Predator 5 - What We Know So Far

Since it first clawed its way onto the scene with its 1987 debut, the Predator franchise has captivated sci-fi viewers with its deep lore, uniquely terrifying creature design, and visceral action. Now, after four mainline entries (not to mention the occasionally problematic Alien vs. Predator series), a fifth movie has officially been announced. In November 2020, Deadline confirmed that Predator 5 is in development.

At the time of Deadline's report, they didn't have much information about the upcoming fifth installment, other than that it's being helmed by 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg with a screenplay by Patrick Aison, who has written on shows like Jack Ryan and Kingdom. However, shortly after the news dropped, some dedicated fans of the franchise presented a few very intriguing rumors and theories about the new movie. If they prove to be true, it would take the Predator series in a totally unique and exciting direction.

Here's what we know — and what's being speculated — so far about Predator 5.

As far as a potential release date goes, we're mostly in the dark, as Deadline's report didn't indicate how far along the project is.

But that's not the only information about Predator 5 we have. Shortly after the news was released, Trachtenberg took to social media to acknowledge the reporting and in doing so, dropped a breadcrumb about the progress of his upcoming movie. In a tweet, he said, "This was meant to be a surprise. Been working on this for almost 4 years now. I am very sad that what we had in store for how you could discover this movie will no longer happen. It's a bummer. But also...YAY!"

While that doesn't give us a release date, or even a release window, it is an indication that a lot of work has already been done on the project. This could be an indication that we'll be getting the film sooner, rather than later. And that should be an exciting prospect for Predator fans, as there are a lot of rumors swirling this secret project. One particular rumor implicates the film's distribution method, if not its exact date of release. In June 2021, reports started circulating that "Predator 5" was headed straight to Hulu, bypassing a traditional theatrical window (via ComicBook.com). While we can't find any reputable sources confirming these rumors (yet), it's certainly a possibility to keep an eye on.

Past installments of the Predator franchise have featured memorable protagonists played by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Glover, and Adrien Brody. With the announcement of each new installment, there's usually chatter about whether previous characters will return, or if the stars of old will come back for a cameo. Although nothing has been rumored or confirmed in regards to casting, based on the speculation about the setting for the film, it seems very unlikely that any former Predator stars will be making a comeback.

That's because, according to rumors, Predator 5 isn't set in modern times. We'll dive further into the possible plot details in a moment, but franchise fansite AVP Galaxy reports that sources have told them the movie will take place in the Americas before European colonization. There has been some contradicting information floating around that indicates the movie will actually take place during the Civil War. While that claim has appeared in places like the franchise's Wikipedia page, there's no clear source for that particular rumor. 

We do know at least one new actor who has allegedly been cast in the film. Legion alum Amber Midthunder will be facing off against the Predator, according to CinemaBlend. The official addition of the native New Mexican actress seems to confirm AVP Galaxy's early reporting, so expect to hear more indigenous names added to the cast in the future.

Alright, now onto the good stuff. In his tweet confirming the news that he is directing Predator 5, Trachtenberg referenced the fact that he'd been keeping the movie a secret and had a plan for how the project would be revealed that didn't involve an announcement in Deadline. It wasn't long after that fans began putting the pieces of this plan together.

In 2019, Discussing Film reported that Trachtenberg was working on a new project titled Skulls, which was said to be about "a Comanche woman who goes against gender norms and traditions to become a warrior." That announcement didn't raise any flags at the time. But once the news that Trachtenberg was attached to Predator 5 dropped, AVP Galaxy and other sites speculated that Skulls was likely a codename for Predator 5 used to keep the true nature of the project a secret. Considering the other Predator movies have taken place in modern settings, it's easy to see how, if marketed correctly, audiences wouldn't immediately guess a movie about an indigenous woman set in the past was the latest entry in the franchise.

Now, the Skulls-Predator 5 connection hasn't been officially confirmed by Trachtenberg, but the fact that both movies are being made for the same studio and have the same screenwriter attached makes the theory seem very likely. We will have to wait for more official details to confirm these rumors, but if they are true, it should make for a very intriguing new installment in the franchise.