The Reason Prey 2 Isnt Happening Makes Elle Fannings Upcoming Predator Movie Even More Exciting

Prey 2 has yet to happen for a reason that makes the next Predator movie very exciting. Writer/director Shane Black felt like the perfect fit to revive the Predator movie franchise – especially having played the hunter’s first onscreen victim – but his 2018 sequel The Predator suffered through a messy production and the final film was a letdown. The series then appeared to be on life support, which made the streaming success of Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey all the more startling.

This prequel received great reviews from critics and audiences and established Amber Midthunder’s Naru as a new fan favorite. Prey 2 feels all but inevitable, but it’s unknown when (or if) it will arrive. What is known is that Trachtenberg is returning to the series with the upcoming Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning. A recent report from THR also revealed there is a second, top secret Predator film that Trachtenberg also helmed that will arrive in 2025.

Dan Trachtenberg Choosing Badlands Over Prey 2 Makes The New Movie More Exciting

Predator: Badlands was the more interesting choice for Trachtenberg

Movie boss Steve Asbell provided THR with lots of exclusives on 20th Century Studios’ upcoming slate, including an Alien: Romulus sequel and a potential Speed 3. He also revealed that inspite of the success that greeted Prey, Dan Trachtenberg rejected Prey 2. Instead, the helmer had other pitches he was more excited about.

After Prey became a success, Dan [Trachtenberg] came back and said he didn’t want to do Prey 2. And we’re like, “What do you want to do?” And he rattled off a bunch of ideas that were really crazy but really cool.

While it would have been great to see Trachtenberg back behind the camera for Naru’s next adventure, this Predator: Badlands admission makes the next entry even more exciting. Prey worked so well because it was a simple story well told, stripping the premise back to its essence. If Trachtenberg felt there was no more meat on the bone and was more jazzed about his Badlands pitch, this is excellent news for the franchise.

While most studios would insist on a direct sequel, the director was given the leeway to make the film he wanted. Little has been revealed about Predator: Badlands, other than it involving two sisters making their way through a deserted wasteland and coming face to face with a past trauma; it feels like a safe bet this trauma comes in the shape of the title alien hunter though.

Prey Was Great (But Standalone Predator Movies May Be The Best Way To Go)

Maybe it’s time for Predator to take the anthology route

The Predator films have always been compared to Alien – often unfairly. The latter is considered the classy sci-fi horror franchise, while Predator tends to be rated as the cheaper, B-movie equivalent. The first four Aliens also had Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley to tie them together, while every Predator has focused on new characters and storylines. Prey finally turned the latter into a feature and not a flaw, and set a new template for future sequels.

The issue there is that viewers really connected with Naru and would love to see her return. Great as Prey was, unless the creatives behind it have a solid story for a follow-up, a sequel doesn’t need to happen. Nobody wants a lame, half-hearted Prey 2, and while most studios would have insisted on a direct sequel, they’re opting for a more creative approach. Again, Naru will likely return in some way down the road, but this standalone approach frees the Predator series from being tied to any ongoing plotlines.

Will A Prey Sequel Ever Happen?

Maybe fans need to pray for Prey 2

Predator: Badlands does leave a Prey sequel in a curious spot. It’s possible to speculate that the second, secret film actually is Prey 2, though the fact Trachtenberg directed both makes this doubtful; why would he reject Prey 2 in favor of Badlands, only to make both at the same time anyway? It sounds like the second Predator might be heading to streaming, with Badlands going theatrical instead. This mystery project could take the hunter to another unique era of history, but that’s just guesswork.

While Prey 2 still hasn’t been confirmed, it sounds like 20th Century Studios has the wheels turning on multiple Predator projects. In a June 2024 Deadline feature, it was reported that while Badlands was up next, a Prey sequel was in early development with Amber Midthunder potentially returning. Indeed, Prey’s mid-credits stinger suggested Naru’s battle was far from over, and her defeat of the Feral Predator would likely make her a subject of curiosity for the clan.

Assuming Prey 2 comes together, another question is whether it will go direct to streaming or theaters. It was considered a huge mistake on Disney’s part to bypass a cinema release in favor of making the film a Hulu exclusive, especially considering the praise Prey received. A sequel would need to feel like a bigger event – and a wide release in theaters is the best way to make that happen.

Source: THR, Deadline, The Numbers

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  Badlands is a new entry in the Predator franchise, with the writer and director of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg, returning for this installment. No details on the film exist save for the fact that Badlands will be a standalone entry set during a new period.

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  Prey 2 is the sequel to the 2022 Predator franchise prequel written and directed by Dan Trachtenberg. Details on the film remain unknown. Still, it is expected that Amber Midthunder will reprise her role as Naru – the first time the franchise has ever returned to a prior character as the protagonist.