Spoilers ahead for the plot and ending of Predator: Killer of Killers.
Dan Trachtenberg has built his career by keeping viewers guessing. His 2022 film “Prey” was, at the time, the most critically acclaimed movie within the Predator franchise. The excitement surrounding it may have been fueled by the fact that its storyline was kept a secret during production – even the inclusion of a Yautja character was hidden. Set in the Great Plains in 1719, “Prey” wasn’t what fans typically associate with the Predator series, and it added to the director’s reputation for defying expectations. Trachtenberg’s next surprise came in October 2024 when it was disclosed that he had been covertly working on another Predator film outside of the already announced “Predator: Badlands,” set to hit theaters this November.
The action-packed bonus movie titled “Predator: Killer of Killers” was released on Hulu on June 6, outshining “Prey” as the top-rated film in the series with impressive reviews. However, viewers seeking a smooth transition to “Predator: Badlands” or any sense of resolution might be left unsatisfied by the enigmatic ending of “Killer of Killers“. Penned by Micho Robert Rutare and co-written with Trachtenberg, the movie concludes in a bewilderingly open-ended manner, which seems unlikely to be addressed in the next film. To add to the confusion, it includes an Easter egg from “Prey“, potentially complicating matters for the franchise as a whole. The ambiguous finale surpasses even the notorious cliffhanger in 2018’s “The Predator“.
Discussing Shane Black’s The Predator and Killer of Killers, directed by Trachtenberg, isn’t entirely fair because many would agree that the animated film is significantly better. In contrast, Prey introduces the concept of Predators across different time periods in a four-part anthology format. Here’s a brief overview:
1. “The Shield,” set in 841 Scandinavia, features a Viking warrior named Ursa fighting against a Predator who disrupts her mission to annihilate a rival clan.
2. “The Sword” takes us to 1609 Japan, where ninja Kenji allies with his estranged samurai lord brother Kiyoshi to combat another Yautja (Predator). This setting has generated much excitement among fans.
3. In “The Bullet,” set during World War II in the U.S., Torres is a fighter pilot engaged in an aerial battle against a Predator starship.
(You can explore fan reactions to the feudal Japan setting by searching “predator feudal japan reddit” online.)
In the latter part of the film “Killer of Killers”, it’s where the movie’s true objective becomes clear. On an unidentified alien planet in what appears to be the future, Ursa, Kenji, and Torres are revived after being held captive for centuries by the Yautja. They discover themselves in a combat arena where they’re ordered by the Warlord Predator to engage in mortal combat, with the victor earning the title of “killer of killers” and securing their escape. Armed with weapons suitable for their respective eras (except Torres’ 18th-century flintlock pistol), they also wear collars that will detonate if they disobey. Notably, the Predator’s instructions can be understood by the captives, but communication between each other is not permitted. As Kenji suggests they should unite against the creature instead of fighting amongst themselves, Ursa launches an attack. It isn’t until the Warlord Predator releases a colossal alien monster to heighten the competition – presumably for the amusement of spectators – that the three humans start cooperating. Torres manages to swipe a hoverbike while Ursa and Kenji slay the beast, and all three then make a beeline for the Warlord Predator’s spaceship.
In “Killer of Killers,” Kenji sustains a grievous injury, losing an arm during their journey, yet he manages to make it onto the ship alongside his new companions. Despite bleeding profusely, they seem to rely on Torres’ piloting skills to guide them towards safety. The complications of being displaced from their own time and stranded in the farthest reaches of space are challenges for a later time.
When the Yautja attack from below, the humans are temporarily prevented from taking off until Ursa selflessly sacrifices herself by cutting the cable with her slide down it, freeing Torres and Kenji to escape. The Warlord Predator then orders the Yautja to pursue the fugitive prisoners.
Ursa is captured and placed back in stasis, joining numerous other Predator combatants — including a familiar face. As “Killer of Killers” comes to an end, we discover that the Yautja have also taken Naru, the main character from “Prey,” portrayed by Amber Midthunder. It appears that after the events depicted in the 1719-set movie, Naru was abducted and has spent centuries trapped on this ship.
In my perspective as a film enthusiast, it’s not entirely shocking that Naru made a silent appearance. The flintlock pistol Torres receives from the Yautja, used in their fight against fellow prisoners, is famously known among Predator fans as the Raphael Adolini 1715 pistol, adorned with an engraving stating its name. This artifact was first seen in 1990’s Predator 2, a token given to Danny Glover’s character, Lieutenant Mike Harrigan, for defeating one of the Predators. In Prey, we encounter Adolini himself, a translator for French trappers who teaches Naru how to use the pistol in return for her medical aid. When Naru slays the Predator, she returns with its head and the Raphael Adolini 1715 pistol to her tribe. However, we know from the earlier movie that this weapon was reclaimed by the Predators at some point within the 278 years separating the two films’ timelines. The final shot of Prey hints at a grand confrontation between the Comanches and the Predators, but it might be that those ships were merely there to whisk Naru (and her prized pistol) away.
The surprising discovery of Naru aboard the vessel at the end of “Killer of Killers” has significant implications for the Predator series as a whole. Previously, we knew from “Predator 2” that Yautja appreciate humans who slay their kind, even presenting them with tokens of respect. However, this latest film suggests that instances like those involving Ursa, Kenji, and Torres are not unique occurrences. Instead, Predators revisit the sites of their atrocities to abduct warriors for future gladiatorial contests. Thus, any survivor from previous Predator films might find themselves in a similar predicament, awaiting reanimation on that same ship.
Reminiscing about iconic figures often leads me to none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, the legendary star of the 1987 ‘Predator’. Over the years, there have been countless whispers about his potential comeback to this thrilling franchise. Though Dutch, our hero from the first film, hasn’t physically appeared since he made his daring escape on a chopper at the end – unless you count the novels or video games, which I suggest taking with a pinch of salt – it’s clear that efforts have been made to bring him back.
Originally, ‘Predator 2’ was meant to feature Arnold alongside Patrick Swayze in a team-up movie, but the idea never fully materialized. Later, rumors swirled about his cameo in 2004’s ‘Alien vs. Predator’, contingent on him relinquishing the governorship of California – an event that didn’t transpire. (A classic case of “whoever wins… we lose”). He was also approached for roles in both ‘Predators’ from 2010 and ‘The Predator’.
Now, with ‘Killer of Killers’, the perfect chance to resurrect Dutch has arisen. Maybe he was abducted during the ’90s, spending years in suspended animation. The fact that Arnold is now several decades older than when he first played Dutch can be effortlessly explained away – or rendered irrelevant if the sequel to ‘Killer of Killers’ also employs animation. Fortunately, Arnold’s signature voice remains unchanged.
At present, these ideas are more like guesses, but they’re being talked about quite a bit. In fact, Trachtenberg himself has commented on them. During a conversation with Polygon, he suggested that Arnold Schwarzenegger, much like other characters from his story, could potentially be in cryo-sleep. To put it another way, while it’s possible, I wouldn’t expect Dutch to reappear soon in the upcoming Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani android teaming up with an outcast Predator. Despite Trachtenberg’s knack for keeping secrets, this particular one seems doubtful.
Instead of focusing on whether it’s realistic or not, one might ask: Is a Dutch appearance in the franchise actually beneficial for it? The phenomenal success of Prey demonstrates that exceptional Predator tales can be self-contained ones. Surprisingly, these films tend to thrive when they exercise restraint. Although fans may yearn for a blockbuster team-up movie featuring actors from previous series, Trachtenberg should stick to his intuition and follow wherever it takes him. It’s not about giving audiences what they want; it’s about providing them with what they truly need.
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2025-06-13 04:54