We knew a Predator prequel film was on the way from 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg. Back in July we knew that. A few things are different now. One is, it no longer has the title Skull. The Predator prequel officially has a much cheekier title, Prey. And we also now have a first look at both the title treatment and a really cool image showcasing the time period of this new film. It seems we’re going right the way back; the Hish-Qu-Ten alien species taking on Indigenous warriors. Something like the original movie meets The Revenant.
The title looks exactly like the original title font for the original Predator back in 1986. So that’s cool. The movie will see the Predator facing off against the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. The action-thriller follows Naru, the skilled warrior who fiercely protects her tribe against a highly evolved alien predator. The concept art below shows the giant hunter stalking Naru through a misty, frigid forest.
A recent interview with 20th Century Studios President Steve Asbell also notes more specific information about the setting of this movie. Asbell shares Prey is “A Predator movie set in the Great Plains in 1719.” And also a “big creative swing.”
It looks very cool, and will hopefully bring the terror. Taking the entire concept back to its roots (a lone alien-hunting warrior in a forest) seems the right choice. This time, of course, the warriors don’t have machine guns and grenades, so it could be a bit one-sided. Although we imagine Naru will put up plenty of fight.
An origin tale is certainly a different, but welcome, direction for the franchise. Back in 2018, producer John Davis indicated the franchise’s fourth installment, The Predator, was the first film in a trilogy. However, the film was poorly received by critics and fans alike. Director Shane Black, who appeared in the original Predator film, also caused a major controversy. He hired a longtime friend who is a registered sex offender in a minor role, and didn’t disclose it with the cast, namely Olivia Munn, who appeared opposite the actor. There’s no word as to whether the sequels are moving forward.
Predator’s prequel Prey will premiere in summer 2022.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!
