Dan Trachtenberg directed 2022’s “Prey,” 20th Century’s nifty straight-to-streaming “Predator” spin-off. It was a word of mouth hit on Hulu and even had some folks wondering why it didn’t get a theatrical release that summer.
Following the success of “Prey,” 20th Century is moving forward with their next ‘Predator’ movie. Trachtenberg’s “Badlands,” which stars Elle Fanning, has started filming in New Zealand. This is said to be a standalone pic in the franchise.
Plot is being kept under wraps, but a casting call has leaked online and we have some details about what the story might be about (via AVPGalaxy):
A groundbreaking film in which one of the two main storylines delves into the intricate bond of two very different sisters, their familial ties are put to the ultimate test as they pursue divergent paths and missions. We’ve previously heard that the story is set sometime in the future.
It is unknown whether 20th Century plans to again stream this one exclusively on Hulu — 2022’s “Prey” broke viewership records for the streamer. I would bet that they’ll be giving this one a theatrical run next summer.
I’m glad that Trachtenberg is now getting these gigs. His debut, 2016’s “10 Cloverfield Lane,” was an impressive feat in tension — it also featured one of John Goodman’s very best performances. You can just sense a good filmmaker by the way a shot is structured, or a scene is composed, and Trachtenberg just has it.
Trachtenberg, who also has “Prey 2” is development, had previously hinted that “Badlands” would be released in 2025. Production on the film is set to continue until November.
Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.