Following its recent digital debut, Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands is preparing for a physical release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD this February. For cinema enthusiasts who enjoy pulling back the curtain, this means access to a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage revealing the raw, pre-VFX reality of the production. The footage is particularly entertaining, capturing the cast’s infectious energy and the sight of lead actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi—who plays the youthful Predator, Dek—performing in what essentially looks like a high-tech Predator hoodie with his human face fully exposed.
An exclusive excerpt from the featurette “Embodying the Predator” offers a glimpse of Schuster-Koloamatangi and co-star Elle Fanning during an intense action sequence. In the film, Dek is an “unblooded” Yautja embarking on his inaugural solo hunt to fell a mythical beast on a treacherous world. Fanning handles a dual role as Thia and Tessa, humanoid synthetics. During filming, Fanning is often seen in a partial blue-screen suit, allowing the visual effects team to digitally excise her lower half for scenes where her character, Thia, has been torn asunder.
Perhaps the most endearing moment in the behind-the-scenes reel occurs when Schuster-Koloamatangi retrieves a blaster from the ground, only for an off-screen crew member to provide the “pew pew” sound effects. It’s a classic filmmaking quirk that mirrors the legendary stories of Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson making their own lightsaber noises on the Star Wars sets. The footage highlights the production’s spirited atmosphere, showing Schuster-Koloamatangi’s fierce commitment as he snarls for the facial-capture cameras or practices the intricate phonetics of the Yautja language in a recording booth.
The physical edition of Predator: Badlands arrives on February 17 and is currently available for pre-order. This version includes a robust collection of bonus content not found on the digital release, including:
- Deleted & Pre-Visualization Scenes (Optional Commentary):
- Sand Trap: An early animatic showing an alternate first meeting between Dek and Thia.
- Squirt Canyon: The unedited sequence of Dek and Thia navigating a watery trench while evading threats.
- Tessa vs. Abe: A scrapped subplot featuring a combat sequence between Tessa and a rival synthetic.
- Razor Grass: Original pre-viz footage of the trio’s initial hunt.
- The Outpost: An exploration of a Weyland-Yutani field office that provided foundation for other scenes.
- Super Power Loader Extended: Additional footage from the final confrontation with the Kalisk.
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes:
- Embodying the Predator: A deep dive into the design and performance techniques used to reinvent the iconic alien.
- Authentic Synthetics: Elle Fanning discusses the nuances of portraying two identical androids with diverging personalities.
- Building the Badlands: A look at how the production team transformed real-world locations into the lethal environment of the planet Genna.
- Dek of the Yautja: Director Dan Trachtenberg explores the expansion of Predator lore, from their home world to family structures.
- Feature Audio Commentary: Insights from Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Cinematographer Jeff Cutter, and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri.
Source: Polygon
