When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, they received quite the toy box of bankable IP. The mouse house now controls the rights to Alien, Planet of the Apes, Die Hard, and Predator. Fans of those franchises have every right to be worried, especially after Disney’s mixed track record of the Star Wars series. But those worries should be alleviated by the preview of “Prey,” which looks to be a dramatic and creative reimaging of the Predator movie franchise.
I’ve always been a fan of the original “Predator,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by John McTiernan. I still consider it one of the best Schwarzenegger action flicks next to the “Terminator” films. I even enjoyed the trashy and campy 1990 sequel “Predator 2,” starring Danny Glover and Bill Paxton, a guilty pleasure. But the rest of the Predator films produced diminishing returns. Fox never could make a worthy follow-up, frustrating since the Predator has fertile storytelling potential.
Disney may have cracked the code from this exciting trailer. “Prey” sees a highly evolved Predator land and hunt in the Comanche nation 300 years ago. The main figure is Naru, a female warrior who wants to protect her tribe from this weird alien creature. The period native American setting is unique, and the preview is full of wild imagery that promises a thrilling ride. Even the Predator gets a makeover and looks fearsome as ever.
I’m also happy to see Dan Trachtenberg directing as his 2016 feature “10 Cloverfield Lane” is one of those underrated gems. “10 Cloverfield Lane” was unfairly maligned due to its remote connection to the Cloverfield franchise. But that twisty, Twilight Zone-style thriller had me at the edge of my seat. Hopefully, he can bring that same intensity here.
“Prey” streams on Hulu (a possibly ominous sign) on August 5th.
Great update to a legendary franchise.