Badlands Confirming No Xenomorph Appearance Is Smart

After Prey masterfully revived the Predator franchise in 2022, we’re rapidly approaching the series’ grand return to the big screen with Predator: Badlands. The movie has been subject to plenty of speculation and theories, with one of the film’s wildest theories suggesting that a Xenomorph from Alien will appear.

This belief stems from the surprise reveal that Elle Fanning’s character Thia is a synthezoid/android from the popular horror sci-fi franchise. Since Alien and Predator have crossed over repeatedly throughout the years, most notably in the two Alien vs. Predator movies, it became more plausible that the Yautja could cross paths with a Xenomorph once more.

The theory suggested that the unkillable creature the movie’s Yautja protagonist, Dek, is searching for could be secretly be the iconic Alien creature. Director Dan Trachtenberg has recently confirmed that there is no Xenomorph in Predator: Badlands, debunking one of the film’s wildest theories.

The idea of a Xenomorph appearing in Predator: Badlands was enticing on paper. It seemed like a chance to bridge the franchises together further and give audiences a real shock when seeing it in theaters. Preserving that surprise was part of the reason I thought Badlands spoiled Thia’s android status in the marketing.

But now that Trachtenberg has confirmed Predator: Badlands has no Xenomorphs, it’s actually a relief.

Predator: Badlands Never Needed A Xenomorph Crossover

There are plenty of reasons to be excited for the new film beyond the possibility of the Alien monster appearing. Trachtenberg showed he can expertly reinvent the franchise with Prey, plus Predator: Killer of Killers. He’s taken a stale IP in exciting new directions at every turn.

The focus on the Yautja protagonist is fresh, as is the android team-up. Slipping in a Xenomorph appearance may have felt rushed and like a desperate attempt to shock audiences.

Prey was a great new entry in the series that utilized its few franchise connections wisely. Badlands doing something similar, even as it has Alien connections, is better than it being a stealth AvP movie that’s hyperfixated on crossovers.

Disney is only a few years into reviving both of these properties individually, after all. With Prey and Alien: Romulus setting both franchises up for continued success, there should be plenty of time to have a Yautja and Xenomorph fight — or team-up — in the future. There’s no reason it had to happen right now.

Additionally, Trachtenberg is smart to get out ahead of this theory as the movie’s final stage of marketing begins ahead of its November release. Having theories about movies is part of the fun of being a fan. They’re mostly harmless, but there’s also the chance that some will be let down when theories they believed were true don’t happen.

By debunking the possibility of a Xenomorph appearance, everyone can stop theorizing about this possibility and move on. Proper expectations can be set for how Predator: Badlands will interact with the Alien brand. There might not be a Xenomorh in this movie, but it could still help lay the groundwork for the anticipated crossover to happen in another project.