One theory suggests that a dark twist in the Predator 2 Xenomorph skull Easter egg - with almost every film ending with the Predator losing the fight. Now, the Predator hunts once again in the prequel, Prey, which is set to release domestically 0n August 5th, 2022.
Prey is set to enhance the Predator franchise by changing many of its core story mainstays, including its lead, setting, and genre for the franchise's fifth entry. Prey is set 300 years ago in Comanche territory and follows Naru (Amber Midthunder) as she tries to protect her tribe from an incoming extra-terrestrial threat. Predator 5 is directed by Dan Trachtenberg - the mind behind the incredibly tense 10 Cloverfield Lane - and he looks to be taking the horror aspect of the earlier films and cranking it up by introducing a highly violent Yautja warrior.
Despite Prey's apparent deviations from the Predator franchise formula in this regard, the general story appears to be like any other Predator film in concept, following the typical structure of a team slowly discovering the Predator threat stalking them. While the man vs. monster story has been tried and tested before, it has been in decline in recent years, as shown with The Predator's disappointing box office, which offers a surprising amount of franchise fatigue for a series that has only released four solo movies in over 30 years. While Prey's premise seems eerily similar to previous installments in the Predator franchise, it's the film's set up as a prequel that could yet separate it from the rest of the franchise while adding a layer to not only Prey but also the extended Predator universe - including John McTiernan's original 1987 classic.
The Predator's Age & Lifespan Is Unconfirmed
Despite many of Predator's sequels diving into the lore of the Yautja, many things remain unknown about the species, but the Yautja's long history on earth and long lifespan are confirmed with a Predator 2 legacy character. After Detective Harrigan (Danny Glover) defeats the City Hunter Predator in combat, he is given a gift, as it is Yautja custom to give a gift to the victor. The Predator, known as Greyback, gifts Harrigan a pistol that was made in 1715 for Raphael Andolini. Greyback was gifted the pistol after aiding Raphael - a pirate - in a fight against his back-stabbing crew. After the initial fight, Raphael dies to a crewmember who shoots him in the back; but before his death, Andolini gives Greyback the pistol as a sign of respect, which Greyback gives to Harrigan almost 300 years later. This demonstrates the code of honor that the Predators follow and that Predators can live for well over 300 years, meaning that the Predator in Prey could feasibly survive until 1987, which is around 300 after the events of the prequel - adding a layer of lore the original Predator.
Theory: The Predator Defeats The Comanche In Prey's Ending
breaking Predator battle rules. Flipping the title could also spell out the ending of the film, whereas, throughout the Predator films, the Predator always loses; Prey could show the first time the prey loses, meaning Naru could well fail in her mission to save her tribe.
This new, ruthless version of the Predator seemingly doesn't follow the regular rules of the Yautja and more than likely won't fail in his mission to kill the Comanche warriors, either. The main reason some of the Predators lose in their films is that their honor gets in their way; this is what happens in Predator (1987) when the Predator lets Dutch escape, and in Predators when Yakuza criminal Hanzo (Louis Ozawa) fights the opposing Predator on even footing, resulting in both of their deaths. This means that the Yautja in Prey could be younger than those previously seen, which might explain it not following the Yautja combat rules, with an older, wiser, Predator learning the value of honor all too late for the Comanche. This twist ending in Prey could be the fresh take that Prey needs to cement Trachtenberg's horror focus on the Predator and make him formidable while also setting up an exciting link to 1987's Predator.
This Prey Twist Would Make The Predator's Eventual Defeat Even Better
The 1987 Predator is a masterpiece for its straightforward premise of hardened soldiers against an alien hunter. Watching Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his team stand against the odds and fight the Predator while also being cut down one by one is a harrowing cinematic experience that marked it as a classic upon release. In Predator, Anna tells the team that there are legends revolving around a demon that claims the skulls of men, which puts fear in the team but also s the theory that Predators have been hunting on Earth for a long time, especially in that area, though this would have to be in intervals as the Predator is seen being dropped off in Predator's opening moments.
Should it be confirmed that Arnold Prey's exact year setting is unknown, but the timeline of roughly 300 years is a long time; people change so much during their lifetimes, so it's not unbelievable to think Yautja could do the same. Prey is set to unveil the fate of Naru and her tribe, but should this theory be correct; it will also serve to enhance the original Predator masterpiece as well.
