Elle Fanning is known for being a chameleon actress, but for the upcoming “Predator” franchise installment “Predator: Badlands,” the star had to transform into multiple roles.
Director Dan Trachtenberg told Empire that Fanning was pushed “dramatically, physically, [and] logistically” during production.
“She faced intense challenges on this movie — dramatically, physically, logistically,” Trachtenberg said.
While the details of “Predator: Badlands” are still under wraps, we do know that Trachtenberg and Patrick Aison were behind the story for “Badlands,” with Aison penning the screenplay. The feature will be released by 20th Century Studios and is set in the future.
Trachtenberg previously directed “Predator” prequel “Prey,” which debuted on Hulu. “Prey” took place in 1719 and followed an Indigenous woman (Amber Midthunder) who fought for survival against alien invaders.
Trachtenberg told Empire that “Predator: Badlands” will instead have the alien creature “front and center, leading the charge” for the follow-up.
“He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too,” Trachtenberg said. “Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.”
Trachtenberg continued that he wanted to “find another essential piece of cinema that does what ‘Prey’ did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting us root for a hero we rarely get to root for — but in a different way. And that transformed into this big idea of rooting for the Predator.”
The “Predator” franchise began in 1987 with the titular movie that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, late actor Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura. A trio of sequels followed, released in 1990, 2010, and 2018, as well as 2004 spin-off “Alien vs. Predator.”
Tratchenberg told IndieWire in 2023 that “Prey” set out to combine “period and sci-fi and survival stories, and making a movie that could primarily be told through action with little to no dialogue.”
He added at the time, “There’s no George Lucas for the ‘Predator’ franchise. ‘Predator,’ to its great effect, was very slim on lore. That was the whole point: that we barely knew much about this thing. So it’s a unique franchise in that way.”
Prior to battling aliens, “Predator: Badlands” lead star Fanning will appear in Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” alongside Timothée Chalamet. Fanning portrays Sylvie Russo, with Chalamet as Dylan.
