Arnold Schwarzenneger at least had modern-day weaponry when he battled a technologically advanced alien in 1987. How long would he have survived with his wits as his main advantage? The next installment in the Predator franchise asks us to consider this question. Hulu’s official trailer for Prey brings a fierce Comanche Nation warrior face-to-face with the intergalactic invader, although he won’t have his most famous weapon. The Predator prequel Prey will pit mankind against the iconic, dangerous villain once more.
Prey comes from director Dan Trachtenberg (The Boys, 10 Cloverfield Lane) and writer Patrick Aison (Jack Ryan). The film will give the Predator franchise a whole new perspective in more ways than one. It takes place three centuries before the original installment in the series. And it will introduce a new hero to the story. Here’s the movie’s official synopsis:
Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.
“It lives to hunt…” The ominous reminder flashes through the trailer. But our hero Naru is ready to hunt right back, though she won’t be taking on small prey. And she knows how to survive. Not to mention, she’s fighting to protect those she loves. And that will always give you the edge.
Trachtenberg recently shared, though, that the Predator would not have his iconic weapon of destruction, the plasma caster. He shared with Empire, “The primary thing that I wanted to remove was the plasma caster. Just because it just felt like such an instant win button. I wanted to make sure that that the fight could be as exciting as possible without stripping it of its advantages. He doesn’t have all the tools that he has in the in newer movies. But he does have awesome new gadgets for people to see.” We’re excited to see this slightly fairer fight unfold.
Filmmaker and Sundance Fellow Jhane Myers (Monsters of God) serves as a producer on the Predator prequel. Myers is also a member of the Comanche nation. And the film, which Hulu says is “an accurate portrayal of the Comanche” with an “authenticity that rings true to its Indigenous peoples,” features a cast “comprised almost entirely of Native and First Nation’s talent.” That includes Amber Midthunder (The Ice Road, Roswell, New Mexico), newcomer Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp (Sooyii), Michelle Thrush (The Journey Home), and Julian Black Antelope (Tribal).
Additionally, A release shares that “Prey will be available on Hulu entirely in Comanche as a language option, or with Comanche subtitles, which is the first time a feature-length movie on a direct-to-consumer streaming platform has been available in the Comanche language in its entirety.” These are amazing options for the movie to offer.
The odds for anyone surviving an encounter with a Predator are long. But after going up against such skilled warriors we might learn why none of them attacked Earth for another three centuries afterward.
At least you won’t have to go hunting for this film. Prey comes to Hulu exclusively on August 5.
Originally published on May 16, 2022.