The Predator franchise has long been known for its iconic villains, but in the latest installment, "Predator: Badlands," the creature takes center stage as the hero. Director Dan Trachtenberg flips the script on the traditional formula by making the Predator the protagonist and leaving human characters out of the picture altogether.
Elle Fanning stars alongside newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in the film, with Schuster-Koloamatangi playing Dek, a Yautja warrior whose face is never seen due to CGI facial capture. The two actors bring their unique perspectives to the role, with Fanning drawn to the project's bold direction and Trachtenberg's passion for world-building.
For Fanning, the appeal of "Predator: Badlands" lies in its willingness to challenge conventions and push boundaries. She praises Trachtenberg's vision, calling it a "big swing" that will surprise audiences. Schuster-Koloamatangi, on the other hand, is drawn to the film's action-packed sequences and the opportunity to showcase his physicality as a Yautja warrior.
The actors discuss their experiences working with digital creatures and the obstacles they faced in bringing Dek to life. They also share their thoughts on how "Predator: Badlands" recontextualizes the franchise, particularly when it comes to the Predator's character development and relationships with other creatures.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is its connection to previous installments. Director Trachtenberg has confirmed that many characters from older films will make appearances in the new movie. For Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi, this raises questions about which characters might still be alive or interact with Dek in interesting ways.
Ultimately, "Predator: Badlands" marks a fresh start for the franchise, one that prioritizes action, suspense, and emotional depth. With its bold direction and strong performances from Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi, this film is poised to shake up expectations and leave fans eagerly anticipating what's next for the Predator universe.
Elle Fanning stars alongside newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in the film, with Schuster-Koloamatangi playing Dek, a Yautja warrior whose face is never seen due to CGI facial capture. The two actors bring their unique perspectives to the role, with Fanning drawn to the project's bold direction and Trachtenberg's passion for world-building.
For Fanning, the appeal of "Predator: Badlands" lies in its willingness to challenge conventions and push boundaries. She praises Trachtenberg's vision, calling it a "big swing" that will surprise audiences. Schuster-Koloamatangi, on the other hand, is drawn to the film's action-packed sequences and the opportunity to showcase his physicality as a Yautja warrior.
The actors discuss their experiences working with digital creatures and the obstacles they faced in bringing Dek to life. They also share their thoughts on how "Predator: Badlands" recontextualizes the franchise, particularly when it comes to the Predator's character development and relationships with other creatures.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is its connection to previous installments. Director Trachtenberg has confirmed that many characters from older films will make appearances in the new movie. For Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi, this raises questions about which characters might still be alive or interact with Dek in interesting ways.
Ultimately, "Predator: Badlands" marks a fresh start for the franchise, one that prioritizes action, suspense, and emotional depth. With its bold direction and strong performances from Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi, this film is poised to shake up expectations and leave fans eagerly anticipating what's next for the Predator universe.
! I mean, who wouldn't want to see a Predator as the hero? It's like we've never seen that before 
. The fact that they're focusing on Dek's journey and letting him take center stage is really cool. I love how Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi are on board with this new vision 
. And can you imagine the possibilities for future films? Maybe we'll see a Predator who's not just killing humans, but also fighting for its own people or trying to make amends for past mistakes 
. I'm definitely here for it 
!
. And Elle Fanning is already selling me on her Instagram posts 
, but what really got me excited is that Dek's character sounds so intriguing... I need to know more about this Yautja warrior 
. Can we get a behind-the-scenes look at how they brought him to life? I'm also loving the connection to previous installments - it's like they're giving us Easter eggs galore 
!
It's refreshing to see the Yautja warrior take center stage and I love how Elle Fanning is stoked about the bold direction 
. And can we talk about Dek's face not being seen? I'm intrigued by that 
. The way it recontextualizes the franchise and brings back characters from older films? Mind blown 
. Bring on the action, suspense, and emotional depth! 
. I mean, a whole movie where the Predator is the hero? How original. And it's like they're just gonna ignore all the other characters we care about? 
It's all about Dek now and how he's got some kinda existential crisis or whatever. I guess if you want to watch a movie with a lot of explosions and CGI, this might be your thing... but for me, it's just another reboot that's gonna leave fans feeling lost in space 
. also super intrigued by the connections to older films, it's gonna be sick to see what kind of cameos they can fit in 
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i love that he's putting the yautja warrior at the center of it all - Dek is literally the coolest villain ever! 
as for the connections to older films, i am SO here for any cameos or Easter eggs that might be hidden in there... can you imagine what kind of reactions we'd get from fans if characters from previous movies started popping up in dek's universe? 
The fact that they're leaving human characters out of the picture is kinda cool, it allows us to really focus on Dek and his world. Elle Fanning seems like she's totally on board with this bold direction and I love that Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi gets to showcase his physicality as a Yautja warrior 
. The fact that they're challenging traditional formulas and pushing boundaries is exactly what I need more of in movies - it's about time we got a fresh start for the Predator franchise! 
- it's like, who wouldn't want to see more of that awesome alien tech and fierce warrior vibes? And Elle Fanning & Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi are literally perfect for their roles - they bring so much energy and intensity to the film! I love how director Dan Trachtenberg is pushing boundaries and taking risks with this movie, it's like he's saying "screw the norm" 
And Elle Fanning's thoughts on the film being a "big swing" had me curious, too... will it pay off or fall flat? I'm also wondering how they pulled off that CGI facial capture thing with Schuster-Koloamatangi - did it feel like a total cop-out to you? 
!