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Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have a lot to look forward to in 2025. Not only are we getting two new Predator films from Prey director Dan Trachtenberg with the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu offering Predator: Killer of Killers, but we’re also set to receive another major entry in the Alien universe from Fargo and Legion showrunner Noah Hawley with the FX show Alien: Earth. Although these projects are not officially connected yet, fans know that Alien and Predator have a long history as part of a shared universe, with the two iconic monsters crossing paths in numerous films, comic books, and video games.
Examining the latest promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth may provide clues that Disney is laying the groundwork for a new crossover between Alien and Predator. Let’s delve into the developments in these franchises and explore why we might see AVP return to the big screen sooner rather than later.
Evil Easter Eggs ----------------The first teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands already sparked speculation among some fans about a new Alien vs. Predator film. The trailer revealed that Elle Fanning will portray a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with a connection to a new Predator named Dek, who Trachtenberg confirmed as the film’s protagonist. While the inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film might not directly signal an Alien crossover, it becomes more significant with the release of new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.
In the Gestation Complete teaser, multiple Easter eggs relate to Alien lore. We see the black liquid mutagen from the opening of Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth. This leads to an egg sac similar to one seen in Alien: Romulus. The creature that emerges resembles a facehugger but appears mutated. This specimen is found on a ship reminiscent of the Nostromo from the original film, though named the Maginot. It's designated “Species 37” (a potential Mass Effect reference?!) and marked with unknown DNA by the ship’s computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that the show is set two years prior to the events of Alien, this suggests that Species 37 may have alerted Weyland-Yutani to the existence of Xenomorphs.
A related teaser called Crate features specimen containers, with a narrator stating that the ship “collected five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe,” each a unique species. While a classic Xenomorph is visible, the mention of five species suggests an expansion of alien creatures in this universe. Could one of these be connected to the Predators? This aligns with Badlands being set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial monstrosities. Perhaps Elle Fanning’s android was searching for these specimens, or one of these creatures might mutate into something featured in Badlands or Killer of Killers. We'll need to wait for the premiere to confirm, but the possibility of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth is intriguing.Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History
Alien and Predator have been part of the same universe for decades. Their first clash occurred in the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator, followed by a Xenomorph skull Easter egg in Predator 2 in 1990. Numerous AVP comics and video games throughout the 90s solidified their shared universe long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized the concept.
Despite the release of two AVP films in the 2000s—Paul W. S. Anderson’s Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and The Brothers Strause’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007—the series struggled to gain traction due to poor critical and audience reception, despite their box office success. While serialized superhero and science-fiction blockbusters were gaining popularity, not every franchise received the attention needed for long-term success. AVP was treated as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox, despite the iconic films in both the Alien and Predator series.
Ridley Scott’s original Alien is considered one of the greatest horror films, James Cameron’s Aliens is an iconic sequel, and John McTiernan’s original Predator is a top action film of the 1980s. Although the AVP films did not meet the high standards set by these classics, the 2010s saw further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series not continuing beyond Alien: Covenant and Shane Black’s The Predator failing to revitalize the franchise. However, with the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024, both franchises are experiencing a resurgence.
With teasers of upcoming projects, the prospect of a new AVP film feels closer than ever.
AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------We also have to consider that a sequel to Alien: Romulus is currently in development, with director Fede Álvarez attached to return and expressing interest in directing an Alien vs. Predator film. Romulus was a significant critical and commercial success for Disney, revitalizing the franchise while keeping the Prometheus series' elements alive with the Engineer-alike monster in the third act. Cailee Spaeny’s Rain Carradine and David Jonsson’s Andy are in stasis, heading to Yvaga III, which could set up a direct sequel. With Badlands also set in space, there might be opportunities for cameos or Easter eggs hinting at a Romulus connection.
Álvarez recently suggested that the best way to approach an Alien vs. Predator movie would be to surprise the audience:
“The best AVP will be the one that you don’t know is AVP until the other guy shows up,” the filmmaker told Collider. “You think you’re watching a Predator movie, and then they land in some place and there are creatures, and fucking hell, it’s a Xenomorph. That would get me. … Or vice versa, you’re in an Alien movie, and then suddenly a mysterious creature is there, and you can hear that sound, and you see the cloak, and you go, ‘Is that a fucking Predator?’”
The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas
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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP gives hope that a new take on the crossover can succeed where previous attempts faltered. Setting both films on contemporary Earth limited their scope and failed to engage audiences with their characters. The previous AVP films were so poorly received that a relaunch could easily discard them and start anew. With Badlands featuring a Predator as the lead, perhaps Dek could be the hero of a new AVP. Additionally, a new entry could explore the Predalien concept further. What if Engineer mutagen created a being that's part Alien, part Predator, and part Engineer? That would be a terrifying addition to the franchise.
Whatever unfolds with these upcoming projects, both Alien and Predator are in a stronger position than they have been in years. This makes a crossover film between the two almost inevitable, especially given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, these iconic monsters may finally get the epic battle on the big screen that fans have been eagerly anticipating.
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