In the recent film Predator: Badlands, actress Elle Fanning takes on the unusual challenge of portraying two synthetic characters, Thia and Tessa, marking a new connection to the Alien universe. Her involvement adds depth to the storyline, especially as the movie focuses exclusively on synthetic and Yautja characters instead of humans, a first for the franchise.
Mastering Two Distinct Characters in One Film
Elle Fanning revealed in a ComicBook interview how demanding it was to play both synthetic roles convincingly. Since she appears in scenes opposite herself, her performance required intense preparation and collaboration with director Dan Trachtenberg. The actress and director worked hard to create clear differences between Thia and Tessa, aiming to make them “polar opposites.”
To maintain distinction, stunt doubles often stepped in during filming, wearing the synthetic suits for over-the-shoulder shots while Fanning acted alongside them, allowing her to react appropriately. This technique involved intricate coordination to remember character reactions from previous takes, given that the shooting schedule did not always proceed in order.
“So it’s very interesting. You have to give a lot of different options for Dan to be able to edit it together because obviously when I am acting as Thea someone else is being Tessa, but then if I played Tessa the day before in that scene I’m like, ‘What am I reacting to? Let me try to remember what I was giving at that moment.’ So yeah, it was so interesting but very rewarding … complicated.”
Elle Fanning, Actress
Shifting the Franchise’s Focus to Synthetic Protagonists
Predator: Badlands restructures the franchise narrative by removing human characters entirely, placing synthetics like Thia and Tessa at the emotional center. Thia’s story unfolds as she teams up with Dek, the Yautja lead, on a journey of tribal acceptance and self-discovery. While Tessa’s role remains a mystery, the pronounced contrast between the two synthetic characters suggests she may serve as a significant counterpoint to Thia.
This duality invites viewers to explore themes of identity and evolution, reminiscent of Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of two synthetics in Alien: Covenant, where opposing philosophical perspectives were central. Similarly, Badlands blends intense action sequences with subtle character-driven questions about what it means to be synthetic yet human in essence.
Sources of Inspiration and Evolution of Synthetic Characters
Elle Fanning also mentioned drawing inspiration from David Jonsson’s role as Andy in Alien: Romulus, which gave her the confidence to bring authenticity to her own synthetic characters. The Predator and Alien franchises have long featured Weyland-Yutani synthetics as mirrors of human traits, from Ash in Alien to Call in Resurrection. Thia and Tessa represent the next development in this tradition, embodying different facets of synthetic existence.
Elle Fanning’s Ambitious Performances Highlight Her Versatility
Throughout Predator: Badlands, Elle Fanning’s ability to deliver two completely unique performances underscores her versatility and commitment. Her work enriches the film’s narrative by giving life and emotional complexity to the synthetic characters, making them memorable within the expanded mythos. This ambitious approach not only challenges the actress but also raises audience expectations for future explorations of synthetic identity in these franchises.
