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A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of Predator: Badlands
Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands has recently made its digital debut, and fans can look forward to a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release in February. This means that behind-the-scenes footage from the set is now available for enthusiasts who love getting an inside look at how effects-heavy films are made. The footage is not only informative but also entertaining, especially because it captures the fun and creativity involved in the production.
One of the highlights of the making-of content is the featurette titled “Embodying the Predator,” which features Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as the young Predator Dek and co-star Elle Fanning. In the film, Dek is an unblooded Predator on his first major solo hunt, attempting to take down a legendary beast on a lethal planet. Fanning plays a dual role as Thia and Tessa, two humanoid androids built to the same design. In one scene, Fanning is seen lying on the ground in a half-blue-screen suit, with her lower half digitally removed later in post-production.
The footage is particularly amusing due to the actors’ enthusiasm and the playful nature of the scenes. Schuster-Koloamatangi is seen running around in what looks like a Predator hoodie, with his human face visible. This adds a humorous touch to the otherwise intense action sequences. One of the most memorable moments is when Schuster-Koloamatangi grabs a blaster pistol off the ground, and someone off-screen makes “pew pew pew” noises to simulate the sound of the weapon being fired. This kind of on-set humor echoes the stories from the Star Wars prequels, where actors made lightsaber noises during combat scenes.
The Physical Release and Additional Features
The physical release of Predator: Badlands is scheduled for February 17 and is currently available for pre-order. It includes a variety of bonus features that are not available on the digital version. Here are some of the highlights:
Deleted & Pre-Visualization Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary:
- Sand Trap– An early animatic version of Dek’s very different first encounter with Thia.
- Squirt Canyon– The full version of Dek and Thia traversing the water-filled trench while trying to survive Genna… and each other.
- Tessa vs. Abe– Tessa faces off against a superior synth in this deleted scene and storyline.
- Razor Grass– The original previsualization of Dek, Thia, and Bud’s first hunt together… sort of.
- The Outpost– Thia takes Dek to a small Weyland-Yutani field facility where they experience a few things that ended up being used elsewhere in the final film.
- Super Power Loader Extended– Special additional moments during Dek’s climactic final battle with the Super Power Loader and the Kalisk.
Featurettes:
- Embodying the Predator– Meet the talented team of designers, performers, and effects artists responsible for bringing one of cinema’s most terrifying creatures to life on screen in ways we’ve never seen before!
- Authentic Synthetics– Get up close and personal with synths Thia and Tessa as star Elle Fanning walks us through the process of crafting two characters who may look the same but have evolved in surprisingly unique ways.
- Building the Badlands– With razor sharp grass, killer trees, and terrifying animals, never has a planet been more deadly than Genna. Uncover how a team of artisans built this threatening landscape, transforming real locations into the dangerous environments seen on screen.
- Dek of the Yautja– For the first time ever, director Dan Trachtenberg has given audiences an extended peek at Predator culture. Follow the evolution as filmmakers reveal the process behind developing the Yautja’s home world, spacecraft, and family dynamics.
Audio Commentary:
- Watch the film with audio commentary by Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter, and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri.
These additional features provide a deeper understanding of the creative process behind Predator: Badlands, making the physical release a must-have for fans of the franchise.