The latest trailer for Predator: Badlands is not just fueling anticipation for another installment in the legendary sci-fi franchise — it’s igniting major speculation. Could this upcoming film secretly be an Alien vs Predator (AVP) crossover? With nods to the Alien universe, the presence of Weyland-Yutani, and cryptic dialogue teasing an “apex predator,” fans believe Badlands may be hiding one terrifying twist.
Weyland-Yutani Returns — But Why?
One of the most eye-catching aspects of the trailer is the return of the infamous Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a staple of the Alien universe. Elle Fanning’s character, Thia, is revealed to be a synthetic (or “synth”) working for the company’s bio-weapons division — a branch that should immediately raise red flags for longtime fans. After all, Weyland-Yutani’s legacy includes numerous attempts to weaponize Xenomorphs, often at humanity’s expense.
What’s more, Thia is shown teaming up with a young, rogue Predator named Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi). Their alliance hints at a shared threat larger than either of them. Thia even warns Dek, “You’re not the hunter here — you’re the prey,” referencing a “creature that can’t be killed,” described ominously as “the definitive apex predator.”
This language, paired with a shadowy creature shown briefly in the trailer, has fans theorizing: Is the real threat not this unknown monster, but a Xenomorph — or even a Queen?
Fans Decode the Trailer: A Hidden Xenomorph?
The idea of a stealth AVP crossover is gathering serious momentum online. Reddit user MakaylaAzula posted: “The posters and trailers are showing this giant monster to fool us into thinking that’s the big bad. But it’s gotta be a Xenomorph.”
Supporting this theory is the trailer’s final tease: a dramatic entrance by what appears to be a Weyland-Yutani Power Loader — a clear callback to Aliens (1986). Just before this mech shows up, Thia ominously says, “We might not be alone in this hunt.”
But who, or what, is she referring to? Could this be the moment the Xenomorph — the true apex predator — enters the battlefield?
Some fans even believe the mech isn’t just there to fight the giant creature, but part of a bait-and-switch finale where the real final boss reveals itself as a Xenomorph. Rumors suggest a final act team-up between Thia, Dek, and potentially other Predators to take down the iconic alien menace, paving the way for a full-fledged AVP sequel.
AVP History and What This Could Mean for the Franchise
The Alien vs Predator concept isn’t new. The two cinematic monsters collided in 2004’s AVP: Alien vs Predator, followed by 2007’s AVP: Requiem. While the films received mixed critical reception, they were commercial successes and developed a cult following. The tagline “Whoever wins, we lose” captured the bleak thrill of watching these two apex predators battle.
Since then, each franchise has gone its own way, with 2022’s Prey (a Predator prequel) receiving strong praise and 2024’s Alien: Romulus marking a return to horror roots. But there’s always been a hunger for another AVP.
Fede Alvarez, director of Romulus, even said in an interview that the best AVP film would be one that hides its crossover status until the final act. “You think you’re watching a Predator movie… and then — f***ing hell — it’s a Xenomorph,” he told Collider in February. Sound familiar?
The Future: Predator vs Alien… Again?
If Predator: Badlands does end with a surprise Xenomorph reveal, it would be a masterstroke of marketing and storytelling — reviving interest in both properties and setting the stage for a new era of AVP films.
And this wouldn’t be the only place the crossover might happen. Observant fans think they heard Predator clicking sounds in the trailer for FX’s upcoming Alien: Earth series. Could a Predator cameo there further connect the two franchises?
Whether Predator: Badlands turns out to be a stealth AVP film or just a rich sci-fi thriller with easter eggs, one thing is clear: the hunt is far from over, and this universe still has plenty of monsters left to unleash.
Predator: Badlands hits theaters this November — and we might not be prepared for what’s coming.
