Disney Plus Day, a celebration by the studio of its two-year streaming anniversary, has brought about an exciting amount of announcements. One is the news that its newPredatormovie, a prequel, is set to release in summer 2022 and has been given its official title.
The lastPredatorfilm came out in 2018 and was panned by critics and fans alike.Filming for the newPredatormovie wrappedin September and was shrouded in secrecy with very few details revealed. For a time, the feature was shot under the titleSkulls, but it was revealed today that this was not its final title.
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Disney announced the newPredatorfilm is officially calledPreyand will premiere in the summer months next year. It is an origin story set in Comanche Nation some 300 years ago and centers on a female warrior, Naru, defending her tribe against an alien predator. Earlier this year it was announced that indigenous actorAmber Midthunder would star as the leadin the fifthPredatorfilm. Disney has not made it clear whetherPreywill drop in theaters, just that it will be available to stream in the US on Hulu and on Star internationally, which would be a first for the series.
The journey for this latest entry has not been an easy one. Earlier this year, Disney found itself mired in legal troubles with the original writers, Jim and John Thomas, attempting totake back the rights to thePredatorfranchisethemselves. This, along with the poorly received previous film, means this upcoming prequel has a lot riding on it. Charactershave never beenPredator’s strong point, with even Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Major Dutch Schaefer failing to move past his one-dimensional nature. But some are seeing the focus on a strong central character with clear motivation as an exciting move. Moreover, the inclusion of an indigenous actor at the helm of a series that has always been hugely influenced by Native cultures is a promising sign.
ThePredatorseries has been hit and miss with its numerous entries, despite being such an iconic franchise for 30 years.10 Cloverfield Lane’s Dan Trachtenberg was announced last year asthe director for this upcomingPredatorfilm. But with only one feature film in his arsenal, an episode ofBlack Mirror,and a handful of short films, Trachtenberg’s inclusion could be seen as a risky choice. Yet some have argued that a fresh vision is needed for a franchise that is risking becoming stale, and which had such a disappointing previous entry. Add to that the reported five years of conceptualization for the movie that Trachtenberg went under andPreycould give the series a vital lift.
Despite doubters and detractors, thePredatorfilms have grossed $750.8 million at the global box office, proving their inescapable appeal to movie-goers. While no entry in the series may reach the heights of its 1987 debut, it looks likePreyhas a fighting chance. Fans will have to wait until next summer to find out for sure.
Preyis set to release in Summer 2022.
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