00:10Ever since Prey became one of the biggest surprises in the Predator franchise, fans
00:15have been waiting to hear one thing.
00:17What is happening with Prey 2?
00:20After all the new updates surrounding Predator Badlands, it finally feels like the sequel
00:25is moving closer instead of fading away.
00:27In fact, the more interviews that come out from director Dan Trachtenberg and the cast,
00:32the more it sounds like Prey 2 is still very much alive behind the scenes.
00:37A bunch of people got nervous when Badlands started becoming the main focus of the Predator
00:42franchise because it looked like Prey 2 had disappeared completely.
00:46Then producers explained that Badlands was considered a big swing creatively, which is
00:52why it took priority first.
00:53That statement worried some fans because they thought it meant the studio had moved
00:58on from Nauru's story entirely.
01:00But it sounds more like Badlands simply arrived sooner because Trachtenberg had an idea he
01:06was extremely passionate about.
01:08And if you really look at everything he's been saying recently, it becomes clear that
01:12he has absolutely not abandoned Prey 2.
01:15In fact, Trachtenberg openly confirmed he's still in the zone creatively when it comes to
01:21Predator stories.
01:22He explained that he's currently thinking about multiple directions for the franchise at once,
01:27and timing is really the main issue right now.
01:31That's a very positive sign, because directors usually don't keep talking enthusiastically about
01:36a franchise unless they fully intend to continue it.
01:39But what's especially exciting is because Trachtenberg described his approach as multi-pronged.
01:45That means he isn't just thinking about one simple sequel.
01:48Instead, he's exploring several ideas simultaneously, just like he did after Prey when he was secretly
01:54developing both Badlands and Predator Killer of Killers around the same time.
01:59That detail changes how people should look at the future of Prey 2.
02:03Instead of the movie being cancelled or forgotten, it sounds like Trachtenberg is carefully trying
02:09to figure out what version of the sequel would feel special enough to justify bringing Nauru
02:13back.
02:15That makes sense.
02:17Prey worked so well because it felt fresh, emotional, and completely different from previous
02:22Predator movies.
02:23So if they rush out a sequel without a strong idea, it could easily lose what made the original
02:28so loved.
02:29That's why Badlands happened first.
02:31Trachtenberg clearly wanted to experiment with another side of the Predator universe
02:36before returning to Nauru's story.
02:39That gamble paid off because Badlands became the highest grossing Predator movie ever made.
02:44So now, the franchise is stronger than it has been in decades.
02:49And because the franchise is thriving again, the chances of Prey 2 happening feel bigger than
02:54ever.
02:55Another huge reason fans should stay optimistic is because Amber Midthunder herself continues
03:01talking positively about returning as Nauru.
03:05Every time she gets asked about it, she sounds genuinely excited instead of avoiding the question.
03:11Recently she even said, we have to hope that will become real when discussing Nauru's return.
03:16That may not sound like an official confirmation, but it definitely doesn't sound like someone
03:22who believes the project is dead.
03:24It's hard to imagine the Predator franchise moving forward forever without revisiting Nauru at some point,
03:30because she became one of the most beloved protagonists in the entire series.
03:35Fans connected with her immediately because she wasn't just another action hero.
03:39She was smart, resourceful, emotionally grounded, and constantly underestimated by the people
03:45around her.
03:46That's a huge part of why Prey succeeded.
03:49Instead of relying purely on explosions and spectacle, the movie focused on survival and
03:55character growth.
03:56Watching Nauru slowly understand how the Predator hunted and then outsmarted in the end felt incredibly
04:02satisfying.
04:03So naturally, audiences want to see what happens next for her.
04:07And the cool thing is that the Predator franchise actually gives Trachtenberg a bunch of creative
04:13freedom when it comes to continuing her story.
04:15Unlike many other franchises, Predator timelines can get weird and experimental.
04:21One example people keep bringing up is the scrapped ending for The Predator, which would
04:26have featured versions of Ellen Ripley and Newt appearing as futuristic Predator hunters
04:31despite timeline contradictions.
04:33So, the franchise has already shown it's willing to bend continuity a little if it means bringing
04:39back fan-favorite characters.
04:41That's why many fans now believe Nauru could return in several different ways.
04:46The most obvious route is a direct sequel set shortly after Prey.
04:50That would allow audiences to see how Nauru's tribe reacts after her battle with the Predator,
04:55and whether new hunters arrive seeking revenge or tracking the missing technology left behind.
05:01But there are also much crazier possibilities now because of Badlands and Killer of Killers.
05:08For example, Killer of Killers revealed that survivors of Yautja hunts may have been cryogenically
05:14frozen and taken to Yautja Prime.
05:17That one reveal massively expanded the possibilities for the franchise because it means characters
05:22from completely different time periods could eventually cross paths.
05:27So, suddenly the idea of Nauru appearing alongside Deck from Badlands doesn't even sound impossible
05:33anymore.
05:34Fans would probably lose their minds if that happened.
05:37Imagine Nauru waking up centuries later on Yautja Prime itself, forced to survive among Predators
05:43while meeting Deck, who already questions the brutal traditions of his species.
05:48That kind of crossover would perfectly connect Trachtenberg's different Predator stories while
05:53still keeping Nauru central to the franchise.
05:56It also fits what Trachtenberg keeps saying about entry points.
06:01One of the smartest things he has done with Predator is making each project feel unique.
06:06Prey was a historical survival horror.
06:09Killer of Killers experimented with anthology storytelling.
06:13Badlands explored Yautja culture in a much deeper way.
06:16So, Prey 2 probably won't just repeat the first movie.
06:20Instead, Trachtenberg seems determined to push the franchise into new territory every single time.
06:26That's probably why fans trust him so much now.
06:30Before Prey, the Predator series struggled for years.
06:33Movies like Predator 2, Predators, and The Predator all had interesting concepts,
06:39but the franchise never felt fully stable.
06:42Some movies leaned too hard into action, others got buried under strange mythology,
06:47and some just lost the tense survival atmosphere that made the original classic so effective.
06:53Then, Prey arrived and reminded everyone what Predator works best as a suspenseful hunt
06:59between two skilled hunters.
07:01That movie revived the franchise critically and creatively, and now, Badlands has proven
07:08that audiences are willing to follow Trachtenberg into even stranger territory.
07:13Making a Predator the emotional protagonist was a huge risk, but fans embraced it because the
07:19storytelling felt thoughtful and fresh.
07:21That's why Prey 2 feels safer now than it did before.
07:25Disney and 20th Century Studios finally know the franchise is in good hands.
07:30Another important thing people sometimes forget is that Trachtenberg isn't only known for Predator anymore.
07:36He already built a strong reputation in Hollywood long before Prey happened.
07:41His film, 10 Cloverfield Lane, received major praise for its tension and storytelling,
07:47and he also directed episodes and pilots for huge shows like The Boys and Black Mirror.
07:53So, studios trust him creatively now.
07:55That matters because it gives him more control over how and when Prey 2 happens.
08:01Instead of being forced into quickly making sequels, he has the freedom to carefully develop ideas until he finds the
08:07right one.
08:08That patience is probably the best thing for the movie.
08:11Fans don't just want another Predator film, they want another great Predator film.
08:17Trachtenberg himself even said he's constantly asking what audiences haven't seen yet,
08:21both within Predator and within sci-fi in general.
08:25That mindset is exactly why his movies feel different from the older sequels.
08:29He's not just repeating formulas, he's trying to reinvent the franchise every time.
08:34And when you combine that creative ambition with how successful Prey became,
08:39it feels almost guaranteed that Nauru will return eventually.
08:44Whether it happens as a direct Prey 2, a larger crossover movie,
08:48or even a massive Predator event involving multiple characters,
08:52the demand is simply too strong to ignore.
08:56Fans still talk about Nauru constantly.
08:59Amber Mid-Thunder wants to come back.
09:01Trachtenberg keeps discussing future Predator stories.
09:04And the franchise itself is more successful now than it has been in years.
09:09So even though Badlands temporarily took priority, it feels less like Prey 2 was delayed forever,
09:15and more like Trachtenberg was building a larger Predator universe first.
09:19And now, that universe finally seems ready for Nauru's return.
09:24And that wraps up today's video.
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