Disney Plus Day, a celebration by the studio of its two-year streaming anniversary, has brought about an exciting amount of announcements. One is the news that its new Predator movie, a prequel, is set to release in summer 2022 and has been given its official title.
The last Predator film came out in 2018 and was panned by critics and fans alike. Filming for the new Predator movie wrapped in September and was shrouded in secrecy with very few details revealed. For a time, the feature was shot under the title Skulls, but it was revealed today that this was not its final title.
Disney announced the new Predator film is officially called Prey and will premiere in the summer months next year. It is an origin story set in Comanche Nation some 300 years ago and centers on a female warrior, Naru, defending her tribe against an alien predator. Earlier this year it was announced that indigenous actor Amber Midthunder would star as the lead in the fifth Predator film. Disney has not made it clear whether Prey will drop in theaters, just that it will be available to stream in the US on Hulu and on Star internationally, which would be a first for the series.
The journey for this latest entry has not been an easy one. Earlier this year, Disney found itself mired in legal troubles with the original writers, Jim and John Thomas, attempting to take back the rights to the Predator franchise themselves. This, along with the poorly received previous film, means this upcoming prequel has a lot riding on it. Characters have never been Predator's strong point, with even Arnold Schwarzenegger's Major Dutch Schaefer failing to move past his one-dimensional nature. But some are seeing the focus on a strong central character with clear motivation as an exciting move. Moreover, the inclusion of an indigenous actor at the helm of a series that has always been hugely influenced by Native cultures is a promising sign.
The Predator series has been hit and miss with its numerous entries, despite being such an iconic franchise for 30 years. 10 Cloverfield Lane's Dan Trachtenberg was announced last year as the director for this upcoming Predator film. But with only one feature film in his arsenal, an episode of Black Mirror, and a handful of short films, Trachtenberg's inclusion could be seen as a risky choice. Yet some have argued that a fresh vision is needed for a franchise that is risking becoming stale, and which had such a disappointing previous entry. Add to that the reported five years of conceptualization for the movie that Trachtenberg went under and Prey could give the series a vital lift.
Despite doubters and detractors, the Predator films have grossed $750.8 million at the global box office, proving their inescapable appeal to movie-goers. While no entry in the series may reach the heights of its 1987 debut, it looks like Prey has a fighting chance. Fans will have to wait until next summer to find out for sure.
Prey is set to release in Summer 2022.
Source: Deadline