The biggest problem with Prey has nothing to do with the movie itself, and Disney’s plans for the Predator franchise prove it. Prey takes the general concept of the first Predator film and remixes it, focusing on a young Comanche woman named Naru (Amber Midthunder) in 1719 as she and her tribe find themselves combating an advanced alien hunter. Prey was released on Hulu in 2022, where it found a massive audience and a positive response from critics.
The film is full of action and scares that are perfect for theatrical screenings. However, only a handful of people ever got to see Prey on the big screen. Instead, general audiences were forced to catch the film when it premiered on Hulu. Despite this more muted release strategy, the movie proved to be engaging enough to generate genuine excitement for the long-languishing franchise.
Predator Movies: The Best Viewing & Rewatch Order
Prey is taking the Predator movie franchise right back to its roots and here’s the best viewing and rewatch order for the hit sci-fi saga.
Disney’s Predator Plans Confirm They Made A Big Mistake With Prey’s Release
It’s a shame then that Prey didn’t get the chance to blow up at the box office, as the positive reception for the film would have likely translated into strong box office results. In fact, Prey‘s success seems to have convinced Disney that the Predator series still has potential. The studio is now poised to produce two more Predator films and specifically seems keen to replicate what made the 2022 movie work. Prey director Dan Trachtenberg will remain with the franchise and is now developing a separate film titled Badlands, while Prey 2 is in the works as well.
Disney’s New Predator Movie & Prey 2 Must Learn From Hulu’s Hit
Prey 2 and Badlands could rectify Disney’s mistake by debuting in theaters, where they’ll hopefully garner the commercial success that Prey deserved. Prey‘s credits scene teased the future direction of the series, hinting that multiple Predators could appear. Coupled with the beautiful cinematography Jeff Cutter captured in Prey, the sequel would be ideal for movie theaters. Badlands, meanwhile, has been teased as a futuristic tale that could seriously benefit from the scope afforded by a theatrical presentation. While they’ll inevitably both end up on streaming eventually, Prey 2 and Badlands deserve the chance to debut on the big screen.
Trachtenberg has also proven himself as a capable filmmaker, finding an ideal balance between big spectacle and tight character focus to achieve impressive results. Disney has not confirmed if either film will debut in theaters, though, and they could end up being Hulu exclusives like Prey was. Considering Prey‘s success, this would be an unforced error on Disney’s part. Even a joint release or a limited theatrical run could earn them some box office cash while also showcasing the films in all their intended glory. This all proves why the next Predator movies need to come to the big screen.
Predator
Predator is an action sci-fi franchise created by Jim and John Thomas, beginning with the original film released in 1987. The franchise follows a warrior alien race known as the Yautja who travel the far reaches of space looking for worthy prey to hunt, constantly bringing them to Earth due to the sheer amount of conflict harbored on it. The series has spun off into comic books and animated features and has even enjoyed several crossover events via film and video games with the Aliens franchise.
- Created by
- Jim Thomas , John Thomas
- First Film
- Predator
- Cast
- Carl Weathers , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Kevin Peter Hall , Peter Cullen , Derek Mears , Danny Glover , Gary Busey , Adrien Brody , Topher Grace , Walton Goggins , Françoise Yip , Boyd Holbrook , Olivia Munn , Amber Midthunder , Dakota Beavers
- Video Game(s)
- Predator: Hunting Grounds , Predator: Concrete Jungle
