viewers seemed to be right there in the jungle alongside Dutch and his troop of soldiers. The emotions they experienced – pain, despair, and fear – mirrored those of the characters as they were pursued by a more advanced extraterrestrial predator.

The trailer for Predator: Badlands appears to be an overload of CGI that aligns well with Disney’s past Predator film, Prey. Frankly, it’s a pattern seen in most recent Disney productions, featuring a uniform CGI and exaggerated visual style that borders on comical at best or dull at worst. Regrettably, this undermines the potential of the Predator franchise, which had an opportunity to thrive as many classic titles have faded away.

The Real Franchise Savior

Among the timeless franchises that contemporary screenwriters aspire to maintain – such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Terminator, and any 80s TV show – Predator had the most promising potential, not due to the film Prey, which fans and critics highly praise, but a title I found to be excessively overrated.

The 2010 film “Predators” had its strong points, but it seems that many respected critics I follow have overlooked the problematic elements such as poor execution, weak performances, and overused female leadership tropes that are prevalent in modern cinema. To clarify, I’m referring to the movie, not the newer releases like “Prey” or “Predator: Badlands,” which some people erroneously associate with the resurgence of the Predators franchise.

Alex expresses disagreement because he found the exaggerated expressions of predators in the film “Predators” to be foolish, but personally, I believe that “Predators” came remarkably close to embodying what an ideal predator movie should be, considering its exceptional cinematography, special effects, evoking a sense of claustrophobia, well-developed characters, and immersive world.

In case you’ve forgotten, the movie titled “Predators” featured Adrien Brody as a character named Royce. This film was helmed by Robert Rodriguez. Royce is portrayed as a soldier who finds himself unexpectedly dropped into an unfamiliar jungle via parachute. Once he regains his bearings, Royce comes to the realization that he’s not the only one there. An assortment of risky individuals join forces in an effort to stay alive, all while being pursued by ruthless predators.

The individuals joining forces with Royce include an Israeli marksman, a drug cartel associate, a Russian soldier wielding a minigun, a Yakuza member, an African mercenary, a condemned prisoner from death row, and what appears to be an ordinary man dropped into the world seemingly at random. Despite their unfamiliarity with this jungle environment, they deduce that they are the hunted on a planet designed for hunting when they discover signs of previous human inhabitants.

The team needs to live through predators using diverse hunting strategies. Notably, one innovation introduced by these predators in the series is the multiple factions among the warring Predator species, which appears to be a key element that “Predator: Badlands” is aiming to replicate.

But why do it again, when it was already done well fifteen years ago?

The Future?

The film titled “Predators” was known for its dark, realistic, and brutally violent scenes, primarily using practical effects. It boasted a captivating ensemble of characters, who were not stereotypically one-dimensional but rather complex individuals with diverse backgrounds. From the start, all survivors were competent, dangerous, and distrustful of each other, creating tension and mystery as you got to know them better. Some characters you may find dislikeable at first, while others you may grow to appreciate despite their questionable pasts. Regrettably, “Predators” underperformed financially and was considered a box-office flop. However, with the Predator franchise now venturing into zombie territory under Disney’s management, it might be worth revisiting this film.

Although I might be mistaken, Prey surprisingly turned out to be a minor success for Disney. As far as my knowledge goes, Predator: Badlands could potentially be the sequel to Predators that I’ve been anticipating. Seeing how Predators concluded, there was definitely room for a follow-up, and in the coming months, we might discover that Predator: Badlands originated from that ending.

One can hope, but I am not holding my breath that Disney can get this right.

Did you notice that the initial three Predator films and the final trilogy of Alien movies seemed to surpass their respective more recent installments?

— ebaster.ru (@BleedingFool) April 24, 2025

1. Take a look at my thrilling superhero novel titled “Fiasco of Adventures” right over here or here. Don’t forget to visit my site, TheMegacosm.com!

2. Swing by and read my exciting superhero book, “Fiasco of Adventures,” which you can find either here or here. Be sure to check out TheMegacosm.com as well!

Read More

2025-04-25 18:30