Producer reveals “holy grail of the Predator movies” but fans aren’t so sure

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The new Predator film, Badlands, has been released, but some fans are worried about where the series is headed. This concern comes after a producer discussed what they consider the ultimate goal for the franchise.

The film centers on Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Predator seeking to impress his people by tracking an seemingly invincible beast on a deadly planet. He unexpectedly teams up with Thia (Elle Fanning), an android from the Weyland-Yutani corporation – making this a crossover event with the Alien franchise.

Badlands breaks from the other Predator films by being set far in the future, unlike more recent installments like The Predator (2018) and Prey (2022).

Producer Ben Rosensblatt shared that they’ve been talking about bringing back a highly sought-after element from the series, but fans have mixed feelings about the idea.

Producers want Arnold Schwarzenegger back to play Dutch Schaefer in live action

It’s not a shock that the creators of the new Predator movie, Badlands, are hoping to bring back Arnold Schwarzenegger as his original character, Dutch. He already made a brief appearance as an animated version in a previous Predator film, Killer of Killers.

According to producer Rosenblatt, getting Arnold Schwarzenegger to reprise his role in another Predator movie is a top priority. He told Deadline that they’ve always hoped to bring him back to the franchise, as both he and the film have become legendary.

Arnold and Dan have met a few times, and he seems genuinely interested in our work. He’s told me he’s a fan of what we’ve accomplished so far.

We’re looking forward to seeing how people react to Predator: Badlands. After that, we’ll discuss future possibilities, and we’re hoping we can work with Arnold Schwarzenegger again – that would be fantastic.

Although producer Joel Silver wants Arnold Schwarzenegger to return, many fans seem hesitant. One fan responded to the news with a skeptical, “An 80-year-old Arnold? Oh boy.”

Another added: “It would have to be an animated movie, he’s like 100 years old.”

Another fan hopes the series continues to evolve and doesn’t revisit the past, saying, “Please don’t bring Schwarzenegger back. Let director Trachtenberg create his own vision for the future.”

Dutch isn’t the only Predator character that could return in the future

Dan Trachtenberg originally wanted to bring Amber Midthunder back for ‘PREDATOR: BADLANDS’

— ScreenTime (@screentime) November 3, 2025

In a recent interview with TopMob, director Dan Trachtenberg discussed the future of the Predator franchise, hinting at a larger, interconnected story. He suggested that characters like Naru, played by Amber Midthunder, could reappear in future installments.

Similar to how Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character was shown in stasis at the end of Predator, Naru was found frozen at the conclusion of Prey. It looks like the Yautja—the Predators—have been preserving powerful enemies they’ve battled throughout history.

It’s uncertain what will come of this storyline, but it seems to be building towards a large-scale conflict, similar to the one in Killer of Killers. Maybe the Yautja are assembling a team of powerful warriors, potentially setting the stage for the Alien vs. Predator movie fans have always wanted.

While we wait for news about the next Predator movie, check out how characters from the Alien vs. Predator universe might fare against a Predator, and discover some of the greatest action films ever made.

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2025-11-05 14:19