In this episode of the Heroes Reforged Podcast, we sit down with director Dan Trachtenberg (Prey, 10 Cloverfield Lane) to talk about his bold new vision for the Predator universe in Predator: Badlands. Dan opens up about the expectations of making another Predator movie after Prey and Killer of Killers, and the massive creative leap of making the story’s main protagonist a Yautja—a Predator. We discuss how this shift changes the perspective of the hunt, and what it reveals about the franchise’s deeper mythology.Dan also breaks down key visual effects moments, the themes of masculinity and honor woven into Yautja culture, and the intricate process of maintaining creative consistency across the Alien and Predator timelines. He shares how he collaborated with Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez and Alien: Earth creator Noah Hawley to make sure both universes feel cohesive yet distinct. It’s an in-depth, passionate conversation about storytelling, legacy, and the evolution of cinematic monsters.

CHAPTERS

0:00:00 - Like & Subscribe

0:00:29 - Predator Premiere Experience

0:03:32 - The Pressues of Making a Movie

0:06:02 - Predator Tie-In Media

0:11:29 - "Toyetic" Movies

0:14:39 - The Mythical Third Predator Idea

0:17:16 - Predator in Multiple Theatrical Formats

0:19:04 - VFX and Sound Design

0:20:31 - Possibilities of a Yautje Dub

0:22:04 - Reworking the Movie in Post-Production

0:26:06 - Practical Suit and VFX

0:27:35 - Themes of Masculinity

0:35:45 - Taking Bold New Swings

0:39:00 - Incorporating the Alien Franchise

0:40:22 - Expanding the Fanbase

0:41:46 - The PG-13 Rating

0:45:48 - "What if he throws it?" Collaborative Filmmaking

0:48:53 - Working with Fede Alvarez and Noah Hawley

0:55:22 - What's Next / Did Dan's Parents like the movie?

0:56:55 - What to Expect on the 4K UHD Blu-ray

1:00:25 - Thanks to our Patrons