From the possibility of a theatrical release to the promise of deeper connections with the Predator franchise, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for Prey 2. Although the original 1987 Predator movie is hailed as one of the greatest action films ever made, and a spot-on deconstruction of the musclebound ‘80s action hero, almost all of its subsequent sequels have been widely panned by critics and dismissed by the fan base. Prey, a standalone prequel story set in the Great Plains in 1719, was the first Predator movie to be praised by critics and fans alike since the 1987 classic that started it all.
After the success of Prey, a sequel is inevitable, and since Prey 2 has so much going for it, it’s easily the most exciting Predator movie of the last 20 years. Prey was an exciting prospect, but past disappointments kept fans skeptical until it was released. Now that director Dan Trachtenberg has proven himself with the greatness of Prey, there’s a reason to have hope for the Predator franchise’s future for the first time in decades. From the tantalizing sequel setups in the first film to the heralded return of War Chief Naru, Prey 2 is shaping up to be a truly great Predator movie.
9 Prey Already Brought The Predator Franchise Back To Its Roots
With its simple story of a plucky warrior battling a relentless alien, Prey brought the Predator franchise back to its roots. Predator 2 mixed the Predator into a generic crime thriller storyline about gang violence in Los Angeles. Predators had a group of convicts fighting the Predators on their own turf on an alien planet. The Predator teased a whole mythology with the U.S. government experimenting on Predator anatomy to create its own killing machine. But Prey proved that the Predator franchise doesn’t need any of that; it works best as a standard survival story like the original 1987 classic that started it all.
8 Prey 2 Will Get A Theatrical Release, Surely?
Prey was widely praised for its thrilling action scenes, creepy atmosphere, and emotionally charged character development. The only regret about the movie is that it was released straight to streaming, so Predator fans didn’t get a chance to see moments like the bear attack on a big screen. After the overwhelmingly positive response to Prey, Disney will hopefully have the confidence to release Prey 2 in theaters. It’s been a while since a genuinely terrifying Predator was seen on the big screen – Predator 2, Predators, The Predator, and the Alien vs. Predator movies were all disappointing – and Prey 2 is the best chance for that to finally happen.
7 The Predators Will Be More Advanced In Prey 2
The Predator in Prey, colloquially known as “Feral Predator” and dubbed “Mupitsl” by Naru after the Comanche demon of legend, is much less advanced than the other Predators seen in the franchise. Its weapons are a lot cruder than the high-tech gizmos seen in other Predator movies. The Predator in Prey relies more on brute force and hand-to-hand combat, as opposed to the stealth-based tactics of the modern Predators. When Naru comes face-to-face with more Predators in Prey 2, the stakes will be a little higher because the Predators will be more tactically and technologically advanced – especially after learning from Mupitsl’s mistakes.
6 Prey’s Ending Promised Deeper Franchise Connections
An Easter egg at the end of Prey revealed a flintlock pistol engraved with the words Raphael Adolini 1715. This teases a direct link from Prey’s 1700s-set storyline all the way to Predator 2’s modern-day storyline. The filmmakers might not have the entire timeline mapped out just yet, but this teaser suggests that Prey isn’t just its own thing and they are interested in tying it to the rest of the Predator continuity. Prey 2 probably won’t encompass the entire gap between the first Prey film and all the other Predator films, but it will start to cross that bridge and make those connections.
5 Naru Is An Exciting New Heroine
When Prey was first released, critics favorably compared its fierce protagonist, Naru, to such iconic characters as Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor. Naru’s fearless confrontation with the Predator continued the proud tradition kicked off by the badass heroines of the Alien and Terminator franchises. Naru gives the Predator saga its own version of Ripley or Sarah or Furiosa or Foxy Brown; a noble warrior who uses her wits to make up for her lack of brawn. Naru’s appointment as the new War Chief at the end of Prey felt like it was just the beginning of her journey; there are plenty more stories to tell about this exciting new heroine.
4 Prey 2 Has The Last 200 Years Of Human History To Play With
Since Prey takes place in 1719 and every other Predator movie takes place around the same time it was released, Prey 2 has the last 200 years of human history to play with. Prey proved with its Great Plains storyline that transplanting the Predator into different historical settings is a great formula that future movies can benefit from. It would be great to see Predators stalking soldiers in the trenches of World War I, or setting their own deadly traps in the jungles of the Vietnam War, or sailing on the high seas with a band of dangerous pirates. The sky is the limit for the Predators’ adventures through history.
3 Dan Trachtenberg Could Be The First Director To Make More Than One Predator Movie
Prey director Dan Trachtenberg has expressed his interest in returning to direct a sequel. This would make Trachtenberg the first filmmaker to direct more than one Predator movie. Every previous Predator movie’s director – John McTiernan, Stephen Hopkins, Nimród Antal, and Shane Black (as well as Paul W. S. Anderson and Greg and Colin Strause, if the Alien vs. Predator movies count) – has bowed out after just one outing. With one singular directorial voice at the helm, the Prey series will have a more distinctive feel. Trachtenberg can put a personal stamp on the Predator franchise that was missing from previous entries.
2 Prey Left The Door Open For Endless Possibilities
The final scene of Prey, in which Naru is rewarded for her unparalleled prowess as a hunter, leaves the door open for endless possibilities in a potential sequel. The Predators could return to Earth to avenge their fallen comrade, and Naru could galvanize the rest of her tribe to fight them. Instead of pitting one Comanche warrior against one Predator like the first Prey movie, Prey 2 could pit Naru’s entire Comanche tribe against an entire pack of bloodthirsty Predators. A large-scale battle between warring factions of humans and aliens could pave the way for the most action-packed, intense Predator movie yet.
1 Prey’s Director Has Teased Potential Predator Cameos
Although Prey takes place in the 1700s and every other Predator movie has been set in the modern day, Trachtenberg has mentioned that it’s possible for original Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger to make an appearance in Prey 2. Whether that would involve a time jump or in-universe time travel or casting Schwarzenegger as an all-new character – or an ancestor of his classic Predator hero Dutch – the idea of seeing the franchise’s original star finally return in Prey 2 is certainly tantalizing. This could eventually lead to cameo appearances by other Predator stars, like Predator 2’s Danny Glover or Predators’ Adrien Brody and Alice Braga.
