The Predator Actually Looks Good Again In The Trailer For New Movie Set 300 Years Ago
We have high hopes for this one.
Predator is one of the more interesting science fiction franchises out there — interesting that it continues to endure in spite of seemingly unanimous agreement that all of the theatrical installments after the inaugural 1987 film have failed to live up to their potential. The last effort — 2018’s The Predator directed by Iron Man 3‘s Shane Black — was a critical bomb and a commercial “meh.” But today Hulu premiered the first trailer for the next chapter in the sci-fi/horror saga, Prey, and it does not look bad at all.
At not quite 45 seconds long, the video preview is barely more than a teaser, but it still manages to bring you back to the suspense of that late ’80s classic with Arnold Schwarzenegger and his band of doomed commandoes. Rather than hunting xenomorphs or soldiers from the 20th or 21st centuries, in the new Predator movie, the eponymous alien will be hunting way back in the 18th century. You can watch the trailer for Prey below.
Prey is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, and will mark his second time in the director’s chair for a feature film. If that worries you, don’t let it — he may have only directed one other film, but it was the acclaimed 10 Cloverfield Lane, which boasts both science fiction and horror elements just like the best and worst Predator films. Not to mention his resume includes directing episodes of The Boys and Black Mirror. The screenplay was written by Patrick Aison, whose other writing work includes Tom Clancy’s Jack Reacher and, on the horror side of things, Wayward Pines.
The woman in the trailer facing off against the Predator is Naru, played by Amber Midthunder. Fans of FX’s Legion will remember Midthunder as Kerry Loudermilk — the more physically formidable half of the existence she shared with the brainier Cary Loudermilk (Bill Irwin). Comic Book describes Naru as a “fierce and highly skilled warrior,” and a member of the Comanche Nation who will ultimately be the one to confront the alien hunter. The site also notes that considering the time and setting, the filmmakers were dedicated to delivering a faithful and accurate portrayal of the Comanche of the time, and the cast is almost exclusively made up of “Native and First Nation’s” actors. Along with Midthunder, Prey will star Stormee Kipp (Sooyii), Michelle Thrush (Pathfinder), Julian Black Antelope (Debris), Stefany Mathias (Only on Mondays), Dane DiLiegro (American Horror Stories) and newcomer Dakota Beavers.
When the film now known as Prey was first announced in December 2019 it was known instead as Skulls and was billed as following “a Comanche woman who goes against gender norms and traditions to become a warrior.” Trachtenberg was reportedly hoping to market the film without revealing it was a part of the Predator franchise — much like how 10 Cloverfield Lane‘s connection to 2008’s Cloverfield was initially a mystery — but by 2020 the proverbial cat was out of the bag.
Prey will stream on Hulu starting Friday, August 5. While it will technically be a prequel to the rest of the Predator films, it will reportedly not directly reference any of their events. Besides, you know. Having someone from the same freaky alien species hunting people down and murdering them.
