Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The year promises not only two new Predator films directed by Dan Trachtenberg, including the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers, but also a significant new entry in the Alien universe with the FX show Alien: Earth from Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo and Legion. While these projects are not officially linked, the shared universe of Alien and Predator, established through numerous films, comics, and video games, keeps fans hopeful for a crossover event.
Recent promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth suggest that Disney might be setting the stage for a new Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover. Let’s delve deeper into these developments and explore why fans might see AVP on the big screen sooner rather than later.
Evil Easter Eggs ----------------The initial teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new AVP film. It features Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic linked to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg as the film’s protagonist. While the inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film alone doesn’t guarantee a crossover, the significance grows when paired with new promotional content for Alien: Earth.
The Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth includes several Easter eggs tied to Alien lore. It showcases the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leading to an egg sac resembling one seen in Alien: Romulus. The creature emerging from it, while similar to a facehugger, appears mutated. This specimen is contained on a ship called the Maginot, resembling the Nostromo from the original Alien film, and is designated "Species 37" with unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that the show is set two years before the events of Alien, it suggests that Species 37 may have been the initial clue for Weyland-Yutani about the Xenomorphs.
A related teaser called Crate features specimen containers, with a narrator mentioning that the ship collected five different life forms from the universe's darkest corners. While a classic Xenomorph is visible, the mention of five species suggests an expansion of the alien roster. This could imply a connection to the Predators, especially with Predator: Badlands set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial creatures. Could Elle Fanning’s android be searching for these specimens? Might one of these monsters mutate into something featured in Badlands or Killer of Killers? While we await the premiere for confirmation, the presence of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth wouldn’t be surprising.Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History
The shared universe of Alien and Predator dates back further than many might recall. Although the first AVP film debuted in 2004, the two iconic monsters first clashed in a 1989 Dark Horse comic series titled Aliens vs. Predator. The following year, Predator 2 included a Xenomorph skull as an Easter egg on the Predator’s trophy wall. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games further entrenched the concept of these creatures sharing a universe, well before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized such crossovers.
Despite early efforts, the AVP films released in the 2000s—Paul W. S. Anderson’s Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and The Brothers Strause’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007—failed to capture audiences' hearts due to poor reception, despite their box office success. At the time, the superhero and sci-fi genres were booming, thanks in part to the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but AVP was treated as a secondary property by 20th Century Fox, lacking the care needed for lasting success. Iconic films like Ridley Scott’s original Alien, James Cameron’s Aliens, and John McTiernan’s Predator set high standards, yet the AVP films didn’t meet these expectations. The 2010s saw further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series ending abruptly after Alien: Covenant's commercial disappointment and Shane Black’s The Predator failing to revive the franchise. However, recent successes like Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 have revitalized both franchises, making a new AVP seem more plausible than ever.
AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------A sequel to Alien: Romulus is currently in development, with director Fede Álvarez not only returning but also expressing interest in helming an AVP film. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise post-Prometheus while incorporating elements from that series. Characters Rain Carradine and Andy, played by Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson respectively, are set to continue their journey in the sequel, potentially intersecting with the events of Predator: Badlands. Álvarez has suggested that the best way to approach an AVP film would be to surprise audiences, integrating elements of both franchises seamlessly into one narrative.
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Álvarez's enthusiasm for an AVP project offers hope that a fresh take could surpass the limitations of the previous films, which were set on contemporary Earth and struggled with two-dimensional characters. A new AVP could disregard the continuity of those films, starting anew. With Predator: Badlands featuring a Predator as the lead, Dek could potentially become the hero of a new AVP, and further exploration of the Predalien concept introduced in the earlier films could be on the horizon. The introduction of Engineer mutagen could lead to the creation of a hybrid creature, combining elements of Alien, Predator, and Engineer, offering a terrifying new adversary.
With both franchises currently thriving, the idea of an AVP crossover film is likely on Disney's agenda. Given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling, a new AVP feels inevitable. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, fans might soon witness the epic confrontation they've been longing for.
