Director Dan Trachtenberg has revealed that Arnold Schwarzenegger is eager to explore new possibilities for his character Dutch in the Predator franchise. This development comes following Dutch’s recent cameo in the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers, reigniting interest in the action hero’s storyline decades after Schwarzenegger’s original 1987 film appearance.
At 78, Schwarzenegger has only portrayed Dutch in the initial Predator movie, but his involvement with the franchise remains strong. Trachtenberg shared with Empire magazine that during their meeting, Schwarzenegger expressed enthusiasm about future projects involving his iconic role. Reflecting on the actor’s famous line, the director remarked how, contrary to popular belief, Schwarzenegger hears “Get to the chopper!” more than “I’ll be back.”
So, he’s well aware of the franchise’s staying power. He was excited to talk about what else we could do.
— Dan Trachtenberg, Director
The animated series Predator: Killer of Killers included a pivotal scene where Dutch’s frozen body was discovered alongside Naru, the protagonist from the 2022 film Prey, played by Amber Midthunder. This crossover set the stage for further narrative expansion, with Trachtenberg expressing the wealth of storylines now available to develop around both characters.
There’s so much story to tell now.
— Dan Trachtenberg, Director
You could tell how [Dutch and Naru] were captured, or what happens when they’re de-iced. Many possibilities.
— Dan Trachtenberg, Director
Trachtenberg’s next feature, Predator: Badlands, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 7, 2025. The movie follows Dek, a young hunter played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who is exiled from his clan and sent to a remote planet. There, he partners with Weyland-Yutani synthetic Thia, portrayed by Elle Fanning, as they hunt the ultimate enemy.
The director emphasized his intention to bring something fresh to the franchise with this film, avoiding conventional sequel expectations. He stated his desire to create a story that feels original and compelling on its own terms.
Prey was special because it was this big idea that hadn’t existed before. I wanted the next thing to be that, too.
— Dan Trachtenberg, Director
Describing Predator: Badlands, Trachtenberg called it a “buddy-comedy” focusing on the evolving relationship between Dek and the biomechanical Thia. The film aims to diverge from the solitary survival theme of Prey and offer a more character-driven narrative.
Prey was a solo survival tale; this is a relationship story.
— Dan Trachtenberg, Director
With Schwarzenegger’s renewed interest and the expanding universe of Predator currently in development, the franchise looks poised to continue evolving in unexpected ways. Fans can anticipate new stories that deepen the mythology surrounding Dutch and connect the legacy characters with fresh faces like Dek and Thia, ensuring the Predator saga remains vital in coming years.
