Alien and Predator Surge: Is Another AVP Imminent?

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. With two new Predator films on the horizon from the acclaimed director of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg, including the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers, and a major new entry in the Alien saga from the showrunner of Fargo and Legion, Noah Hawley, titled Alien: Earth on FX, excitement is palpable. While these projects are not yet officially linked, the shared history between Alien and Predator, which spans films, comics, and video games, suggests a potential crossover. Let's delve deeper into the developments within these iconic franchises and explore the possibility of a new Alien vs. Predator (AVP) blockbuster.

Analyzing the promotional content for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth could hint at Disney's plans for a fresh crossover between Alien and Predator. Here's a closer look at the intriguing developments in these universes and why we might see AVP make a thrilling return to cinemas sooner rather than later.

The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator movie. It introduces Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with a connection to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed as the film’s protagonist by Trachtenberg. While this doesn't confirm a crossover, the significance grows when viewed alongside the promotional material for Alien: Earth.

In the Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth, various Easter eggs hint at deeper connections to the Alien universe. We see the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, leading to an egg sac resembling one from Alien: Romulus. A mutated creature resembling a facehugger emerges from it on a ship called the Maginot, echoing the Nostromo from the original film. This creature, labeled "Species 37" and noted for its unknown DNA by the ship's computer MU-TH-UR, suggests a connection to the Xenomorphs, set two years before the events of Alien.

Another teaser, Crate, showcases specimen containers with a narrator mentioning five different life forms collected from the universe. A classic Xenomorph appears, but the presence of five species hints at an expanded universe, possibly including creatures related to the Predators. This could tie into Predator: Badlands, set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial beasts. Could Elle Fanning's android be searching for these specimens? There's a possibility that one of these monsters might evolve into something seen in Badlands or Killer of Killers. While we won't know until the shows premiere, the hint of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth is tantalizing.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The shared universe of Alien and Predator dates back further than many might realize. The first official crossover occurred in 1989 with the Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator, followed by an Easter egg in Predator 2 in 1990 featuring a Xenomorph skull. Over the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games further solidified this shared universe, predating the mainstream success of cinematic universes like the MCU.

Despite the early start, the AVP films in the 2000s—Paul W. S. Anderson's Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and The Brothers Strause's Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007—failed to resonate with audiences and critics, despite their box office success. While the superhero and sci-fi blockbuster genre was flourishing, AVP was treated as a secondary property by 20th Century Fox, despite the legacy of classics like Ridley Scott’s Alien, James Cameron’s Aliens, and John McTiernan’s Predator. The 2010s saw further struggles with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series and Shane Black’s The Predator. However, the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 has revitalized both franchises, setting the stage for a potential new AVP film.

The anticipation grows with the announcement of a sequel to Alien: Romulus in development, with director Fede Álvarez set to return and expressing interest in helming an AVP film. Alien: Romulus was a significant success, rejuvenating the franchise post-Prometheus. With characters like Rain Carradine and Andy heading to Yvaga III, there's potential for crossover elements in Predator: Badlands, which is also set in space.

Álvarez suggests an ideal AVP approach would surprise audiences, where an Alien film unexpectedly introduces a Predator, or vice versa. This innovative approach could reinvigorate the crossover, distancing it from the less successful previous attempts set on Earth. With the Predator as the lead in Badlands, perhaps Dek could star in a new AVP, exploring the Predalien concept further or even introducing a new hybrid creature involving Engineer mutagen.

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP offers hope for a fresh take on the crossover, potentially disregarding the previous films and starting anew. With both Alien and Predator in robust health, the prospect of a crossover film seems more inevitable than ever. As cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling continue to thrive, a new AVP could be the ultimate event for these franchises. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg at the helm, the iconic monsters might finally clash on the big screen in a battle worthy of their legacy.