The Predator Movie Everyone Always Wanted To See Is Finally Coming Out After 38 Years

In the closing moments of Predator 2, Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) has just killed the Yautja plaguing Los Angeles when he comes face to face with another group of extraterrestrial warriors. But these Yautja seem to respect him, with one of them even giving him an antique flintlock pistol. It was a moment that sparked debate among fans of the original Predator: How long have the Yautja been coming to Earth?

Other stories, particularly Dark Horse Comics’ various miniseries, would attempt to explore the history of humanity’s conflict with the Yautja. But Prey would be the first Predator movie to actually explore one of the first Yautja to hunt mankind…and now director Dan Trachtenberg is finally delivering upon the promise of the Yautja’s bloody history with the upcoming Predator: Killer of Killers.

‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Will Explore Different Eras of Yautja Combat

Predator: Killer of Killers is taking a page from anthology series including Star Wars Visions and Love Death + Robots, focusing on three different periods of time: a Viking warrior who takes her son on a mission of vengeance, a duel between two brothers — one ninja, one samurai — and a World War II pilot fighting a seemingly invisible enemy. This is building upon the promise Prey brought forth, showcasing how different warriors across different time periods would fight a Predator. It also means that the Predators might be behind some of the myths and superstitions that mankind has shared over the years. During World War II, pilots would often blame engine failure on “gremlins,” mysterious creatures that wrought havoc upon their equipment. What if the pilot in Predator: Killer of Killers learns that what he thinks is a “gremlin” is actually an intergalactic hunter out for blood?

The voice cast of Predator: Killer of Killers also has a unique link to the Predator franchise, as Louis Ozawa has been confirmed to have a role. Ozawa previously appeared in Predators as Yakuza enforcer Hanzo, who faced off against a Predator in a swordfight. This one scene fired up fans’ imaginations, especially with how well-crafted and pulse-pounding it was, and I was one of them. An entire movie of samurai battling against Predators would have been truly amazing, but Predator: Killer of Killers is bound to fulfill fanboy dreams with its samurai vs ninja vs Yautja segment. It might even explore a potential connection to Hanzo, based on Ozawa’s role.

Dan Trachtneberg Is Just As Passionate About ‘Predator: Killers of Killers’ As the Fans Are

If fans are excited to see Predators battle across history in Predator: Killer of Killers, Dan Trachtenberg is definitely ready to bring it to life. He was actually working on two Predator movies simultaneously; while doing production on Predator: Badlands, Trachtenberg and co-director Joshua Wassung were also working on Predator: Killer of Killers. Trachtenberg discussed the logistics of this with Bloody Disgusting, confirming that doing two movies back to back is indeed as hard as it sounds:

“We were writing the script for [Killer of Killers] while we were prevising stuff on [Badlands], and then [once on location] in New Zealand, on the way to shoot [Badlands], we would remote with everyone back here and [watch footage] thanks to Starlink. This all was like a game of hopscotch…That was dumb. I hope I don’t do it again.”

Despite the crazy logistics of bringing Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands to life at the same time, Trachtenberg was genuinely excited about continuing to deliver a unique approach to the Predator franchise. In particular, he highlighted the fun of doing “hard R crazy carnage” in an animated format. Predator: Killer of Killers has a setup that’s perfect for future Predator stories, meaning that the possibilities are endless. Future filmmakers could let a Predator loose in the Crusaders, or have a Yautja in the Wild West for a Predator-themed western. Between his three Predator projects, Dan Trachtenberg has given the franchise the jolt of life it needs – and a direction it should definitely follow in the future.

‘Prey’ and ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Highlight What Draws the Predators to Earth

Prey billed itself as “the Predator’s first hunt on Earth” in its promotional material, and it ended with Naru (Amber Midthunder) emerging victorious...but also teasing the arrival of more Yautja to Earth. Predator: Killer of Killers picks up this plot thread and runs with it, showcasing that the Yautja are drawn to Earth because of the challenge it offers. It’s not surprising: as the decades pass by, humanity grows more and more proficient in warfare — meaning bigger targets for the Yautja to hunt. The Predator franchise does tend to focus on some of the world’s deadliest killers, whether it’s the mercenaries in the original Predator, the group of hardened killers in Predators, or the warriors populating Predator: Killer of Killers; the fight for their lives is merely sport for the Predators. Predator: Killer of Killers once again delivers the unexpected when it comes to the Predator franchise, but that’s what keeps it fresh and exciting. If it’s received well, it could lead to even more stories in the Predator universe…and with the idea of Predators battling history’s deadliest warriors, there’s no telling where a future movie could go.

Predator: Killer of Killers premieres on Hulu on June 6.

Predator: Killer of Killers

Release Date

June 6, 2025

Director

Dan Trachtenberg, Josh Wassung

Writers

Micho Robert Rutare, Dan Trachtenberg