Summary
- Predator franchise expands with the first animated film, Predator: Killer of Killers, featuring a new story premise and spectacular visuals.
- The trailer for Predator: Killer of Killers showcases lifelike animation with subtle emotions, reminiscent of Netflix’s Arcane.
- Director Dan Trachtenberg revives the Predator franchise by returning to its roots with intense storytelling.
On June 6, fans are getting another treat from the Predator franchise. Predator has continued to expand and will give its ardent supporters brand-new content and, the first of its kind.
Predator is a series of science fiction action films centered around an alien species known as the Yautja or commonly known as Predators. The first movie from the franchise Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was released in 1987. The franchise released four more movies — Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010), The Predator (2018), and Prey (2022). There were also two crossover films, Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). The franchise has expanded into many forms, including comics, novels, and video games. Disney just made a new announcement that would surely please anime lovers.
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There have been reports that two Predator movies will be released this year. The first is Predator Badlands, starring Elle Fanning and directed by Dan Trachtenberg (Prey). The second was kept a secret but was finally revealed on Tuesday. 20th Century Studios announced an original animated action-adventure film, Predator: Killer of Killers. The film will premiere on June 6, 2025. The studio also dropped the trailer and shared a logline, which read:
The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent – the ultimate killer of killers.
Trachtenberg will helm the animated movie with Josh Wassung from animation company The Third Floor. Micho Robert Rutare wrote the script and worked with Trachtenberg for the story based on the characters designed by Predator screenwriters Jim Thomas and John Thomas. The Thomas brothers have been involved in the franchise. They co-wrote Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990). John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Trachtenberg serve as producers, while the Thomas siblings, Lawrence Gordon, and Stefan Grube will executive produce.
Predator: Killer of Killers is the first animated project from the franchise, and it received a thumbs-up from fans. The plot centered around Predators hunting warriors and soldiers, is something fans have wanted to see following the success of Prey. So, this is like a dream come true for those looking forward to witnessing a similar encounter. Also, the Predators featured in the trailer come from different eras and look superior. Some fans are even inclined to bet on predators over their human prey this time.
The trailer also looks amazing and gives off an Arcane vibe. It successfully conveys subtle emotions, including facial twitches and eye movement, making it easier for the audience to connect to the characters. The animators behind the film are doing a great job because the animated characters have lifelike movements. The different eras in the movie are also similar to the Assassin’s Creed periods. AC Shadows (feudal Japan), AC Valhalla (Viking era), and AC Syndicate (WW1). This might not make sense to some, but the trailer has this rich historical setting that makes it easy to remember Assassin’s Creed. Predator: Killer of Killers is bringing back the franchise to its roots and fans are excited about it. Trachtenberg, who is directing the movie, has made a major contribution in bringing back the elements that made the first films in the franchise a hit. Some fans lost interest in Predator, especially in the latter films, like The Predator (2018). However, Trachtenberg’s Prey seemingly gave the franchise a reboot by delivering an intense survival story featuring grounded characters and a terrifying Predator threat. It captured the franchise’s “hunter vs. hunted” feeling, which is also noticeable in Killer of Killers.
Predator: Killer of Killers premieres on June 6, 2025.
- Release Date
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June 6, 2025
- Director
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Dan Trachtenberg, Josh Wassung
- Writers
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Micho Robert Rutare, Dan Trachtenberg
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