Is Another AVP Movie on the Horizon with Alien and Predator's Rise?

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The excitement builds with two new Predator films helmed by Prey director Dan Trachtenberg: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers. Adding to the thrill, Noah Hawley, the creative force behind Fargo and Legion, is bringing a new chapter to the Alien universe with the FX show Alien: Earth. While these projects are not officially linked yet, fans are well aware that Alien and Predator share a storied universe, having crossed paths in numerous films, comics, and video games.

A closer look at the latest promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth suggests that Disney might be setting the stage for a new crossover between these iconic franchises. Let's delve into the developments in these universes and explore why an Alien vs. Predator (AVP) return to the big screen could be imminent.

The first teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator film. The trailer introduced Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic connected to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg to be the film's protagonist. While the inclusion of a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film isn't a definitive sign of a crossover, the significance grows when paired with the promotional videos for Alien: Earth.

In the Gestation Complete teaser, multiple Easter eggs tie into Alien lore. The black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leads to an egg sac resembling one from Alien: Romulus. A creature resembling a facehugger but with mutations emerges from it, contained on a ship similar to the Nostromo, named the Maginot. This creature, designated as "Species 37" and marked with unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR, hints at the origins of the Xenomorphs, occurring two years before the events of Alien.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The Alien and Predator franchises have been part of the same universe since the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator. The following year, Predator 2 included a Xenomorph skull on the Predator's ship as an Easter egg. The concept was further explored through various comics and video games in the '90s, long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized shared universes.

Despite early attempts with the 2004 Alien vs. Predator and 2007 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem films, the AVP series struggled due to poor reception, despite box office success. The genre was dominated by superhero and sci-fi blockbusters influenced by the Star Wars prequels, yet AVP was treated as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox. Iconic films like Ridley Scott’s Alien, James Cameron’s Aliens, and John McTiernan’s Predator set high standards, but the AVP films fell short. The 2010s saw further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series and Shane Black’s The Predator. However, the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 revitalized both franchises.

With teasers for upcoming projects, the prospect of a new AVP film feels closer than ever.

A sequel to Alien: Romulus is in development, with director Fede Álvarez set to return and expressing interest in directing an Alien vs. Predator film. Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining ties to the Prometheus series. As characters Rain Carradine and Andy head to Yvaga III in stasis, could Badlands feature Easter eggs hinting at a Romulus connection?

Álvarez suggested that the best AVP film would surprise audiences, transitioning from a Predator or Alien film into a crossover unexpectedly. This approach could captivate fans and set a new standard for the series.

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP offers hope for a successful reboot. Previous films were limited by their Earth-bound settings and lacked depth in character development. A fresh start could disregard the previous films' continuity, introducing new elements like the Predalien or even a hybrid creature involving Alien, Predator, and Engineer DNA.

With both franchises in a healthier state than in years past, a crossover film feels inevitable. The popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium integration makes a new AVP not a matter of if, but when. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, Alien and Predator may finally clash in the epic battle fans have long awaited.