Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises are in for a thrilling 2025, with exciting new projects on the horizon. From the Predator universe, we have two new films from acclaimed director Dan Trachtenberg: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers. On the Alien front, Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo and Legion, is bringing us the FX series Alien: Earth. While these projects aren’t officially connected, the rich history of Alien and Predator sharing a universe, through films, comics, and video games, hints at potential crossover opportunities.

Analyzing the promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth suggests that Disney might be laying the groundwork for a new Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover. Let's delve deeper into the developments within these franchises and explore the reasons why we might see AVP return to the big screen sooner rather than later.

The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential AVP crossover. It reveals that Elle Fanning will play a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with ties to a new Predator named Dek, who is confirmed to be the film’s protagonist. While a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film doesn't automatically signal an Alien crossover, it gains significance when paired with new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.

The Gestation Complete teaser for Alien: Earth is packed with Easter eggs linked to Alien lore. It features the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, leading to an egg sac reminiscent of one seen in Alien: Romulus. A mutated facehugger-like creature emerges, contained on a ship similar to the Nostromo, but named the Maginot. The creature, designated as "Species 37," is noted for its unknown DNA by the ship’s computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that the series is set two years before the events of Alien, this could indicate how Weyland-Yutani first discovered the Xenomorphs.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The Alien and Predator franchises have been part of a shared universe since the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator. This connection was further cemented in Predator 2 with a Xenomorph skull on the Predator’s trophy wall. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games reinforced this shared universe, long before the concept became mainstream with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Despite the early success of the AVP concept, the two films released in the 2000s, Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, failed to resonate with audiences due to poor critical reception. Although they were financially successful, the franchise 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, which the AVP films did not meet. The 2010s saw further challenges with the Prometheus series and Shane Black’s The Predator, but recent successes like Prey and Alien: Romulus have revitalized both franchises.

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

A sequel to Alien: Romulus is currently in development, with director Fede Álvarez expressing interest in directing an AVP film. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining connections to the Prometheus series. With characters Rain Carradine and Andy in stasis heading to Yvaga III, a sequel could explore their continued journey. Meanwhile, Predator: Badlands is set in space, potentially allowing for cameos or Easter eggs hinting at a connection to Romulus.

Álvarez has suggested that the best AVP film would surprise audiences by revealing the crossover element unexpectedly. He told Collider, “The best AVP will be the one that you don’t know is AVP until the other guy shows up. You think you’re watching a Predator movie, and then they land in some place and there are creatures, and fucking hell, it’s a Xenomorph. That would get me. … Or vice versa, you’re in an Alien movie, and then suddenly a mysterious creature is there, and you can hear that sound, and you see the cloak, and you go, ‘Is that a fucking Predator?’”

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

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Álvarez's enthusiasm for an AVP project offers hope for a successful new take on the crossover. The previous AVP films, set on contemporary Earth, were limited in scope and failed to engage audiences with their characters. A new AVP could start fresh, potentially featuring Dek from Predator: Badlands as the lead and exploring the Predalien concept further. The introduction of Engineer mutagen could even create a terrifying hybrid of Alien, Predator, and Engineer.

With both Alien and Predator franchises in a healthier state than they've been in years, the idea of a crossover film is likely on Disney’s radar. Given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium integration, a new AVP feels inevitable. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, these iconic monsters might finally get the epic big screen battle they deserve.