Is Another AVP Movie on the Horizon with Alien and Predator's Rise?

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The excitement builds with two new Predator films directed by Dan Trachtenberg: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers. Additionally, Noah Hawley, acclaimed for Fargo and Legion, is bringing a significant addition to the Alien universe with the FX series Alien: Earth. Although these projects are not officially connected yet, the shared universe history between Alien and Predator, marked by numerous crossovers in films, comic books, and video games, keeps fans hopeful for a new intersection.

Analyzing the latest promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth hints at Disney potentially setting the stage for a fresh Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover. Let's delve into the developments in these iconic franchises and explore why a new AVP might be on the horizon sooner rather than later.

The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands sparked speculation among fans about a possible new AVP film. The trailer introduced Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic linked to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed as the film's protagonist by Trachtenberg. While the inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film might not explicitly signal a crossover, it gains significance when paired with the new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.

In the Gestation Complete teaser, multiple Easter eggs tie into the Alien lore. The black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used to seed life on Earth by the Engineers, leads to an egg sac resembling one from Alien: Romulus. A mutated creature resembling a facehugger emerges from it, contained on a ship reminiscent of the Nostromo, called the Maginot. Labeled as "Species 37" with unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR, this suggests that Species 37 could have been the initial clue for Weyland-Yutani about the Xenomorphs, predating their discovery on LV-426 by two years.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The Alien and Predator franchises have shared a universe since before the first AVP film in 2004. Their initial clash occurred in the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator. The following year, Predator 2 included an Easter egg with a Xenomorph skull on the Predator's ship. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games reinforced this shared universe concept, long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized the idea.

Despite early attempts with two AVP films in the 2000s, the franchise struggled to gain traction due to poor critical and audience reception, despite box office success. While superhero and sci-fi blockbusters were on the rise, AVP was treated as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox, despite the individual franchises' past successes. Ridley Scott's Alien, James Cameron's Aliens, and John McTiernan's Predator are celebrated classics. However, the AVP films did not meet these standards. The 2010s saw further challenges with the Prometheus series and Shane Black's The Predator. Yet, the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 has revitalized both franchises, making a new AVP seem more imminent.

A sequel to Alien: Romulus is in development, with director Fede Álvarez returning and expressing interest in directing an AVP film. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining connections to the Prometheus series. With characters like Cailee Spaeny's Rain Carradine and David Jonsson's Andy in stasis heading to Yvaga III, a direct sequel could explore their journey further. Given Predator: Badlands' space setting, could we see hints of a connection to Romulus?

Álvarez suggested that the ideal AVP film would surprise audiences, blending the two franchises seamlessly. He envisions a scenario where viewers think they're watching a Predator movie, only to encounter Xenomorphs, or vice versa. Such a surprise element could rejuvenate the AVP series, which previously struggled with limited scope and underdeveloped characters. A fresh start could ignore past films and introduce new concepts, such as Dek becoming the protagonist of a new AVP or exploring the Predalien concept further. The potential for a being that's part Alien, part Predator, and part Engineer adds an exciting twist.

With both franchises in a healthier state than in recent years, the prospect of a new AVP film seems more likely than ever. Given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium integration, a new AVP feels imminent. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, fans can look forward to a thrilling big screen battle between these iconic monsters.

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