A poster for Predator: Badlands has surfaced online, and it’s loaded with clues that the rumored Aliens vs Predator cinematic universe is already in motion.
The poster features Elle Fanning’s character, the Weyland-Yutani synthetic known as Thia, being carried by a fully armored Predator with a glowing red blade, presumably Dek, the lead Yautja warrior in the upcoming film.
What’s especially worth pointing out about Thia’s design is how closely it resembles the synthetics from the Alien franchise, particularly characters like Ash and Bishop.
Worth a mention is that the working title for Predator: Badlands happened to be “Backpack.”
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Weyland-Yutani, Again
The fact that Fanning’s character is not only tied to Weyland-Yutani but is also being protected or aided by a Predator directly ties into what insiders have already been teasing: the two franchises are on a collision course.
According to previous rumors, there’s more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.
“We actually have hints in the trailer — the Weyland-Yutani logo appears in the eyes of the robotic lady… and from what I’m being told by insiders, this is the culmination. [Director] Dan Trachtenberg is working toward creating a universe that will spin off into Alien vs Predator,” said YouTuber Tachyon Pulse.
This poster may be our first visual confirmation of that crossover foundation being laid.
Visual Echoes of Aliens
Thia’s armored design, tactical gear, and combat stance evoke Ripley’s synthetic allies in Aliens and Alien: Resurrection.
The weapon she’s holding — a futuristic SMG — also fits right in with the aesthetic of the Colonial Marines, further reinforcing the idea that Badlands is leaning into the Alien universe’s DNA more heavily than previous Predator entries.
The Dek Dynamic
In Badlands, the Predator Dek isn’t just another monster in the jungle. He’s the story’s lead, not a hero, exactly, but not a villain either. As previously described by Tachyon Pulse, “Predator is the hero… but not in the traditional sense. Dek hunts and is hunted. This time, we’re seeing the tables turn.”
This poster seems to depict a moment where Dek is helping or protecting Thia, suggesting an alliance between Predator and synthetic, something not explored in previous Predator films, but ripe with AVP implications.
Connecting to Alien: Earth
The FX series Alien: Earth also introduces a new hybrid synthetic named Wendy, who’s imbued with a human consciousness and fights against alien threats after a Weyland-Yutani ship crashes into her city. She’s tasked with recovering and containing multiple alien species, one of which is labeled Species 37, a mutated form that may be tied to Engineer bio-weapons.
The crossover potential here is obvious: what if Thia’s mission in Badlands is connected to the experiments teased in Alien: Earth? Could Dek be hunting one of these new species? Could we see shared tech, specimens, or mission objectives?
The Bigger Picture
With Dan Trachtenberg at the helm of Badlands, and Fede Álvarez continuing the Alien saga following Romulus, insiders say this is all part of a long-game setup. As Álvarez himself has teased: “The best AVP will be the one that you don’t know is AVP until the other guy shows up… You think it’s a Predator movie, and then — f-cking hell, it’s a Xenomorph.”
That surprise may already be in motion, which was also recently hinted at by Trachtengberg with the release of Predator: Killer of Killers.
“Both Killer of Killers and Badlands make that universe SO MUCH bigger,” he said.
Release info
Predator: Badlands hits theaters and IMAX on November 7, 2025 and stars Elle Fanning as Thia, with Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek.
In Predator: Badlands, the young Predator is exiled by his clan and teams up with Thia (Fanning) on a dangerous mission. Their goal? To face off against a new, ultimate enemy.
