Director of Predator: Badlands Discloses Original Script Featured Xenomorph Cameo

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Predator: Badlands is a notable crossover film featuring Alien and Predator elements, with Elle Fanning’s Weyland-Yutani synth Thia and outcast Yautja Dek at the forefront. While the film maintains a light touch with Easter eggs and references, it wasn’t always so restrained.

In a recent interview, Trachtenberg shared that the original script draft and temporary visual effects included appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch, a Xenomorph, and “the backbiter creature from Killer of Killers.”

These cameos were intended for an early scene where Dek, the underdog, is on his home planet of Yautja Prime. To prove himself, he must choose an intergalactic hunting ground to display his Predator skills, ultimately selecting Genna, known as the death planet. Initially, various holograms showcased his options, packed with more Easter eggs.

“They had a longer conversation, or they said the same idea of ‘Pick Your Planet,’ and all that stuff, but it was a little bit longer,” Trachtenberg explained. “So there were more holograms in the background. What we have now is more soft focus in the foreground, you kind of see it and all that.”

“It just felt, to me, like there was a way to include things in cinematic universes that are already spiritually connected, and involve them in one story, in one movie. That’s cooler than it being like, ‘It’s the big thing versus the big thing from the franchise!'” Trachtenberg previously mentioned.

Predator: Badlands is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus. For more viewing options, explore our guide to the best upcoming movies in 2026 to add to your watchlist.

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