Predator: Badlands Director On Elle Fanning’s Partnership…

Summary

Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg said the video game, Shadow of the Colossus, inspired Thia and Dek's dynamics.
Thia and Dek's unexpected partnership is set on the "Death Planet" named Kalisk.
Thia and Dek's relationship in Badlands mirrors successful pairings seen in video games and films like The Iron Giant.

Predator: Badlands is coming out later this year. After watching its trailer, many were thrilled, and the director just shared more details about the two lead characters.

Predator: Badlands is only one of the Predator movies that will hit theaters this year. The other anticipated film is Predator: Killer of Killers, the first animated feature from the science fiction franchise . Dan Trachtenberg directs both movies. Predator fans love his work in Prey and approve of the upcoming films after watching their trailers. According to them, Trachtenberg has brought back the elements that attract the audience to the Predator franchise. After dropping the trailer for Badlands, Trachtenberg shares more details about the dynamics of its two characters, Thia (Elle Fanning) and Dek (Dimitrius Koloamatangi).

Predator: Badlands Trailer Features Sneaky (And Potentially Exciting) References To Two Other Sci-Fi Movies

20th Century Studios has dropped the first official trailer for the anticipated Predator: Badlands starring Elle Fanning.

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By Catherine Armecin Martin

The Predator: Badlands longline reveals that the movie is set on a "Death Planet" called Kalisk, where a young predator, Dek, finds an unexpected ally in Thia, a Weytani-Yutani android. In an interview with Bloody Disgusting, the filmmaker discussed Thia and Dek's relationship. He shared the inspiration that led him to give the Predator an unlikely partner in the film. "I've been very inspired by video games [like] Shadow of the Colossus, where you have a protagonist paired with someone else who provides color and connection," he explained. According to the director, the horse Agro's relationship with Wander moved him to give the Predator in Badlands a similar ally. Agro is not just a mode of transportation but also serves as a friend and emotional support for Wander, the main protagonist, who is entirely alone in the desolate world. Even if Agro is just an animal, she shows her unwavering loyalty to Wander by carrying him on his dangerous journey without hesitation. Later in the game, she sacrifices herself to save Wander. Fortunately, she survives but is left injured.

The Relationship Between Elle Fanning's Thia And The Young Predator Dek Will Be Key To Predator: Badlands' Story

Trachtenberg decides to apply the same dynamics to Thia and Dek's relationship in Predator: Badlands. He also teased that Thia is a character who is the "opposite" of Dek. However, their differences only complement each other. For instance, he is "laconic" and she's not. She can also do the things he can't. In fact, Trachtenberg is excited for fans to see what Thia can offer. However, he doesn't want to speak about it because he wants them to see those elements instead.

She's capable in ways that he is not.

The director of Predator: Killer of Killers is making history by introducing an unlikely alliance between two characters in the Predator franchise. However, this approach is not new and is usually effective. The family science fiction film The Iron Giant, released in 1999, also introduced a similar technique. It paired Hogarth Hughes, a curious and brave young boy living in a small town during the Cold War, with The Iron Giant, a huge alien robot weapon designed for destruction but capable of learning and showing gentleness. Hogarth taught the Giant compassion and morality, and the latter taught the former about sacrifice and trust. Their contradiction not only paved the way for growth but also presented gut-wrenching emotional stakes.

The same connection can be expected in Thia and Dek in Predator: Badlands. Per Trachtenberg, the two are opposites, but their differences help them fill their partner's weaknesses. What one can't do, the other can accomplish, making them a formidable pair. Fans can expect the themes of friendship, trust, and cooperation from two different creatures in Badlands, a noticeable departure from the franchise's traditional boundaries. And this only makes the film all the more exciting.