"Death Planet" Named in New Predator Film, Director Draws Inspiration from Shadow of the Colossus

The debut trailer for *Predator: Badlands* has ignited a flurry of questions among fans, particularly regarding the design of the new Predator. In an insightful interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg shed light on several new details about the film, including his innovative approach to the iconic sci-fi hunter.

The new Predator, named Dek, is brought to life by actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Described as an underdog Yautja "runt," Dek takes on a protagonist role, a departure from the typical portrayal of Yautja as antagonists in previous Predator movies. Dek's hunting ground is the "Death Planet" Kalisk, where he battles to prove his worth to his father and gain acceptance within his clan.

Dek's design marks a significant shift from previous Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, aligning with his "runt" status. *Predator: Badlands* centers on Dek's journey, but he is not alone on Kalisk. He teams up with a character portrayed by Elle Fanning, whose appearance, as discussed by IGN, strikingly resembles a synth from the Alien franchise, complete with the Weyland Yutani logo in her eyes.

The dynamic between Dek and Fanning's character draws inspiration from the 2005 PlayStation classic, *Shadow of the Colossus*. Trachtenberg shared, "As inspired as I am by movies, I’ve been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection." He highlighted the emotional impact of the protagonist's relationship with a horse in the game, noting that it influenced the portrayal of Dek alongside Fanning's character, who contrasts him with her talkativeness and unique capabilities. Trachtenberg is excited for audiences to witness Fanning's character's physical prowess, which he believes will speak volumes.

While Trachtenberg remained coy about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he teased, "There’s a unique hook to her character that is exciting in the pairing of [her and Dek]."

*Predator: Badlands* is set to launch on November 7, 2025. Fans can look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, *Predator: Killer of Killers*, which will be released in June.