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This week has seen its fair share of casting announcements with Nicholas Galitzine being ushered in as the new He-Man in Amazon MGM’s Masters of the Universe reboot and Chris Hemsworth enlisting for the highly anticipated G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover film. Needless to say, I was excited for the latter and disappointed in the other but now we have another bit of casting news to share with you and it concerns the next Predator franchise flick Badlands.
It would appear that Elle Fanning, who is best known for more artsy films like The Great, The Neon Demon, and Super 8, is in active negotiations to star in director Dan Trachtenberg’s latest Predator flick Badlands. With the enormous streaming success of Prey which hit Hulu in 2022 during the pandemic, it would appear that 20th Century Films is keeping the female centric action trope alive and well as Fanning would take up the mantle from Amber Midthunder who rocked it in Prey as a Native American warrior who took on a feral Predator and kicked its ass.
Prey crushed it on Hulu in 2022, with Trachtenberg and Midthunder unleashing what could be considered the best Predator movie since action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger headlined the original 1987 original. Unfortunately, plot details are non existent for Badlands although some are saying that it could take place in the future. It’s also unclear whether Badlands will hit theaters or debut on the streaming service Hulu although as Alien: Romulus was once staged for streaming but is now hitting cinemas, Badlands will probably follow suit.
Trachtenberg also wrote the new, stand-alone Predator pic and while Prey starred Midthunder and a cast of relative unknowns, sources say that they are looking for established talent this time around and Fanning is a fan of the franchise.
A direct sequel to Prey is still in the works as well although that film is in the very early stages of development. Midthunder would most likely reprise her role in the follow up. Badlands is a standalone entry and will have no bearing on Prey.
I’m really not that familiar with Fanning but she is definitely a legit acting threat so hopefully she’ll put the work in being a fan of the franchise and deliver in the film’s action set pieces. Time will tell.
Source: Deadline
