Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands was inspired by a number of video games. The director has said 2005 PlayStation masterpiece Shadow of the Colossus inspired the relationship between the film’s young Predator, called Dek, and Elle Fanning’s character, a Weyland-Yutani synth he must carry around. Now, add World of Warcraft to the mix.
You wouldn’t think Blizzard’s massively multiplayer fantasy online role-playing game would have much in common with a new Predator movie. But Trachtenberg, who already has Predator films Prey and Killer of Killers under his belt, told IGN at Fan Fest 2025: Fall Edition that he took inspiration from one class in particular when it came to Dek’s arsenal of weapons.
“He starts out with a number of really cool gadgets,” Trachtenberg said of Dek’s weaponry. “I’ve always felt like there’s a link between the Predator franchise and James Bond. Part of what we enjoy about going to see it is like, what kind of gizmos does he have? And I’ve been stuck in the past with my entries into the franchise, with Prey set in the 1700s and Killer of Killers set in multiple different decades. But all in the past, so I’ve always had to think, what would his weaponry be if it was a little bit more pre what we’re used to seeing?
“Now I’m well into the future. So he’s got laser bows, has an awesome laser sword that has multiple modes. His sword that he uses, he holds like a classic knight or samurai would, but then it switches it into a different mode and he can use it almost like a glaive.”
And it’s the glaive mode of Dek’s new laser sword that was inspired by a weapon in World of Warcraft, which Trachtenberg told us he plays a lot. If you’re familiar with WoW, you’ll know the Demon Hunter class well, and you’ll no doubt have seen its iconic warglaive, perhaps wielded by fan-favorite Demon Hunter Illidan Stormrage.
“In fact the inspiration initially for that was… I play a lot of WoW, and the Demon Hunters glaive weapon was what sparked that,” Trachtenberg confirmed.
In the most recent Predator: Badlands trailer, we see Dek use his laser sword in fights against a number of monsters, the ‘Death Planet’ itself, and other Yautja. But it’s interesting to note Trachtenberg’s words in his interview with IGN: “He starts out with a number of really cool gadgets.” Could Dek end up losing his powerful weaponry, Metroid style, over the course of the movie?
Earlier this month, it emerged that Predator: Badlands won’t be R-rated. But, its creators hope, it will feel like an R regardless. And last month, Trachtenberg said fans shouldn’t expect to see a Xenomorph from the Alien franchise in Predator: Badlands, despite evil megacorp Weyland-Yutani featuring prominently in the movie’s trailers.
Predator: Badlands hits theaters November 7, 2025. And be sure to check out everything announced at IGN Fan Fest 2025: Fall Edition for more on what’s coming down the line.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
