Dan Trachtenberg, known for revitalizing the Predator franchise with projects like Prey and most recently Badlands, revealed that early in his career, he was considered to direct a film from a much larger franchise. During a conversation with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Trachtenberg shared that Marvel Studios approached him about the possibility of directing a superhero movie.
Meeting Marvel Studios Over Guardians of the Galaxy
Trachtenberg described an encounter with Marvel through producer Jeremy Latcham and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who reviewed his short film Portal with interest. This led to discussions about him taking the helm of Guardians of the Galaxy before James Gunn was ultimately chosen.
“I like so many filmmakers of my generation and younger, who have made a movie that strikes a chord, have definitely met… I will say that I met a producer named Jeremy Latcham at [Marvel Studios] and [Kevin Feige], because of Jeremy, to meet for Guardians of the Galaxy before James Gunn. Based on my short film Portal, they were like, ‘That’s creative, let’s find someone interesting and cool.’ I did not get the job, obviously, and rightfully so, but still so, so awesome.”
– Dan Trachtenberg
James Gunn’s Impact on Guardians of the Galaxy
James Gunn eventually secured the director’s role, guiding Guardians of the Galaxy through three films and a Holiday Special, dramatically increasing the series’ popularity. Though difficult to envision anyone else shaping the franchise now, Trachtenberg’s experience with Marvel suggests potential future collaborations with the studio may still be ahead.
Despite the conclusion of Gunn’s tenure with Guardians Vol. 3, several characters are expected to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Star-Lord, portrayed by Chris Pratt, recently appeared in Avengers: Doomsday concept art, hinting at the return of familiar characters in upcoming events such as Secret Wars.
Predator: Badlands Expands the Predator Universe
Dan Trachtenberg continues to make his mark with Predator: Badlands, which he directs following his previous successes including Prey and 10 Cloverfield Lane. The new film unfolds on a remote, dangerous planet in the future, focusing on a young Predator outcast played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Alongside him is Thia, portrayed by Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Elle Fanning, as they embark on a perilous journey in search of a formidable enemy.
Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor, Predator: Badlands opens exclusively in movie theaters on November 7 across multiple premium formats including IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, Cinemark XD, 4DX, and ScreenX.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Trachtenberg and Marvel?
While Trachtenberg did not direct Guardians of the Galaxy, his near opportunity highlights the recognition of his creative vision early on. As the MCU prepares for new phases with returning characters and expanding stories, Trachtenberg’s ongoing success with franchises like Predator may lead to further collaborations. His ability to bring fresh perspectives to established universes makes his future projects worth watching.
