For years, it seems Hollywood hasn’t quite been sure what to do with Predator. The Alien Vs. Predator movies (or, the first one at least) were fun but trashy. The Robert Rodriguez-produced Predators was intriguing but didn’t quite catch fire. Most recently, Shane Black’s The Predator never lived up to the promise of a Predator movie from Shane Black. Now, after many Predator movies, get ready forPrey – a new take on the alien-hunter tale, placing the franchise in a whole different era: the Comanche Nation, 300 years ago.
From 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg, this one is destined for a streaming release on Hulu in the US (and presumably on Star on Disney+ here), and brings the usual hunter/hunted dynamic to a fresh setting. Here’s the official synopsis: “Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.”
The Comanche Nation is a Native American tribe today headquartered in Oklahoma, having migrated through Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. Trachtenberg and his team have stated their intent to present a respectful portrayal of the Comanche people in Prey. “The filmmakers were committed to creating a film that provides an accurate portrayal of the Comanche and brings a level of authenticity that rings true to its Indigenous peoples,” reads a statement. “[Producer Jhane] Myers, an acclaimed filmmaker, Sundance Fellow and member of the Comanche nation herself, is known for her attention and dedication to films surrounding the Comanche and Blackfeet nations and her passion for honouring the legacies of the Native communities. As a result, the film features a cast comprised almost entirely of Native and First Nation’s talent, including Amber Midthunder, newcomer Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, Julian Black Antelope.”
It should be a thrilling and fascinating era for a Predator movie – perhaps one with subtext about colonialism and the historic treatment of Native peoples – and a much-anticipated second feature for Trachtenberg, who in the years since 10 Cloverfield Lane has helmed Black Mirror episode ‘Playtest’, and episodes of The Boys and The Lost Symbol. Maybe this will finally be the Predator follow-up Hollywood has long been trying to master. Prey will hit screens from 5 August – the hunt is on.