Alien Vs. Predator 3 Movie Possibilities Teased by ‘Badlands’ Director Dan Trachtenberg (Exclusive)

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Dan Trachtenberg, the director of Predator: Badlands, recently discussed the possibility of making a third Alien vs. Predator movie. He started with the film Prey, then moved into animation with Predator: Killer of Killers, and recently returned to live-action with Badlands. Many believe his deep understanding of the Predator creatures, and his success with three Predator projects, would make him an ideal choice to direct a future crossover between the Alien and Predator franchises.

Look, tackling an Alien vs. Predator movie is a huge challenge, especially since the first two attempts are generally considered the weakest entries in both the Alien and Predator series. But director Shane Trachtenberg seems to have a really solid vision for how to finally deliver a crossover film that actually does these franchises justice. He knows exactly what this movie needs to be, and frankly, it’s encouraging to hear.

I was reading an interview with Dan Trachtenberg, the director of Predator: Badlands, and he talked about the possibility of another Alien vs. Predator movie. He said the really exciting thing wouldn’t be rushing into it, but letting both franchises breathe and develop naturally. He basically wants to see where things go with each universe before even thinking about mashing them together – which, honestly, sounds like a smart approach to me!

Fede Álvarez recently made a playful comment about potentially co-directing a new ‘Alien vs. Predator’ movie with Dan Trachtenberg, and wondered if Disney or 20th Century had ever considered making a full-fledged ‘Alien vs. Predator’ film.

I think the most exciting thing is taking these ideas and letting them develop naturally. We don’t want to rush things and end up with something unfinished. We want to take our time, let it all come together properly, and reach that sweet spot. I’m realizing I’m using a lot of cooking metaphors, and honestly, I don’t even cook!

In Predator: Badlands, a human created by the Weyland-Yutani corporation teamed up with a Predator, but there were no Xenomorphs present.

Trachtenberg shared that he chose to leave out the perfect organism because he wanted Badlands to primarily center on the surprising connection between the synthetic being and the Yautja.

TopMob pointed out the movie features a character created by the same company as the ‘Alien’ films and asked why the filmmakers created a story so similar to an ‘Alien’ crossover, but without actually including any Xenomorphs.

I initially envisioned ‘Prey’ as a story focused on connection. Since the film is largely about one person surviving on their own, I wanted this next story to be about a relationship, especially with the Predator communicating in an unfamiliar language. I wanted to explore its motivations through interaction, since it wouldn’t be able to explain them directly. I considered pairing it with a human, but that would have made the story about the human, and a similar story already exists in ‘Terminator 2’. My goal was to ensure the Predator remained the central character, so I thought pairing it with another monster – a robot – would be a really interesting and fun dynamic.

The director of Badlands went on to describe how Weyland-Yutani influenced the movie’s story. They felt it was more exciting to combine an element from one series with another.

I realized I knew a robotics company that was part of the same media group – owned by Fox and Disney, through 20th Century Studios and Disney. Plus, I’d worked with these franchises before. I thought it would be much more interesting than simply collecting action figures and making them fight. Instead, we could combine elements from different franchises – something that hadn’t really been done before. That’s essentially how the idea developed.

The comic series Predator: Badlands concluded with a hint of future adventures for Dek and Thia. This was set up by the surprise appearance of Dek’s mother, who appears to be seeking revenge for her husband’s death.

When asked if he’d be interested in continuing Badlands and making more Predator movies, Trachtenberg said he’d “love to” and has “plenty more ideas” for future stories.

TopMob is asking if there’s any chance we’ll see sequels to the films ‘Prey,’ ‘Killer of Killers,’ and ‘Badlands,’ as those stories seem to have more to offer.

Dan Trachtenberg hopes the movie is successful, and if it is, he’d definitely be interested in making sequels. He already has a lot of ideas for future installments.

In Predator: Badlands, Elle Fanning plays a synthetic human created by Weyland-Yutani who is stranded on a perilous planet. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamantangi stars as a young Predator trying to earn the respect of his people by hunting a seemingly invincible creature. The film was released in theaters on November 7, 2025.

Why Dan Trachtenberg Is the Perfect Director for an Alien vs. Predator Movie

Dan Trachtenberg has a strong track record, including work on three Predator movies (you can find a guide to watching them in order here), which makes him a good choice to possibly direct a future Alien vs. Predator film.

According to recent statements to TopMob, Trachtenberg understands what it takes to make a crossover movie work. He believes the key is to avoid rushing it, ensuring the eventual event feels natural and earned.

Although Predator: Badlands isn’t a direct crossover, director Trachtenberg skillfully included elements from the Alien universe, giving us a glimpse of what a true Alien vs. Predator film could be like.

Past Alien vs. Predator films focused more on action than a good story. Giving director Shane Trachtenberg the chance to make the next crossover would be a great move, particularly after he successfully made audiences care about a young Predator in Predator: Badlands. If he directs, he could bring depth and humanity to both the Xenomorphs and the Yautjas, potentially making a third Alien vs. Predator movie much better than the previous two.

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2025-11-20 21:37