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It’s been hectic, frantic and downright involving over the last month as I’ve been moving and starting the next phase of my life, but I wanted to backtrack and talk about some rather cool Intel that was unveiled last week in regard to the new Predator film Badlands coming once again from Prey director Dan Trachtenberg. Not much has been released about the newest entry in the ongoing franchise except for the fact that Elle Fanning has been cast and that production is now underway in New Zealand. Trachtenberg has promised one hell of a wild ride with this one and that they’re doing some far out things but here’s one aspect that might excite fans or alienate them. Drum roll please…
Get ready to root for the Predator!
That’s right fandom, the intergalactic bounty trophy hunter in this one is going to kick some major ass for the forces of good. In an interview with Empire, Trachtenberg broke the news that essentially will turn the franchise on its head.
“The creature is front and center, leading the charge. He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.” The idea for Predator: Badlands essentially came from Trachtenberg’s ultimate feelings to “find another essential piece of cinema that does what Prey did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting us root for a hero we rarely get to root for — but in a different way. And that transformed into this big idea of rooting for the Predator.“
Trachtenberg also said that the creature will be front and center and will lead the charge. “He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.” The idea, he says, came from a desire to “find another essential piece of cinema that does what Prey did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting us root for a hero we rarely get to root for — but in a different way. And that transformed into this big idea of rooting for the Predator.”
He’s still going to be badass. Whew! That is a relief. For a minute this was going to be a rom-com. Crisis averted.
Fanning will be playing a dual role in the movie as twin sisters Thia and Tessa and will be the central theme of the story along with the big guy. The vague synopsis reads: “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.” It’s also being reported that the timeline for the film will transpire in the future.
We all know that the Predator turned semi-good in the first AVP film as he helped out Sanaa Lathan’s character of Alexa Woods as well as a few snippets of goodness in Shane Black’s The Predator but this sounds different and that the iconic alien will be solid throughout. I’m intrigued and do think that this is a nice switch up to make the franchise fresh again so we shall see.
Aside from Prey and now Badlands, Trachtenberg is also directing a mysterious Predator project that will hit before Badlands, and it’s being said that it will be an animated anthology film. I mentioned in a previous article that one of the animated shorts should be a return for Arnie’s Dutch and that the action star should lend his voice to it. A rematch is always what the fans have wanted, and this could make it a reality and look sensational as an anime.
Source: Empire
Are we rooting for the Predator because of the giant spiders and other monstrosities Australia has?