Predator: Badlands – The Mandalorian-Like Movie You Didn’t Know About

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Okay, so The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t hitting screens until May 2026, which feels like ages away. But here’s a fun fact: Disney has already given us a little Mandalorian fix! They quietly released Predator: Badlands, which essentially functions as a secret Mandalorian movie. Honestly, it’s been almost two years since season three wrapped, and we’re still waiting for any real news about season four. It feels like we haven’t seen Din Djarin and Grogu in forever, and Badlands is definitely helping to tide fans over until the main event.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Din Djarin and Grogu, but Disney hasn’t abandoned them. They’ve quietly released a new movie, Predator: Badlands, that feels very similar to The Mandalorian. If you’re eager for more adventures with Din and Grogu, this movie can help tide you over!

Predator: Badlands Feels Like A Mandalorian Movie

Although Predator: Badlands and The Mandalorian aren’t connected, the film captures the feeling many fans wish The Mandalorian movies had. The similarities are striking: both main characters, Dek and Din Djarin, belong to warrior clans with strong traditions, battle massive alien creatures using unique weapons—even a laser sword—and are accompanied by caring companions.

You can find echoes of The Mandalorian in almost every aspect of Predator: Badlands. Bo-Katan Kryze is similar to the character of Bo, Grogu parallels Bud, and the Kalisk creature is essentially a Mythosaur. Both stories also share a common theme: their main characters learn the importance of empathy and friendship. While there are some differences – particularly in what motivates Din and Dek, and a few plot twists – the connections between the two are clear. Badlands feels a lot like an extended episode of The Mandalorian with some elements rearranged.

I’m being completely serious. Think about an episode of The Mandalorian where the Armorer sends Din Djarin on a quest to kill a Krayt Dragon to prove himself to the other members of the Children of the Watch. That’s basically the entire story of Predator: Badlands, just with the names changed. The way Predator: Badlands ended even suggests a path to building a similar, expanding series for Predator, much like The Mandalorian has done for Star Wars.

Both Predator: Badlands and The Mandalorian share a similar appeal. They both blend action, adventure, and science fiction, and both successfully refreshed well-known franchises. Essentially, Predator: Badlands delivers the kind of exciting, adventurous sci-fi experience that The Mandalorian could aim for.

The Mandalorian And Predator: Badlands Draw Inspiration From Similar Sources

As a fan of both The Mandalorian and Predator: Badlands, I’ve noticed they share more than just a similar feel. It’s fascinating to learn they both drew inspiration from video games too! Dan Trachtenberg, who directed Badlands, has said Shadow of the Colossus was a big influence on his film. And Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, has talked about how Star Wars video games helped shape the show, even going so far as to use Unreal Engine to build some of its incredible environments.

Both shows clearly drew inspiration from Westerns and science fiction. According to Trachtenberg, Badlands took cues from films like Clint Eastwood’s Westerns and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (Bloody Disgusting). Similarly, Favreau directly stated that the character Din Djarin was modeled after Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name from the Dollars trilogy (Entertainment Weekly). Essentially, Badlands and The Mandalorian share a very similar style and feel.

Both Predator: Badlands and The Mandalorian followed a similar pattern of creating fresh stories within existing franchises. Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, drew inspiration from Westerns and samurai films—just like George Lucas did with the original Star Wars. Similarly, the director of Predator: Badlands probably wasn’t heavily influenced by previous Predator films, and both shows stand out as being quite different from other entries in their respective series.

Predator: Badlands Is A Welcome Change To The Predator Formula

Like The Mandalorian, Predator: Badlands significantly impacted its own franchise. The Mandalorian was a game-changer for Star Wars, launching a new era of live-action TV shows, revitalizing the popularity of Mandalorians—making them more prominent than they’d been in years—and offering a fresh approach unlike anything Star Wars had done before.

The comic Predator: Badlands marked a turning point for the franchise by portraying the Yautja as heroes for the first time. It shifted the focus more towards action, moving away from the horror elements of earlier stories, and is helping to revitalize the Predator series. Like The Mandalorian did for Star Wars, Badlands offered a refreshing new take on the established formula.

Predator Projects Released By Disney
Predator
Prey
Predator: Killer of Killers
Predator: Badlands

Past Predator films typically feature a Yautja hunting humans (or sometimes Xenomorphs) before ultimately being defeated. Badlands breaks from this tradition by portraying a Yautja as the hero. This change makes the film feel new and engaging, transforming it from a repetitive story into a genuinely good action thriller.

As a critic, I really appreciated how The Mandalorian stepped away from the huge, overarching Star Wars conflicts – the Jedi vs. Sith, the Empire vs. Rebellion. It wasn’t about saving the galaxy; it felt more like a series of exciting, self-contained adventures, which is exactly what Star Wars needed after The Rise of Skywalker. Now, I’m hoping Predator: Badlands takes a similar approach – focusing on thrilling, individual stories rather than a massive, complicated saga.

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2025-11-26 02:49