Does Predator: Badlands Connect to Prey and Killer of Killers? Trailer Clues Revealed

Predator: Badlands is poised to shake up the iconic sci-fi franchise when it hits theaters on November 7, 2025, and fans are buzzing with speculation about its ties to Prey (2022) and the animated Predator: Killer of Killers (2025).

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who revitalized the series with Prey, this standalone film introduces a Yautja protagonist, Dek, and a synthetic human, Thia, on a deadly alien planet.

With promotional materials like the teaser trailer and a striking San Diego Comic-Con poster sparking intrigue, we dive into the clues suggesting how Predator: Badlands might weave into the narrative threads of its predecessors, potentially setting up a grander Predator universe.

Could the Predator: Badlands Trailer Hint at a Prey Connection?

The Predator: Badlands teaser trailer, unveiled at CinemaCon 2025, opens with Thia’s (Elle Fanning) voiceover inside a Predator ship, showcasing trophies that echo the franchise’s hunting legacy.

A fleeting shot of a flintlock pistol—famously seen in Predator 2 and Prey—has fans speculating. In Prey, Naru (Amber Midthunder) receives this pistol from Raphael Adolini, linking it to the Yautja’s Earth hunts.

Its appearance in Predator: Badlands suggests a nod to Prey, possibly indicating that Dek’s hunt connects to the Predators’ historical encounters with humans, including Naru’s triumph in 1719.

The trailer’s setting on Kalisk, dubbed the “Death Planet,” contrasts with Prey’s Earth-based narrative but aligns with the franchise’s expanded universe, where Predators hunt across galaxies.

The presence of the Weyland-Yutani logo, a staple of the Alien franchise, further fuels theories of a crossover, potentially tying back to Prey’s subtle hints of a broader cosmic conflict.

Could Naru’s victory have ripple effects that reach Dek’s story? The trailer doesn’t confirm it, but the pistol’s inclusion feels deliberate.

Is Predator: Killer of Killers Setting Up Badlands with Naru’s Cameo?

Predator: Killer of Killers, released on Hulu on June 6, 2025, ends with a bombshell: Naru, the Comanche warrior from Prey, appears in stasis on a Predator planet, part of an “archive of champions” housing those who’ve defeated Yautja.

This twist, revealed in the film’s final moments, suggests the Predators collect their most worthy adversaries. Directed by Trachtenberg, Killer of Killers connects its Viking, samurai, and WWII pilot protagonists to this archive, hinting at a larger narrative.

In Predator: Badlands, Dek’s quest on Kalisk could intersect with this archive. Promotional materials describe Dek as an outcast seeking the “ultimate adversary,” and speculation abounds that Naru or other archived champions—like Ursa, Kenji, or Torres from Killer of Killers—might appear.

The Badlands poster, revealed on June 16, 2025, shows Dek carrying a damaged Thia, hinting at intense battles that could involve archived warriors. While 20th Century Studios markets Badlands as standalone, Trachtenberg’s history of deceptive marketing (Killer of Killers was sold as a simple anthology) suggests hidden connections.

Does Thia’s Synthetic Nature Link Badlands to the Alien Universe?

A major reveal in the Predator: Badlands trailer is Thia’s identity as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic, a first for a standalone Predator film. Her milky-white eyes and the poster’s depiction of her torn torso—reminiscent of Bishop’s damage in Aliens (1986)—scream Alien franchise crossover.

Killer of Killers also includes Alien references, like a Predator wearing a Xenomorph tail cape, amplifying speculation that Trachtenberg is building toward an Alien vs. Predator revival.

This synthetic connection could indirectly tie to Prey and Killer of Killers. Naru’s stasis in Killer of Killers implies Predators have advanced technology for preserving prey, possibly linked to Weyland-Yutani’s synthetic research.

In Badlands, Thia’s alliance with Dek might stem from shared knowledge of this archive or Predator culture, potentially referencing Naru’s capture. The trailer’s glimpses of “dangerous plant spores” and “tentacles” on Kalisk further evoke Alien’s xenomorphic threats, suggesting Badlands could bridge both franchises while nodding to Prey’s legacy.

How Does Dan Trachtenberg’s Vision Unify the Trilogy?

Trachtenberg’s involvement in Prey, Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands is a key clue to their potential interconnectedness. He’s teased a three-part plan for the franchise, with Badlands as the second piece and a mysterious third project in development.

At a Beyond Fest screening, he confirmed Naru’s Killer of Killers cameo was a deliberate setup for future stories, hinting that Badlands might continue this thread.

The Badlands trailer’s stylistic choices—gritty visuals, a focus on Yautja culture, and influences from Shadow of the Colossus—echo Prey’s innovative approach and Killer of Killers’ bold anthology format.

Promotional materials emphasize Dek’s emotional journey, a departure from the franchise’s typical human-centric narratives, mirroring Naru’s unique heroism in Prey.

If Badlands explores the Predator homeworld (Yautja Prime or Kalisk), it could reveal the archive’s origins, tying back to Killer of Killers’ ending and Naru’s fate.

What Could the Archive of Champions Mean for Badlands?

The “archive of champions” introduced in Killer of Killers is the strongest narrative bridge to Predator: Badlands. Fans theorize that Dek’s hunt for the ultimate adversary might lead him to this archive, where Naru and others are stored.

The Badlands trailer’s depiction of Dek battling a “massive beast” and tentacles suggests he’s facing more than typical prey, possibly archived warriors or engineered creatures tied to Weyland-Yutani.

The Comic-Con poster’s potential spoiler—Thia’s synthetic damage—implies Badlands will push the franchise’s boundaries, much like Killer of Killers’ twist. If Naru or other champions appear, Badlands could become the crossover event fans crave, uniting Prey’s historical grit with Killer of Killers’ cosmic scope.

Trachtenberg’s coy responses about Alien connections and Naru’s role keep the speculation alive, but the promotional material’s breadcrumbs point to a shared universe.

Highlights of Predator: Badlands Connections  

• Release Date: November 7, 2025, in theaters and IMAX.

• Key Cast: Elle Fanning as Thia, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek.

• Director: Dan Trachtenberg, also behind Prey and Killer of Killers.

• Potential Links: Flintlock pistol ties to Prey; Naru’s stasis in Killer of Killers hints at an archive of champions.

• Crossover Clues: Weyland-Yutani synthetic and Alien references suggest a broader universe.

• Setting: Kalisk (Death Planet) and possibly Yautja Prime, expanding Predator lore.

• Promotional Material: Teaser trailer and Comic-Con poster reveal key plot and crossover hints.

Some Closing Thoughts:

Predator: Badlands promises to redefine the franchise with its Yautja-led story, but its promotional materials—a gripping teaser trailer and a revealing Comic-Con poster—suggest it’s more than a standalone tale.

Clues like the flintlock pistol, Thia’s synthetic nature, and the archive of champions from Killer of Killers hint at deep ties to Prey and the animated anthology, potentially uniting Trachtenberg’s trilogy into a sprawling Predator saga.

As November 7, 2025, approaches, fans will keep dissecting every frame for answers.

Will Naru return? Is an Alien crossover imminent? Join the hunt on X and share your theories!