Dan Trachtenberg on Making ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’: A Great Story Even Without the Predator
Predator: Killer of Killers is set to arrive on June 6 and promises a new kind of Predator story, one that steps away from the usual setup and dives into the past.
Instead of following a single timeline, this movie takes a different route. Killer of Killers will unfold through three separate stories, each set in a completely different period in history. That means three different warriors, three different battles, and three unique encounters with the deadly Yautja hunters.
It’s not one big plot but rather an anthology showing how humans across time have clashed with the galaxy’s most fearsome predator.
Dan Trachtenberg, who directed Prey and 10 Cloverfield Lane, returns to the Predator universe for this project, and he recently shared some exciting details regarding the movie.
Trachtenberg said he picked Vikings, Feudal Japan, and World War II because he wanted to create exciting settings for the Predator to face off against. But for him, the biggest challenge was making sure the movie would still be great even without the Predator showing up.
“The hardest part was: how can the movie be awesome and a story worth telling even if there were no Predator in it,” Trachtenberg explained. This shows he wanted the story to stand on its own, not just rely on the alien creature for excitement.
Dan Trachtenberg tells us about picking the time periods of Vikings, Feudal Japan and WWII to put The Predator in for ‘PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS’
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 1, 2025
“The hardest part was: how can the movie be awesome and a story worth telling even if there were no Predator in it” pic.twitter.com/Rb28B1O4RS
Amber Midthunder, who stars in the movie, also shared her thoughts on the project. She said it’s amazing to see Trachtenberg build on his earlier work with Prey by creating a new story where the Predator battles Vikings, Samurai, and WWII pilots.
“Dan did and does such a great job of encompassing all the places that the Predator world can go,” Midthunder said. She appreciates how he expands the story’s world into different times and places.
Amber Midthunder tells us how cool it is to see Dan Trachtenberg follow up ‘PREY’ with a film featuring The Predator fighting Vikings, Samurai and WWII pilots.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 1, 2025
“Dan did and does such a great job of encompassing all the places that the Predator world can go” pic.twitter.com/LS9rPO2gpZ
The script is written by Micho Robert Rutare, best known for Z Nation. Animation is handled by The Third Floor, the same studio that’s worked on major Lucasfilm titles. Even though it’s animated, this movie is sticking to the franchise’s bloody roots. It’s rated R, and according to Hulu, fans can expect violence, intense action, and dark storytelling.
The voice cast includes Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn, a familiar face to sci-fi fans. Each actor brings their own style to the film’s different time periods.
The film doesn’t serve as a direct sequel to Prey, but it does build on some of the same ideas. Trachtenberg explained that while Killer of Killers explores the Yautja’s long history of hunting on Earth, it’s not trying to set up future sequels. It stands on its own.
“It’s a standalone story. We’re not setting up a trilogy here,” said Trachtenberg. “But we are definitely exploring how these creatures have been watching and challenging humanity for a long time.”
The story covers three warriors from different eras. One is a Viking raider who takes her son along on a violent mission for revenge. Another is a ninja from feudal Japan, caught in a deadly fight with his samurai brother.
The third is a World War II pilot who ends up facing an alien threat in the skies. Each one is a killer in their own right—but even they may not be enough to survive what’s coming.
Killer of Killers is just one of two Predator projects Trachtenberg has worked on recently. The other, Predator: Badlands, flips the usual setup and puts the Predator in the lead role. But for now, all eyes are on this animated bloodbath coming to Hulu in June.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!
