Predator films aren’t exactly a dime a dozen. So when news broke that 20th Century Studios is dropping a new Predator: Badlands movie, fans were right to be excited. But when the first teaser trailer was revealed today, many were left with their jaws on the floor.

For a prequel, remake, or sequel to do a proper one-eighty on the entire concept of a classic movie monster is a big task. Telling a unique story, building a new mythology, and reserving just enough for future sequels, reboots, or spinoffs is an intricate dance. By all accounts, today’s Predator: Badlands teaser should be commended for trying.

The trailer does, first and foremost, cast the Predator in an unusual — if not unprecedented — role. In the upcoming film, the titular aliens are neither hunters nor war parties, but the sympathetic heroes. Their story is a one of a kind; Predator: Badlands stars young Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Predator cast out by his tribe and on the run. This is a departure for the movie monster in and of itself. For the first time, the nameless creatures with blades for hands will be playable protagonists, rather than faceless villains. Their way of life, if this teaser is any indication, may get explored in a way it never has before.

New, Exciting Characters

Dek is not alone in his hero’s journey, however. He will have a sidekick — a rogue Weyland-Yutani android named Thia (Elle Fanning). Their dynamic should make for some intriguing dialogue and more than one chemistry break. Fanning is an excellent actress, capable of playing innocent, empathetic, and dangerous all at the same time. Add that to her high-pitched delivery, and you get a character who might just steal the show.

Past Predator films have had their fair share of interesting A.I. companions, from Riggs’ ship-bound android in Predator 2 to Neill’s WALL-E in The Island. It remains to be seen if The Weyland-Yutani corporation’s synthetic doll is a brilliant wildcard or a bad casting choice. We know it’s a warrior android, but as the teaser suggests, it might have a whole lot more on its mind. Fans of the Alien franchise should take note of their shared connection to Weyland-Yutani. We may even get lore-bombs aplenty in Badlands, should the trailer’s brief cutaways from Dek and Thia to homeworld landscapes hold.

Director: Returning Talent for a Familiar Monster

One thing is for certain: the director is back. Dan Trachtenberg, who won acclaim for last year’s Prey, will direct, write, and produce Predator: Badlands. Fans of the 2022 film will be thrilled to see him pick up the directing mantle once more and continue the Predator story. Those who weren’t as kind to Prey will surely keep an eye on his work in Badlands as well. It’s not a secret that many big-budget franchises take quite a few swings before they land a hit.

Trachtenberg did get some mileage out of his spin on the franchise. On Hulu, Prey became one of the best-received Predator films of all time, with stellar reviews, an engaged fanbase, and audience engagement in the millions. It became a success story for the platform and a new fan favorite in the Predator/Alien shared universe. Badlands is his first Predator film, and it might only be his first. There are plans for an animated anthology series that he has worked on in tandem with Badlands: Predator: Killer of Killers. That series will arrive on Hulu (again) on June 6.

The New Predator vs Monster

One quick look at this film’s villain will have Predator fans grinning from ear to ear. The creature they will be squaring off against is about as far from the First Person Shooter video game aesthetic of past Predator films as possible. According to the trailer, it’s “the ultimate enemy” and “can’t be killed.” In less than a minute, that’s twice as many lore bombs as the film itself has let out so far. It appears to be a giant monster — but how big is it?

Early stills of the titular creature have been revealed over the past few weeks, but we only have seconds of it in the Badlands trailer. It’s a dark and disconcerting beast, large enough to pose a legitimate threat to a full Predator clan.

One thing that is becoming quite clear is that Badlands won’t be a traditional Predator film. Casting the Predator in the hero’s role and focusing on their mythology should make room for some interesting new faces. Badlands is shaping up to be just as different from the series’ first installment as Prey was from 2018’s The Predator, perhaps more so.

Look for More Predators in the Future

There are other elements in the trailer that fans should be looking forward to. We know that Predators are a collectivist species. Multiple warriors and characters in armor appear, either engaging in a fierce battle to the death or hunting the beasts in a lush alien landscape. These scenes in and of themselves are reason enough to believe that this new film is an exciting way to play in the well-established world.

Is there any other creature quite as fun as the Predator? Movie monsters that thrive on both high-concept spectacle and the personal touch of natural predator-prey mimicry are few and far between. The good news is, this trailer alone suggests that Predators won’t just be on the hunt this November. They might be hunting monsters themselves, and in numbers.

So, will the audience side with the Predator this November? It doesn’t look like it can be avoided. With Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as the leads, new lore for this take on an iconic alien, and the chance to face a whole new monster, the hunt should be on.