The first trailer for Predator: Badlands was published last week, and we’re still obsessed with it. Watch it below!
The concept of having a Predator as the hero of a Predator film is intriguing enough but set in a world populated by other species of fierce, deadly aliens. That is just amazing. Nonetheless, these are only the icing on our addiction. The main focus is on the big, maybe world-changing Easter egg 26 seconds in. If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, here you go.
In Predator Badlands, Elle Fanning portrays a character named Thia. She appears normal in the top image, but a half second later, her eyes roll back to show something stunning: the Weyland-Yutani logo.
Weyland-Yutani, of course, is the villainous corporation from the Alien series. The one who believes it is acceptable to kill everyone on the Nostromo to bring the alien back to Earth. The one who sent Marines to “kill” the animals, when in reality they are merely another sacrifice committed to obtain them. The one Ripley messes up by killing herself on the prison planet. Yes, that Weyland-Yutani created Thia.
We know that the corporation does this. Weyland-Yutani also built the other androids featured in the Alien films, such as Ash, Bishop, and Rook. Even in the most current installment, Alien: Romulus, the android character Andy (David Jonsson) experiences a nearly identical moment to the one described above. Remember this?
So, you may be wondering, what’s the big deal? Aliens and Predators have already clashed in numerous films and comic books. Yes, that is true. However, this is the first link between the Predator and Alien franchises in the current, modern era of the movie. And it appears to be happening with care, clarity, and goal. It’s not a coincidence that Andy and Thia share the same eye-roll moment. These feel like the first seeds of an Alien vs. Predator Cinematic Universe, done in such a subtle way that they only have to pay off if fans want them to.
But what exactly does it mean? Here’s when things become interesting. It is uncertain when Predator: Badlands takes place, although if a Weyland-Yutani android appears, it is most likely after or during the events of the 1979 Alien movie. And, if that’s the case, did the company place this android there on purpose? Are they actively looking for additional murderous alien races around the universe? Or did Thia just happen to land in a world full of them?
It would be fascinating if all of the Alien films we’ve seen with Weyland-Yutani (which, it should be noted, are also prominently featured in this summer’s show Alien: Earth) reflected only a fraction of the company’s efforts to obtain alien creatures for research. Perhaps the xenomorph is not the only target. Perhaps one branch of the company is pursuing xenos, another is after Predators, a third is pursuing the massive creatures seen in the Badlands teaser, and who knows what else. Or, if none of it is true, what will the firm do if they discover Thia’s knowledge of such a diverse range of creatures?
Oh, and will this relationship lead to a new film in which Aliens and Predators face off? Could that happen in this exact film? We don’t know the answers to any of these questions, but they’re a lot of fun to ask, which is why we’re so obsessed with the first Predator: Badlands trailer and its thrilling Alien Easter egg. The film premieres on November 7th.
What do you think of the Aliens’ connection in the movie? Let us know in the comments below!
