Last Podcast On The Left Predator Badlands: An Interview with Dan Trachtenberg
Nov 25, 2025
Dan Trachtenberg, a film and television director known for his work on 10 Cloverfield Lane and Prey, dives into the creative process behind Predator: Badlands. He shares how the film received a warm audience response and discusses the themes of teamwork and perseverance found within his Predator films. Trachtenberg elaborates on Yautja lore, the influence of comic origins, and the possibilities of franchise crossovers. He also reflects on his imaginative childhood and how it shaped his storytelling, maintaining a focus on unique narratives over franchise ownership.
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Predator As Underdog Drama
- Dan Trachtenberg treats Predator films as underdog stories and found-family dramas rather than pure monster movies.
- He uses that emotional fulcrum to make the Yautja's hunt a counterpoint to characters proving worth to clan and self.
No Studio Bible, Built One With ADI
- Trachtenberg recounts asking for a Predator "bible" when he signed on and finding none at the studio.
- He then worked with ADI's Alec Gillis and Tom Woodward to assemble weapon and design packets that shaped his films' canon.
Building Canon By Borrowing
- Trachtenberg blends elements from across Predator installments and ancillary media to form his own on-screen canon.
- He treats any film reference as effectively canon until later films revise it.