Disney Unveils 15-Minute Preview of ‘Predator: Badlands’ at Comic-Con

Disney pulled out all the stops for the Predator: Badlands preview at Comic-Con, revealing an intense first 15 minutes of the film. The throng of 6,500 sci-fi enthusiasts were also treated to surprise cameos by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover in the animated Predator movie, and were even gifted Predator masks to take home. This thrilling sneak peek was part of a panel discussion packed with exclusive insights into the upcoming instalment of the rejuvenated Predator franchise.

– Disney previewed the first 15 minutes of ‘Predator: Badlands’ at Comic-Con, featuring a cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover, and gave away 6,500 Predator masks to the audience in Hall H.
– The latest installment, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, explores the Predator in a protagonist role for the first time, following an alien named Dek who fights for his life and honor on a hostile planet; the film also highlights the new digital artistry used to express nuanced emotions on the face of the Predator.
– The movie, which follows on from the successful Hulu/Disney+ animated feature ‘Predator: Killer of Killers,’ is set to be released in theatres on November 7.

Disney gave an explosive preview of Predator: Badlands, showcasing a high-octane 15-minute sneak peek of the forthcoming science fiction adventure movie to an eager audience at Comic-Con.

The panel also included a surprise appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover, whose roles are being introduced into the animated Predator movie starting today. The presentation concluded with each attendee, a staggering 6,500 strong, in the spacious Hall H being gifted a Predator mask.

At the Predator: Badlands presentation, every single one of the 6,500 fanboys and fangirls present in Hall H was gifted a Predator mask, driving the point home; we are all Yautja.

The upcoming Predator installment is already creating quite a stir within the franchise thanks to the much-needed freshness injected by filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg. The movie follows the successful release of Predator: Killer of Killers, the critically acclaimed adult animated feature that was released on Hulu/Disney+ in June, directed by Trachtenberg.

Dan Trachtenberg, once an enthusiastic attendee at the Comic-Con during his early podcasting career, admitted that being in Hall H was a dream realized. Trachtenberg recalled witnessing several historic Hall H moments as a geek community member, including the 2007 first Iron Man trailer reveal and the notorious pen stabbing incident of 2010. He also shared that he felt immensely honored to join a panel hosted by Kevin Smith, a Comic-Con regular since the ’90s and a director who played a major role in popularizing geek culture.

Explaining his excitement at presenting his movie at Comic-Con, Trachtenberg said he’d always felt it had to be “something that mattered.” Indeed, the preliminary footage of Predator: Badlands was in high demand by the audience, despite some unfinished visual effects shots and a temporary music score.

The movie’s opening sequence, translated from the alien language for human audiences, reveals two Predator brothers locked in combat on an alien planet. One brother, Dek, is regarded as the weakest link in his kin and should be eliminated as per the norms of their clan. However, when the elder brother fails to kill him, their father intervenes, leading Dek to a strange planet where he must fight for survival and honour.

Elle Fanning plays a synthetic being who becomes an unlikely ally to the Predator. Trachtenberg compared her role to that of Chewbacca and C-3PO in the epic Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back, noting it was unique to see a Predator as the protagonist. Both Fanning and Predator actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi shared interesting anecdotes about their filming experience, which mostly unfolded in the picturesque wilderness of New Zealand, often in eel-infested trenches.

FX artist Alec Gillis joined them on stage, explaining how he and Trachtenberg approached the creature’s face, which has always been challenging to recreate. This time, they opted for digital technology to achieve delicate emotional expressions.

Predator: Badlands is set to hit theatres on November 7.