Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The excitement includes not only two new Predator films directed by Dan Trachtenberg, such as the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers, but also a significant addition to the Alien universe from Noah Hawley, the showrunner behind Fargo and Legion, with the FX show Alien: Earth. While these projects are not officially linked yet, the rich history of the Alien and Predator shared universe, featuring iconic monster clashes in films, comics, and video games, is well-known among fans.
A closer look at the promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth suggests that Disney might be setting the stage for a new Alien vs. Predator crossover. Let's delve into the developments of these franchises and explore why an AVP return to the big screen could be imminent.
Evil Easter Eggs ----------------The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator film. It features Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with a connection to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg as the film's protagonist. Although a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film isn't a direct setup for an Alien crossover, it gains significance with the new promotional materials for Alien: Earth.
The Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth includes multiple Easter eggs tied to Alien lore. It showcases the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, leading to an egg sac similar to one seen in Alien: Romulus. The creature emerging resembles a facehugger but with mutations, contained on a ship called the Maginot, which resembles the Nostromo from the original Alien film. This creature, designated "Species 37," hints at unknown DNA and is marked by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that Alien: Earth is set two years before the events of Alien, Species 37 might have been the catalyst for Weyland-Yutani's interest in Xenomorphs.
A related teaser called Crate features specimen containers and mentions that the ship collected five different life forms from the universe's darkest corners. While a classic Xenomorph is visible, the introduction of five unique species suggests an expansion of the alien roster. Could one of these species be linked to the Predators? This aligns with Predator: Badlands being set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial creatures. Perhaps Elle Fanning's android was searching for these specimens, or one might mutate into a monster featured in Badlands or Killer of Killers. While we won't know until the series premieres, the possibility of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth is intriguing.Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History
The Alien and Predator franchises have been interconnected since the 1989 Dark Horse comic series, Aliens vs. Predator, with their first cinematic clash in 2004's AVP film. The iconic Easter egg in 1990's Predator 2, featuring a Xenomorph skull, further solidified their shared universe. Despite the popularity of shared universes, the AVP films in the 2000s—Paul W. S. Anderson’s Alien vs. Predator and The Brothers Strause’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem—failed to resonate with audiences, despite box office success. The franchises have seen a resurgence with the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024, suggesting a potential revival for a new AVP.
AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------The potential for a new AVP is further fueled by the development of a sequel to Alien: Romulus, with director Fede Álvarez not only returning but expressing interest in directing an AVP film. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while keeping the Prometheus series' elements alive. Álvarez envisions an AVP where the crossover is a surprise to audiences, suggesting a Predator appearing in an Alien movie or vice versa.
The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas
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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP offers hope for a fresh take on the crossover, addressing past limitations. The previous AVP films were constrained by their Earth-based settings and struggled with character development. A new AVP could disregard those films and start anew, with Predator: Badlands introducing Dek as a potential lead for a new crossover. The concept of a Predalien, introduced in earlier films, could be expanded upon, perhaps even incorporating Engineer mutagen to create a hybrid creature.
With both franchises now in a healthier state, the prospect of an AVP crossover seems more likely than ever. Given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling, a new AVP film is a tantalizing prospect. With visionary directors like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, fans might finally witness the epic battle between these two iconic monsters on the big screen.
