Is Another AVP Movie on the Horizon with Rising Popularity of Alien and Predator?

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have much to anticipate in 2025. The excitement is building with two new Predator films on the horizon: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers, both helmed by Prey director Dan Trachtenberg. Adding to the thrill, the Alien universe will expand with the FX show Alien: Earth, crafted by the renowned showrunner Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo and Legion. While these projects aren't officially linked yet, fans are well aware that Alien and Predator share a storied history within a common universe, having collided in various films, comics, and video games over the years.

A closer look at the promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth suggests that Disney might be setting the stage for a new crossover event between these iconic franchises. Let's delve into the latest developments and explore the reasons why we might see Alien vs. Predator (AVP) return to the big screen sooner rather than later.

The first teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator film. It reveals Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with a connection to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg as the film's protagonist. While a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film isn't definitive proof of a crossover, it becomes more significant in light of the new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.

In the Gestation Complete teaser, multiple Easter eggs tie into Alien lore. We see the black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leading to an egg sac reminiscent of one in Alien: Romulus. A mutated facehugger-like creature emerges from it, contained on a ship called the Maginot, which resembles the Nostromo from the original film. This creature, designated "Species 37" with unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR, indicates its discovery two years before the events of Alien, hinting at Weyland-Yutani's first encounter with Xenomorphs.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The connection between Alien and Predator spans decades. Their first clash was in the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator, predating the 2004 film. Predator 2 (1990) famously included a Xenomorph skull on the Predator's trophy wall, further entrenching their shared universe. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games reinforced this concept, long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized such crossovers.

Despite early attempts with the 2004 and 2007 AVP films, which didn't resonate critically or with audiences despite box office success, the franchises faced challenges. The early 2000s saw the rise of serialized superhero and sci-fi blockbusters, but AVP was treated as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox. Iconic films like Ridley Scott's original Alien, James Cameron's Aliens, and John McTiernan's Predator set high standards, yet the AVP films fell short. The 2010s saw further struggles with Ridley Scott's Prometheus series and Shane Black's The Predator. However, recent successes like Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 have revitalized both franchises, making a new AVP more feasible.

Adding to the excitement, a sequel to Alien: Romulus is in development, with director Fede Álvarez set to return. Álvarez has expressed interest in directing an Alien vs. Predator film, and his recent success with Alien: Romulus has reinvigorated the franchise. The sequel will continue the story of Rain Carradine and Andy, who are in stasis en route to Yvaga III. With Predator: Badlands also set in space, there's potential for connections or Easter eggs hinting at a crossover.

Álvarez suggested that the best AVP would surprise audiences by introducing the other creature unexpectedly. This approach could reinvigorate the crossover concept, which struggled with its previous iterations set on contemporary Earth and lacking depth in character development. The idea of a fresh start, potentially with Dek as the protagonist, and exploring new concepts like the Predalien or a hybrid creature involving Alien, Predator, and Engineer DNA, offers thrilling possibilities.

With both Alien and Predator franchises enjoying renewed success, the stage is set for Disney to consider a new AVP film. The current popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling makes such a crossover highly appealing. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, the iconic battle between these two legendary creatures seems closer than ever.

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

View 12 Images