Following the success of two highly praised straight-to-streaming films, 2022’s Prey and this June’s animated release Predator – Killer of Killers, Disney returned with the Predator franchise to theaters with Predator – Badlands. Director Dan Trachtenberg has directed all three films and has also contributed to the story.
Trachtenberg has received story credit for his collaborations with screenwriters Patrick Aison on Prey and Predator – Badlands, as well as Micho Robert Rutare on Killer of Killers. Additionally, he has produced both Killer of Killers and Badlands.
Claiming that Trachtenberg has rejuvenated the franchise would be an understatement; he has truly resurrected it with a trio of films that have garnered critical acclaim. The filmmaker appears to still have plans for the franchise, suggesting a concept for a third Predator movie that he conceived following the success of Prey on Hulu.
Dan Trachtenberg had only directed one film prior (2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane) before Disney decided to take a risk on him, a decision that is poised to yield great rewards. Predator – Badlands garnered an impressive $4.8 million from sneak preview screenings on Wednesday and Thursday, positioning itself as the top movie at the Box Office this weekend.
Although the Predator franchise doesn’t match the enormity of the Star Wars franchise, Trachtenberg’s strategy offers valuable insights that could be beneficial for Star Wars.
Not Everything Has To Be Interconnected
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be remarkably impressive, showcasing it’s ability to achieve such grand feats. However, it has also set high expectations for fans. Nowadays, any franchise installment is anticipated to be intricately linked to the broader universe.
Yet, this is precisely what we admire about Trachtenberg’s films. Although they share the same universe, there is no significant link between them. Prey takes place in 1719 in the Northern Great Plains, whereas Predator – Killer of Killers is an anthology film featuring tales set in 841 Scandinavia, 1609 Japan, and 1942 North Africa.
Predator – Badlands takes place in a yet-to-be-revealed year far into the future, with the sole link among these narratives being the Predators, also known as Yautja.
In a different franchise, we might anticipate that the central character of Predator Badlands, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), would have some familial ties to previous Predators, but that is not the situation here.
It might be as straightforward as the suggestion that the Yautja has existed since, seemingly, the very beginning of time, indicating that there is no genuine necessity to link every single narrative, as their presence is inherently intertwined with everything else.
Nevertheless, experiencing these standalone tales that lack ties to any other stories has been remarkably refreshing.
Fresh Narratives Ought To Focus On Original Characters
The Star Wars sequel trilogy certainly brought forth a variety of new characters, yet numerous fans felt that their story arcs fell short. For instance, Rey (Daisy Ridley) being revealed as the granddaughter of the mysteriously resurrected Palpatine and Finn (John Boyega) being left significantly underdeveloped by the end of the trilogy were points of contention.
While there were fresh narratives and characters introduced, the ongoing ties to the Skywalker Saga seemed forced. As Star Wars focuses on maximizing it’s ties to Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm, Trachtenberg is thoughtfully enriching the lore of the Predator franchise without delving into Dek’s connection to the original Predator or any other details.
However, it appears that Star Wars might be adjusting it’s approach slightly. The Mandalorian has successfully introduced fresh stories with new characters while paying tribute to the franchise.
Meanwhile, the forthcoming Star Wars – Starfighter movie seems to have no ties to the Skywalker Saga at all, but we will confirm this on May 28, 2027. It is to be hoped that Star Wars can navigate it’s future without relying on constant links to it’s past glory.
A Single Voice Is Essential, Accompanied By A Clear Vision & A Strategic Plan
The most successful franchises in Box Office history share a common trait – A visionary leader with a well-defined strategy. This could be a producer who has transitioned into a studio executive, such as Marvel’s Kevin Feige.
Alternatively, it might be a director involved in the screenplay development, like James Cameron of Avatar fame. Or it could be producers like Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who previously managed the James Bond series.
The Star Wars sequel trilogy evidently struggled due to the absence of a comprehensive plan that connected all three films. Unlike the original and prequel trilogies, which were cohesively crafted under George Lucas’s guidance, the sequel trilogy lacked that same chemistry.
Even though Lucas did not direct the second and third films of the original trilogy, they succeeded because of his overarching vision. Although Dan Trachtenberg may not be connecting all of his films cohesively, he possesses a unique vision for delving into uncharted territories of this universe.
So far, this approach has resulted in three outstanding films that have garnered acclaim from both fans and critics. Disney evidently has confidence in Dan Trachtenberg, as demonstrated by the substantial $105 million budget allocated for Predator – Badlands, marking the largest investment in the franchise’s history.
Nevertheless, $105 million is approximately half the budget of most Star Wars films. However, if Disney genuinely aims to revitalize the Star Wars franchise, they should consider investing in a producer or director who has a vision for fresh, original narratives that delve deeper into the beloved galaxy far, far away, rather than simply recycling existing content.