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Despite our name, the team here at Empire HQ can't help but love a rebel. And that's just as well, because the return of Cassian Andor in Tony Gilroy's hotly anticipated Andor Season 2 forms the world-exclusive cover feature of our stacked 2025 Preview issue — your ultimate guide to the must-see movies and shows headed our way over the next 12 months.

This month's issue hits newsstands on Thursday 21 November — and is available to pre-order online here, too. Read on for a look inside its pages.

Andor Season 2

The revolution will be televised! Following Andor's out of this world first season, Empire heads to a galaxy far, far away to talk to creator Tony Gilroy and his cast all about continuing — and completing — one of the most gripping stories the Star Wars universe has ever told. Godspeed, rebels! Words: Mike Ryan.

2025 Preview

As the curtain closes on another glorious year of blockbuster bangers,...

Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands promises to rewrite the rules of what a Predator film can be. More here.

Quick warning: strikes us there’s a mild-ish spoiler in here, that’s already all over the internet, but just in case you wanted to steer clear.

When Dan Trachtenberg released the Predator film Prey into the world in 2022, the film significantly broadened the horizons of what a Predator film could be. It wasn’t the first entry in the series to try such a thing (2010’s Predators made an admirable attempt) but it was probably the most successful.

With next year’s Predator: Badlands on the way, we’ve already been told to expect a film with ideas that are “really crazy but really cool” and it’s becoming increasingly clear that Trachtenberg isn’t content to simply repeat the trick of creating Predator sequels that jump around to interesting points in history.

Well folks, current event news is ... not great. I won't go into further detail on that, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. On top of that, the cold, dead winter is closing in, which means the sun sets around 4:30 P.M. and smothers us in darkness. Things are feeling absolutely apocalyptic right now, which brings us to the subject of this month's horror streaming column: end of the world horror movies! Yes, let's just jump head-first into the bleak uncertainty of the future by watching scary movies about end times. To compile this month's list, I stuck to some loose rules. For one thing, I tried to limit the inclusion of zombie movies — apocalyptic zombie movies are a genre unto themselves, and I'm sure I could fill up an entire list of them, but that's not what I wanted to do here. Also, since this is a horror movie list,...

Something wild just came out of the mouth of director Dan Trachtenberg, the man currently working on the next Predator film. This will be the follow-up to Prey, which Trachtenberg also directed and is regarded as the film that revitalized the franchise. Prey took chances by changing the setting to the past, focusing on a Native American warrior who must find a way to take out the deadliest hunter species in the known universe And a colony of French settlers at the same time. Those chances took off and Prey ranks in the top three of fans’ favorite Predator films. So when crafting Predator: Badlands, Trachtenberg wants to take similar leaps and go places no one’s gone. This time that means the main character won’t be a human battling the Predator, but the Predator itself! “The creature is front and center, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg said to Empire in an interview.

Pardon me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. We just got our biggest update yet about Predator: Badlands, the upcoming installment in the Predator franchise from Prey director Dan Trachtenberg, and it is a doozy. We've been reporting on the Elle Fanning-led film for a while now, but nothing could have predicted the bombshell that Trachtenberg revealed today in an exclusive interview with Empire.

It turns out, Elle Fanning isn't the hero of the next Predator movie at all. The Predator is.

“The creature is front and centre, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg explained. “He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.”

Trachtenberg explained that the idea to have the Predator serve as the lead of the new movie arose from a desire to “find another...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, 20th Century Studios has won rights to Test Drive, an original action spec from Matt Venne, to be produced by Safehouse Pictures.

While plot details are under wraps, sources said Venne secured a healthy mid-six against seven figure deal for his script. The spec had no talent or director attachments and caused a stir on the back of its concept and writing alone, in a scenario not too commonly seen these days.

Director of Development of Safehouse, Austin Bowman, found the spec. We’re told Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell will produce.

Currently staffing on Showtime’s Dexter spin-off series Dexter: Resurrection, Venne is a prolific genre writer who previously adapted Stephen King’s Bag of Bones as a limited series for A&e. He sold his series Cruel Summer, based on the same-name novel, to Legendary TV, with David Goyer boarding to produce, and also...

It has been decades since The Predator hit the screen, giving Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch the opportunity to lead his team on a mission where they face off with the Og extraterrestrial, played by Kevin Peter Hall.

Decades down the line, we have witnessed Arnie switch trades, donning the mantle of the Governor of California (twice!) and coming back from politics. In the meantime, we have been treated to 4 more iterations of the franchise, with one more set to follow next year. But it’s not the same this time around.

Predator: Badlands is set to shock fans of the franchise around the world Dan Trachtenberg ticked all the boxes off with Prey || Image by Dadilmotos, licensed under Cc By-sa 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dan Trachtenberg is back. Back for his second rodeo in the franchise. The first, Prey, starring the likes of Amber Midthunder, Dane DeLiegro, and Dakota Beavers, made...

Elle Fanning is known for being a chameleon actress, but for the upcoming “Predator” franchise installment “Predator: Badlands,” the star had to transform into multiple roles.

Director Dan Trachtenberg told Empire that Fanning was pushed “dramatically, physically, [and] logistically” during production.

“She faced intense challenges on this movie — dramatically, physically, logistically,” Trachtenberg said.

While the details of “Predator: Badlands” are still under wraps, we do know that Trachtenberg and Patrick Aison were behind the story for “Badlands,” with Aison penning the screenplay. The feature will be released by 20th Century Studios and is set in the future.

Trachtenberg previously directed “Predator” prequel “Prey,” which debuted on Hulu. “Prey” took place in 1719 and followed an Indigenous woman (Amber Midthunder) who fought for survival against alien invaders.

Trachtenberg told Empire that “Predator: Badlands” will instead have the alien creature “front and center, leading the charge” for the follow-up.

“He’s still badass, but...

Back in February, it was announced that Prey director Dan Trachtenberg would become the first filmmaker to take the helm of two films in the Predator franchise, as he was moving ahead with a new Predator film titled Badlands, working from a screenplay by Prey screenwriter Patrick Aison (based on a story crafted by Trachtenberg himself), with filming expected to begin this summer. In June, it was revealed that Super 8‘s Elle Fanning had been cast in the film. Predator: Badlands has since gone into production in New Zealand – and during a conversation with Empire, Trachtenberg revealed that the Predator is the protagonist in this movie!

According to a casting call, Predator: Badlands has the following synopsis: A groundbreaking film in which one of the two main storylines delves into the intricate bond of two very different sisters, their familial ties are put to the ultimate test as they pursue divergent paths and missions.

When Prey arrived on Hulu in 2022, not only was it a critical darling but a streaming hit that made it clear movie fans are still invested in the Predator franchise...when it's handled well.

Filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg returns for next year's Predator: Badlands which, while not a direct follow-up, is a theatrical release set in the same world. Plot details are few and far between, but he tells Empire (via SFFGazette.com) that this movie's protagonist will be the Predator itself.

"The creature is front and centre, leading the charge," he teases. "He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting."

Trachtenberg would go on to explain that he wanted to "find another essential piece of cinema that does what Prey did spiritually — pushing the franchise’s boundaries, letting...

Director Dan Trachtenberg completely reinvented the "Predator" franchise in 2022 with the release of his much-acclaimed prequel "Prey." The film took the series back decades to pit a Comanche against the famed cinematic alien hunter with thrilling results. So, how does one follow up such a refreshing reinvention of a long-running saga? By doing it again in an entirely new way.

Next year will see the release of "Predator: Badlands," which is getting a theatrical release rather than being dumped straight to Hulu like "Prey." In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Trachtenberg, who returns to the director's chair, dished some intriguing details about the film, which will be set in the future rather than the past. Most intriguing of all though is that the Predator will be our protagonist this time around, rather than purely a villain. Here's what Trachtenberg had to say about it:

"The creature is front and center,...

The Predator franchise will return to the big screen in November 2025 with Dan Trachtenberg’s (10 Cloverfield Lane) Predator: Badlands, with Elle Fanning starring in a brand new story. Speaking with Empire, Trachtenberg has dropped one hell of an exciting tease.

The main protagonist of the upcoming Predator: Badlands? A Predator!

“The creature is front and centre, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg tells Empire. “He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with, but are also super-intimidated by, has been challenging. But exciting.”

Like with Prey, Trachtenberg’s goal with Predator: Badlands was to “push the franchise’s boundaries,” allowing fans the opportunity to root for the Predator this time around.

Empire also notes in the sneak preview piece today, which additionally includes a behind the scenes shot from Badlands (below), that the film takes place entirely on an alien planet.

The Predator franchise has, over the years, given us all kinds of heroes. We got Arnie’s rippling muscles in the original; Danny Glover’s LA cop in the sequel; a gaggle of reprobates in Predators; and, most recently, Amber Midthunder’s Comanche warrior Naru in Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey. But for his next Predator outing, Trachtenberg has something very different planned. 2025 will see the release of Predator: Badlands (as well as another film in the franchise that he shot simultaneously in secret), which isn’t exactly a follow-up to Prey but a future-set tale taking place on an alien planet. And, most importantly, it brings a very different kind of Predator protagonist: the Predator itself.

“The creature is front and centre, leading the charge,” Trachtenberg grins, speaking to Empire in the Andor Season 2 issue. “He’s still badass, but there’s something there that touches you emotionally, too. Creating a character you connect with,...

In the 2020s—a.k.a. the era of perpetual franchise expansion—filmmakers have uncovered a bold solution to one of the problems with this type of infinite growth. If you have the same smiling villain or humanoid parasite terrorizing a new batch of good-guys every single movie, things get boring fast.

After being delayed several months by the writers strike and the actors strike, season 5 of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things (which is also the last season of the show) finally went into production at the start of the year and is now deep into its twelve month shooting schedule… and while a premiere date for the last batch of episodes hasn’t yet been announced, it’s drawing near, as evidenced by the recent teaser reveal of every episode’s title. As for what we can expect from the final season of Stranger Things, cast member Finn Wolfhard has let it be known that “a lot of action sequences” is on the list.

Stranger Things has the following synopsis: A love letter to the ‘80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After...

Back in February, it was announced that Prey director Dan Trachtenberg would become the first filmmaker to take the helm of two films in the Predator franchise, as he was moving ahead with a new Predator film titled Badlands, working from a screenplay by Prey screenwriter Patrick Aison (based on a story crafted by Trachtenberg himself). That movie started filming in New Zealand earlier this year, with Super 8‘s Elle Fanning in the lead, aiming for a November 7, 2025 theatrical release – and last week, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell let it slip that we’re actually getting two new additions to the Predator franchise, both directed by Trachtenberg, in 2025! During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Asbell referred to Predator: Badlands as “the live-action Predator film,” stirring speculation that the other movie might be animated. Now, io9 reports that “multiple sources” have told them the secret Predator movie that...

With both Alien and Predator franchises resurgent, 20th Century Studios appears to be considering a new meet-up for their title creatures.

It’s been a long time since the Alien and Predator franchises in the ascendancy. That’s where we are right now though, with Fede Alverez and Dan Trachtenberg respectively restoring each series to some modicum of its former glory. Alverez made this year’s well-received Alien: Romulus, while in 2022 Trachtenberg retooled the Predator series with Prey.

Both films have confirmed follow-ups on the way and in the case of Trachtenberg, he’s also helmed a ‘secret’ Predator film that will debut before Predator: Badlands arrives. Along with Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth TV show that’s also in the pipeline, there’s plenty of franchise potential bubbling away, right there.

So rewind to a few months back when Alverez was on the press tour for Alien: Romulus then,...

It's truly a great time to be a fan of classic sci-fi creature horror films. Last year, the Predator franchise got a huge shot of adrenaline in the form of Prey, which saw the alien hunter face off against the Comanche warrior Naru (Amber Midthunder) on the Great Plains in the early 1700s. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, Prey revitalized the franchise in a huge way; if you ask me, it's arguably the best Predator movie in the entire series, and I say this as someone who grew up obsessed with the first two films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover, respectively.

Then, this year, we got two more big sci-fi sequels from 20th Century: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Alien: Romulus. And similar to Prey, both were huge hits that have the studio keen to capitalize on the momentum and make sequels.

That's no longer just conjecture.

Dan Trachtenberg, director of 2022’s straight-to-streaming, Emmy-winning Prey movie, has another two Predator projects on the horizon — including a top-secret one that might again debut on Hulu.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning and set, per some reports, in the “near future,” would hit theaters on Nov. 7, 2025.

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But beating Badlands to your eyeballs may be a second Predator project,...

A follow-up to ‘Alien: Romulus’ is in development at 20th Century Studios.The sci-fi-horror - which starred Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson - terrified audiences when it hit theatres in August and now the studio’s boss Steve Asbell has revealed that the company are trying to get the two actors and director Fede Alvarez back for another movie.He told The Hollywood Reporter: "We’re working on a sequel idea now. We haven’t quite closed our deal with Fede, but we are going to, and he has an idea that we’re working on. "The two survivors, Rain and Andy, played by Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, were real highlights of the film. And so I always think of it like, ‘Wow, where do people want to see them go next?’"We know there’s going to be aliens. We know there’s going to be great horror set pieces.

The chief of 20th Century Studios has revealed that Dan Trachtenberg has made not one, but two Predator films… and they’re both releasing next year.

Well, here’s something of a shocker. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Studio chief Steve Asbell was asked to confirm that next year’s Predator: Badlands would be getting a cinema release. As you’ll likely know, Dan Trachtenberg restored the Predator franchise to its former glory in 2022 with Prey, a storming prequel that as well as being a terrific film, also significantly broadened the canvas for what a Predator movie could be. Trachtenberg’s follow-up, Predator: Badlands is due next year, set in the future and seems like it might be looking to tear up the Predator rulebook all over again.

Prey went straight to streaming, but in confirming that Badlands would definitely get a cinema release, Asbell also...

Two classic sci-fi horror franchises were recently given new leases of life, with the Predator returning to hunt his Prey in Dan Trachtenberg's 2022 movie, and the Xenomorphs back to their chest-bursting best in this year's Alien: Romulus.

Both films were critically-acclaimed and very popular with audiences, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to learn that Disney-owned 20th Century Studios is planning more instalments.

We already knew that a Prey spin-off titled Badlands was in the works, but 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell has now revealed that a "secret" Predator movie will also be with us next year that will also be helmed by Trachtenberg. Badlands will be a theatrical release, but it sounds like this other film will be going straight to streaming.

"There’s a second Predator movie that we have different plans for. Dan has actually directed both. There’s a secret Predator...

Legacy sci-fi franchise fans — roll up, roll up! We've got Alien news, we've got Predator news, and we've even got — wait for it — some Alien Vs. Predator news. Earlier today, THR published an extensive new interview with 20th Century Studios head honcho Steve Asbell in celebration of the Disney-owned studio's hit-filled summer. And whilst the conversation was filled with exciting upcoming project teases (a Miss Marple movie! Speed 3! The long-awaited Master And Commander prequel!), it was Asbell's updates on the state of play with the division's future Xenomorphian and Yautjan plans.

First up, Asbell revealed that Fede Alvarez is working on ideas for an Alien: Romulus sequel already, with the hope being that stars David Jonsson and Cailee Spaeny would be in the tank for a return. "We haven’t quite closed our deal with Fede [Alvarez], but we are going to, and he has an idea that we’re working on,...

The Alien and Predator franchises are both back in a big way after the streaming success of Prey and the theatrical success of Alien: Romulus, with Dan Trachtenberg returning to direct not one but Two new Predator movies that are both releasing next year. What about the future of the Alien franchise, you might be wondering? We’ve got an update this week.

Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter for a massive piece that dropped the surprising news about the Predator franchise’s two upcoming movies, 20th Century Studios head Steve Asbell has also revealed that a follow-up movie to Alien: Romulus is being actively discussed.

Asbell teases, “We’re working on a sequel idea now. We haven’t quite closed our deal with Fede [Alvarez], but we are going to, and he has an idea that we’re working on.”

“The two survivors, Rain and Andy, played by Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson,...

One of the less immediately depressing things about Hollywood's current overdose on tentpole franchises is that when someone does manage to make some money by doing something creative from the bowels of the IP Dimension—as director Dan Trachtenberg did with his excellent, tense-as-hell Predator installment Prey—they tend to...

It is still sad to think that "Prey," the best "Predator" movie since the original, ended up going straight to Hulu. The film, which goes back in time to colonial days and follows a young Comanche woman who crosses paths with a Predator and must survive the alien's attacks — as well as brutal French fur traders — revitalized the "Predator" franchise and proved how versatile it can be when in the right hands.

It also proved that there was a big audience for these movies, and led to "Alien: Romulus" actually getting a theatrical release. Unsurprisingly, "Prey" was only the beginning, and it didn't take long before another movie was announced. Though we knew about "Badlands," a movie directed by "Prey" director Dan Trachtenberg and starring Elle Fanning, 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell told The Hollywood Reporter that there is another secret "Predator" movie in the works — and coming next year.

The Predator franchise will return to the big screen in November 2025 with Dan Trachtenberg’s (10 Cloverfield Lane) Predator: Badlands, with Elle Fanning set to star in a brand new story. Additionally, 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell has spilled the beans in a new chat with The Hollywood Reporter that a second new Predator movie is also coming!

Asbell tells the outlet, “After Prey became a success, Dan [Trachtenberg] came back and said he didn’t want to do Prey 2. And we’re like, ‘What do you want to do?’ And he rattled off a bunch of ideas that were really crazy but really cool. We’ve actually done two of them.

“Two are coming out next year,” Asbell continues. “One I can’t talk about yet, but the other one is the live-action Predator film with Elle Fanning that just wrapped in New Zealand.”

The one movie is of course Predator: Badlands,...

Earlier this week, Disney pulled Marvel‘s “Blade” movie from its November 7, 2025 release date and replaced it with Dan Tracthenberg‘s upcoming “Badlands,” his follow-up to 2022’s “Prey.” But apparently that’s not the only “Predator” film on the way from 20th Century Studios…

Read More: ‘Badlands’: Elle Fanning To Star In ‘Predator’ Spinoff Film From ‘Prey’ Director

In a new sit-down with THR, studio head Steve Asbell unveiled that Trachtenberg has not one but two “Predator” movies on the way next year.

Continue reading Dan Trachtenberg Shot A Second Secret ‘Predator’ Movie 20th Century Studios Will Release Before ‘Badlands’ Hits Theaters Next Year at The Playlist.

Back in February, it was announced that Prey director Dan Trachtenberg would become the first filmmaker to take the helm of two films in the Predator franchise, as he was moving ahead with a new Predator film titled Badlands, working from a screenplay by Prey screenwriter Patrick Aison (based on a story crafted by Trachtenberg himself). That movie started filming in New Zealand earlier this year, with Super 8‘s Elle Fanning in the lead – and earlier this week, it was revealed that Disney / 20th Century Studios will be giving Predator: Badlands a theatrical release on November 7, 2025. Now, during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell let it slip that we’re actually getting two additions to the Predator franchise in 2025! They’re also plotting an Alien: Romulus sequel with that film’s director, Fede Alvarez – and they’re “probably” going to make another Alien vs. Predator movie.

Following the popularity of the Karate Kid franchise, when Cobra Kai brought back popular faces from the original 1984 film, it became one of the best things that fans witnessed on television. One of the renowned stars who reprised her role in the show was Elisabeth Shue. Although her character was abruptly written off in the original franchise, Shue gathered the courage to return to the Karate Kid universe.

Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills in The Karate Kid (1984) | Image: Columbia Pictures

Well, the Prey director Dan Trachtenberg had a major role in convincing the actress to reprise her role in Cobra Kai. Apparently while working with Elisabeth Shue on Prime Video’s The Boys, Trachtenberg had almost nudged the actress to agree to make her widely celebrated return to the Karate Kid universe.

Elisabeth Shue Revealed How Dan Trachtenberg Convinced Her for Cobra Kai

In the original 1984 classic The Karate Kid film,...

Marvel Studios’ troubled Blade reboot won’t be arriving late next year, as its November 2025 slot is taken by Predator: Badlands.

Marvel Studios’ Blade will not be coming out on November 7th 2025. If you’ve been following the development woes of this particular project, that news won’t come as a surprise to you given that the above date is little more than a year away – and as yet, the film doesn’t officially have a director. For all we know, it doesn’t even have a finished script.

Back in September we covered a story that stated The Harder They Fall director Jeymes Samuel was in line for the director’s chair, a move which would have seen the filmmaker become the project’s third director following the departures of Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange. Not long after however, Samuels debunked that report from World Of Reel, stating that...

Marvel first announced that it was making a new movie about Blade, the half-vampire vampire hunter played by Wesley Snipes in a trilogy of movies released between 1998 and 2004, in 2019, when it was still flinging spaghetti against the wall and hoping enough stuck to make people happy. Five years later, Blade has become a poster child for the discombobulation of our current Marvel era. It's been delayed multiple times and cycled through a number of directors, including Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange. Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali is still attached as the title character and Mia Goth is playing the supervillain Lilith, but at this rate who knows if we'll actually ever see them onscreen?

That question is coming up again now that Disney has bumped Blade from its latest release date of November 7, 2025, according to Deadline. The movie isn't on the studio's schedule at all anymore, although Disney has secured three new...

After being delayed several months by the writers strike and the actors strike, season 5 of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things (which is also the last season of the show) finally went into production at the start of the year and is now deep into its twelve month shooting schedule… and during an appearance at the Happy Sad Confused podcast’s 10th anniversary celebration, cast member David Harbour said the series finale will be worth the wait, because it’s the best episode they’ve ever done.

Stranger Things has the following synopsis: A love letter to the ‘80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events.

Marvel Studios’ Blade reboot to star Mahershala Ali has been removed the calendar and its November 7 2025 release date is now occupied by Twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands.

Disney also scheduled three untitled Marvel tentpoles for 2028 and will release them on February 18, May 5, and November 10.

Blade has had a tumultuous ride of late. The vampire action thriller had been in pre-production in the first half of 2023 when it became the first film to be impacted by last year’s Hollywood strikes.

Yann Demange exited as director after he had replaced Bassam Tariq. Ali and Mia Goth are on board and it...

It was during San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 that Marvel announced two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would play the superhero Blade in a new Marvel film set to arrive in theaters potentially as soon as late 2021 or early 2022.

Now five years later, Ali’s stab at Blade remains unmade. On Tuesday, Disney quietly announced that it had pulled the Marvel film from its scheduled release date of November 7, 2025. No new date has been publicly announced.

Progress on “Blade” has been slow and unsteady. Since the announcement in 2019, the project has cycled through two directors – Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange – and several writers. Ali was originally supposed to star alongside Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo in the film but both actors have since departed the project. Mia Goth was still attached, however, when she was doing press for “Maxxxine” this past summer.

“They really care, they do. They want to make a great movie.

When Wesley Snipes' iconic Daywalker quipped, "There's been only one Blade! There's only ever gonna be one Blade!" in Marvel's mutant mash-up Deadpool & Wolverine this summer, it was hard to know whether to laugh or wince. After all, Marvel Studios has been trying — and struggling — to get their own Blade movie off the ground ever since announcing Mahershala Ali would be the McU's vampire hunter in Hall H at San Diego Comic Con way back in 2019. And now, following the departures of both director Bassam Tariq and his successor Yann Demange, it's starting to look like Snipes' zinger may well have heralded the final nail being driven into Blade's coffin.

Per Deadline's reporting, Marvel's Blade has lost its already pretty ambitious 7 November, 2025 release slot to Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands. And whilst this news doesn't come with any formal cancellation announcement for the movie, which was set to see...

Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are all heading our way next year and, up until today, so was Blade. 

It's been pretty obvious for a while that it wouldn't arrive in theaters on November 7, 2025, especially as there was no mention of it at events like San Diego Comic-Con and D23 earlier this summer. Now, Disney has confirmed that by removing the Daywalker's solo outing from its release schedule. 

As a result, the Blade reboot is undated and delayed indefinitely. 

On the plus side, Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands has taken Blade's place next November. Disney has also dated three untitled Marvel Studios movies for February 18, 2028, May 5, 2028, and November 10, 2028. 

For what it's worth, scooper @MyTimeToShineH says, "Blade [is] not dead so don't bury it yet."

Is one of those the long-awaited X-Men reboot? We'd be shocked if it isn't, though Marvel Studios might...

Even though it seems obvious at this point, sad as that may be, Marvel's long gestating "Blade" reboot has officially lost its release date. The film, which is due to star Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali was previously set to hit theaters on November 7, 2025. That's no longer happening, leaving the project on uncertain ground. There is some good news, however, as Disney has opted to give that release date to something both deserving and exciting.

Disney has now officially given "Prey" director Dan Trachtenberg's new "Predator" movie "Predator: Badlands" the November release date previously reserved for "Blade." That means this one will get a theatrical release, unlike "Prey," which was dumped directly to Hulu in 2022. That release strategy has long been viewed as a mistake by Disney as the film was met with rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It presumably would have done big business at the box office,...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot of Blade has had a long, rough ride through the development process, and as of right now it doesn’t even have a director attached. So there probably weren’t many Marvel fans who were expecting the movie to stick with its November 7, 2025 release date – and therefore, few will be surprised or disappointed to hear that Blade has indeed been bumped out of 2025. Deadline reports that Disney will be releasing 20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands on November 7, 2025 instead of Marvel’s vampire slayer movie.

The fact that there was going to be a Blade reboot as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Mashershala Ali in the title role, came as a huge surprise when the announcement was made at the San Diego Comic-Con back in July of 2019… but we’ve passed the five year anniversary of that announcement, and there’s still no sign...

It has been more than five years since Marvel Studios initially announced that Mahershala Ali would star in a new version of “Blade,” but this vampire is still in its coffin as Disney has removed the film from its release slate and is now delayed indefinitely.

In its place, Disney will release a new “Predator” film titled “Predator: Badlands” in theaters on Nov. 7, 2025. The film marks the return of the ’80s horror icon to theaters after the critically acclaimed film “Prey” was released as a Hulu exclusive in 2022, with Dan Trachtenberg returning to direct and Elle Fanning in the lead role.

“Blade” has suffered repeated setbacks stemming both from its development process and from outside factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and last year’s industry strikes. The film lost its second director, Yann Demange, back in June and has gone through several rewrites.

“For the last few years, as...

The Predator is returning to theaters, with Predator: Badlands arriving on Nov. 7, 2025.

The move comes after 20th Century Studios’ historical Predator feature Prey became a sleeper hit on Hulu in 2022. Prey director Dan Trachtenberg returns to helm Badlands, with Elle Fanning starring. Until now, it was unclear if the film would be for streaming for theatrical.

Predator takes the spot of Marvel Studios’ long-gestating Blade, which Disney removed from the release calendar. The move is not a surprise, as Blade is currently without a director and has faced numerous delays.

Marvel Studios announced Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, but has hit a number of snags on the way to the screen, including the pandemic, labor strikes and losing two filmmakers. But the studio is intent on making the film, which stars Mahershala Ali as the titular vampire hunter. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige confirmed his commitment to the project in July,...

In the wake of Dan Trachtenberg’s (10 Cloverfield Lane) Prey going straight to Hulu back in 2022, we’ve learned that Disney will be releasing the follow-up film in theaters.

Also being directed by Trachtenberg, Predator: Badlands releases on November 7, 2025. Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon) has been set to star in the fresh new installment.

It’s interesting to note that November 7, 2025 had been the date occupied by Marvel’s long-delayed Blade reboot, but that project has now been bumped off the schedule completely.

Dan Trachtenberg is on board to co-write and direct Badlands. We don’t know much of anything about the movie at this time, but we understand it’s set to be another solo movie rather than a sequel to Prey. Stay tuned for more on Predator: Badlands as we learn it.

Amber Midthunder starred in Hulu’s Prey as a Comanche woman who goes against gender...

America’s obsession with extraterrestrial beings gave birth to the alien invasion trope in the genre of science fiction films, serving as both a reflection of cultural anxieties and a vehicle for exploring profound existential questions. Emerging in the mid-20th century, particularly during the Cold War, these films tapped into fears of the unknown, foreign threats, and the potential consequences of technological advancement. These films cast aliens as vicious invaders hellbent on humanity’s annihilation or innocuous intergalactic travelers victimized by our own inhumanity to strangers.

Films such as “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951), “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978), “Alien” (1979), “Independence Day” (1996), “Cloverfield” (2008), and “Arrival” (2016) illustrate how the genre mirrored societal concerns while also probing deeper questions about identity, morality, and humanity’s place in the universe. This enduring trope has evolved, adapting to contemporary issues while remaining a captivating element of American popular films, highlighting our fascination...

After much speculation, literary management outfit Grandview has officially been acquired by global investment firm Tpg and will merge with the already Tpg-owned talent management firm Untitled.

The combined company will be known as Untitled, while Tpg has announced that its entertainment-centric outfit which it launched in the summer when it acquired a majority stake in Untitled will be named Initial Group. In today’s announcement, Tpg noted that Grandview will bolster Untitled’s efforts in lit representation.

Jeff Silver and Matt Rosen, who co-founded Grandview, will be named managing partners with Untitled’s founding partners Jason Weinberg and Stephanie Simon. Grandview’s Merideth Bajana, Jeremy Platt, and Ben Rowe will join Untitled partners Evan Hainey, Elise Konialian, Jennifer Levine, Jason Newman, Steven Nossokoff, and Alissa Vradenburg.

Grandview’s client list includes top filmmaking names like Joseph Kosinski, Hiro Murai, Adam Wingard, and Dan Trachtenberg.

“Ten years ago, we started...

Exclusive: Netflix has acquired the spec script Out There, a high-concept sci-fi thriller in the vein of A Quite Place and Cloverfield. Netflix intends to make this one for a price, and it will mark the directorial debut of Stefan Grube, the veteran film editor. Script is by Shane Van Dyke, Carey Van Dyke and Ian Levy. The Van Dykes’ credits include Don’t Worry Darling and Levy produced Pay the Ghost.

The Picture Company partners Alex Heineman & Andrew Rona will produce along with Josie Liang of Space Bandit. Nick Meyer of Sierra Pictures will serve as executive producer.

Grube hails from the world of post-production, having collaborated with directors Dan Trachtenberg, Jason Reitman and JJ Abrams. His editing credits include films such as 10 Cloverfield Lane, Tully, The Front Runner, and Star Wars: Episode IX. He has also crafted some of the better trailers of the past decade.

The logline is currently under wraps,...

Exclusive Updated: Private equity firm Tpg has revealed the name of the talent management-centric company it launched in June in conjunction with acquiring a majority stake in Untitled Entertainment. Named Initial Group, the subsidiary has made a second investment, completing the long-rumored acquisition of literary management firm Grandview. It will be combined under the banner of the larger, actor-focused Untitled, significantly bolstering its lit representation capabilities.

Jeff Silver and Matt Rosen, who co-founded Grandview, have been named Managing Partners of the combined company, joining Untitled’s founding partners Jason Weinberg and Stephanie Simon.

Additionally, Grandview’s Merideth Bajana, Jeremy Platt, and Ben Rowe will be joining the Untitled partner ranks that include Evan Hainey, Elise Konialian, Jennifer Levine, Jason Newman, recently promoted Steven Nossokoff, and Alissa Vradenburg.

Tpg, which a year ago sold its majority stake in CAA, in June acquired the Untitled majority stake from Canada-based Boat Rocker and...

The character of Jim Hopper on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things has a tragic history, having lost a young daughter named Sara to cancer – an illness he blames on the fact that he served in the Chemical Corps during the Vietnam War and worked with Agent Orange. Sara was glimpsed in flashbacks in the season 1 finale, where she was played by child actress Elle Graham. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is currently in production, and Sara will be making another appearance in this last batch of episodes – but that Stranger Things season 1 finale was eight years ago, so Graham, who is now 15 years old, has aged out of the role. That’s why Carmen Cuba Casting has sent out a casting call letting us know that Stranger Things is looking for a new, US-based actress who resembles Graham and can play Sara in Stranger Things season...

Join your horror hosts Kimmi & Jon as they close out their No Dead Doggos double-feature with Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey (2022). Yeah, the Predator is cool and all, and Naru (Amber Midthunder) is one of the best action heroes of the last decade, but the real star of the show is an adorably ferocious little dog named Sarii (played by Coco).

Dogs are often the first victims of horror movies, and if you have a hard time watching pups get hurt on screen, never fear! The Nightmare on Film Street podcast is here to help make you a couple of badass recommendations with exactly zero dead dogs. Oh, and somewhere in there we also talk about all the rad set pieces in this epic masterpiece of Action/Sci-Fi/Horror…and how it’s still a crime that this movie went straight to streaming. Join ussss…

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After being delayed several months by the writers strike and the actors strike, season 5 of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things (which is also the last season of the show) finally went into production at the start of the year and is now deep into its twelve month shooting schedule… So deep, in fact, that the cast has gotten together for a read-through the script for the final episode – and while speaking with ComicBook.com, cast member David Harbour revealed there was “heavy weeping” during the reading of that script.

Stranger Things has the following synopsis: A love letter to the ‘80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events.

2024 got off to a very rough start at the box office, particularly in regards to mainstream horror releases. In 2022 and 2023, horror proved to be one of the most bankable genres that theaters could depend on in the aftermath of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the likes of "Night Swim," "Imaginary," "Abigail," and others disappointed earlier this year. Things have rebounded and we now have hits such as "A Quiet Place: Day One" and the unexpected $100 million hit that was "Longlegs." One movie stands tall above the rest though, and that movie is "Alien: Romulus." Even more crazy to consider? That movie nearly went straight to Hulu.

On its fourth weekend in theaters, director Fede Alvarez's "Romulus" added another $3.9 million to its ever-growing total domestically. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" took the lion's share of the attention with a massive $111 million opening, but the latest "Alien" movie is still holding its own. To that end,...