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.
Analyzing the latest promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth may reveal that Disney is setting the stage 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 has already sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator film. The trailer introduced Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with a connection to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg to be the film’s protagonist. While a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film doesn’t necessarily confirm a crossover, the significance grows with the new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.
In the Gestation Complete teaser, several Easter eggs related to Alien lore are visible. We see the black liquid mutagen from the opening of Prometheus, which is used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth. This leads to an egg sac strikingly similar to one seen in Alien: Romulus. Although the creature emerging from it resembles a facehugger, it appears mutated. This specimen is contained on a ship resembling the Nostromo from the original film, but named the Maginot. It's designated as “Species 37” and marked as having unknown DNA by the ship’s computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that the show is set two years before the events of Alien, this suggests that Species 37 might be what first alerted Weyland-Yutani to the 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 shown, the presence of five species suggests an expansion of the alien roster. Could one of these species be linked to the Predators? Given that Predator: Badlands is set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial creatures, it’s plausible that Elle Fanning’s android could be searching for these specimens. There's potential for one of these monsters to mutate into something featured in Badlands or Killer of Killers. While we won’t know for certain until the premiere, the presence of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth wouldn’t be surprising.Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History
Alien and Predator have been part of the same universe since before many fans might remember. The first AVP clash occurred in the 1989 Dark Horse comic series, Aliens vs. Predator. The following year, Predator 2 included an Easter egg with a Xenomorph skull on the Predator’s trophy wall. Throughout the 90s, numerous AVP comics and video games further entrenched the shared universe concept, long before it became mainstream with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite early attempts with 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 lukewarm critical and audience reception, despite box office success. While superhero and sci-fi blockbusters were on the rise, AVP was treated as a lesser property by 20th Century Fox, despite the iconic films in both the Alien and Predator franchises. Ridley Scott’s original Alien is hailed as one of the greatest horror films, James Cameron’s Aliens is a legendary sequel, and John McTiernan’s original Predator is a classic action film. The 2010s brought further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series and Shane Black’s The Predator. However, recent successes like Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 have revitalized both franchises.
With teases from upcoming projects, the prospect of a new AVP film feels closer than ever.
AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------It's also worth noting 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. Alien: Romulus was a significant success for Disney, revitalizing the franchise post-Prometheus while maintaining elements of that storyline with the Engineer-like monster in the third act. The sequel will likely continue with Cailee Spaeny’s Rain Carradine and David Jonsson’s Andy, who are in stasis heading to Yvaga III. With Predator: Badlands also set in space, there's potential for cameos or Easter eggs hinting at a connection to Romulus.
Álvarez has suggested that the best approach for an AVP film would be to surprise audiences:
“The best AVP will be the one that you don’t know is AVP until the other guy shows up,” he 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 an AVP project is encouraging, suggesting that a new take could succeed where previous efforts faltered. The earlier AVP films, set on Earth, limited their scope and struggled with flat characters, leading to fan rejection. A fresh start could disregard those films' continuity, introducing a new narrative. With Predator: Badlands featuring a Predator as the lead, perhaps Dek could become the hero of a new AVP. Additionally, a new crossover could expand on the Predalien concept from earlier films, possibly involving Engineer mutagen to create a hybrid creature of Alien, Predator, and Engineer origins. That would be a thrilling addition to the saga.
Both Alien and Predator franchises are currently thriving, making a crossover film an attractive proposition for Disney. With cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling at their peak, a new AVP film feels inevitable. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, these iconic monsters may finally get the epic showdown they deserve on the big screen.
