Badlands’ thought about bringing Naru back

The universe of ‘Predator’ is about to expand once again with ‘Predator: Badlands’the new installment directed by Then Trachtenbergwho already revitalized the franchise with ‘Prey’ (2022). However, before completing this ambitious project set on a remote planet, the filmmaker had a completely different plan in mind: bringing back Naru, the heroine played by Amber Middle Dogs. In a recent interview, Trachtenberg revealed that his first version of the film would have functioned as a direct sequel to ‘Prey’but finally discarded that idea to follow an unprecedented course within the saga.

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Why did Dan Trachtenberg decide to leave out Naru?

During a conversation with the site ScreenTimeTrachtenberg explained that his original plan called for Naru to return as a companion to the new protagonist, a young Yautja named Dek. In his words:

“I did think about the possibility of pairing (Naru and Dek) before it was Thia.”

The director admitted that he developed that idea before the role was rewritten for Elle Fanningwho plays Thia, an android for the Weyland-Yutani corporation. However, he decided to abandon the concept because it contradicted the central focus he wanted for ‘Predator: Badlands’:

“I really wanted to use the premise of the Predator as the protagonist, and have no humans in the movie.”

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That decision marked a radical change from previous installments, where humans were the axis of the story. Trachtenberg insisted that he wanted ‘Badlands’ would show the Predator not as a monster or villain, but as the main character of his own story, even if that meant leaving behind the potential reunion with Naru.

A Predator protagonist and an uncertain future for the franchise

In the same conversation, Trachtenberg confirmed that the Predator would be the absolute focus of this new installment, set on a distant planet where Dek, a hunter exiled from his clan, finds an unexpected ally in Thia. As he explained, this story had to be built without human presence, with a more introspective and symbolic vision of hunting, honor and survival.

The filmmaker also spoke with ComicBook.com about his “endgame” for the saga, comparing his vision with Marvel’s strategy to build its cinematic universe:

“In my opinion, the success of The Avengers was that it was not the first or second MCU film. We spent time developing the connection with the characters and their individual stories, making sure each film was interesting and had compelling premises of its own.”

For Trachtenberg, the key is that each delivery of ‘Predator’ have your own identity before thinking about a major crossover between characters. He added:

“So, if we ever did something where things collided, it would be after we had met them and connected with them in their own individual stories.”

When compared to Kevin Feigethe person responsible for the architecture of the MCU, the director responded modestly:

“I take it as a compliment because I think Kevin Feige is a genius and what he has created is unprecedented in the history of cinema. So far I have only made a couple of good Predator movies and I hope to make a third. We’ll see how it goes.”

Will there be a future for Naru in the ‘Predator’ universe?

Although Trachtenberg made it clear that Naru is not part of ‘Badlands’did not completely rule out his return. In fact, he hinted that he might explore that possibility later, when the universe of ‘Predator’ have a broader base and established characters. For now, their priority is to develop new stories that expand the mythology of the Yautja and their relationships with other species, including synthetic ones like Thia.

The director also mentioned that his new film could be key to a future crossover between ‘Alien’ y ‘Predator’especially because ‘Badlands’ officially introduces Weyland-Yutani, the emblematic corporation of the ‘Alien’ saga. This seems to confirm speculation that 20th Century Studios could be building a shared sci-fi universe where both monsters coexist.

Meanwhile, ‘Predator: Badlands’ It will be the first film in the franchise in decades to be released directly in theaters and not on streaming, unlike ‘Prey’ y ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’which debuted on Hulu. Their success will determine whether Trachtenberg can continue with his long-term vision or if the future of the Yautja will take another path.

With information from Sci-Fy & Fantasy Gazette.

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