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

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have a lot to look forward to in 2025. Not only are we getting two new Predator films from Prey director Dan Trachtenberg with the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu offering Predator: Killer of Killers, but we’re also set to receive another major entry in the Alien universe from Fargo and Legion showrunner Noah Hawley with the FX show Alien: Earth. Although these projects are not officially connected yet, fans are well aware that Alien and Predator share a long history within the same universe, having crossed paths in numerous films, comic books, and video games.

By examining the latest promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth, it appears that Disney might be laying the groundwork for a new crossover between Alien and Predator. Let's delve into the developments of these franchises and explore why we might see Alien vs. Predator return to the big screen sooner rather than later.

Evil Easter Eggs ----------------

The first teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands has sparked speculation among fans about a potential new Alien vs. Predator film. The trailer revealed that Elle Fanning will portray a Weyland-Yutani synthetic with a connection to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed by Trachtenberg to be the film's protagonist. While a Weyland-Yutani android in a Predator film might not directly indicate an Alien crossover, it becomes significant when coupled with the new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.

In the Gestation Complete teaser, multiple Easter eggs related to Alien lore are visible. The black liquid mutagen from Prometheus, used by the Engineers to seed life on Earth, leads to an egg sac that resembles one seen in Alien: Romulus. The creature emerging from it, while resembling a facehugger, appears mutated. This specimen is contained on a ship resembling the Nostromo, named the Maginot, and is designated "Species 37" with unknown DNA by the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that the show is set two years before the events of Alien, this suggests that Species 37 could be what initially alerted Weyland-Yutani to the existence of Xenomorphs.

A related teaser called Crate features specimen containers, with a narrator stating that the ship “collected five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe,” each one a unique species. A classic Xenomorph is shown, but the mention of five species suggests a significant expansion of alien creatures in this universe. Could one of these be related to the Predators? This aligns with Badlands, set on an alien world where Dek hunts extraterrestrial monstrosities. Perhaps Elle Fanning’s android was searching for these specimens, or one of these monsters might mutate into something we'll see in Badlands or Killer of Killers. While we won't know for sure until the premiere, the presence of Predator DNA in Alien: Earth wouldn't be surprising.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The Alien and Predator franchises have been part of the same world since the 1989 Dark Horse comic series Aliens vs. Predator. The following year, Predator 2 included a Xenomorph skull on the Predator’s trophy wall, hinting at their shared universe. Throughout the '90s, numerous AVP comics and video games further established this connection, well before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized shared universes.

Despite the release of two AVP films in the 2000s—Paul W. S. Anderson’s Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and The Brothers Strause’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007—the series struggled due to poor critical and audience reception, despite financial success. At the time, serialized superhero and science-fiction blockbusters were gaining popularity, yet the AVP films were treated as B-tier properties by 20th Century Fox. This was despite the iconic status of films like Ridley Scott’s Alien, James Cameron’s Aliens, and John McTiernan’s Predator.

The 2010s saw further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series and Shane Black’s The Predator failing to meet expectations. However, the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024 has revitalized both franchises. With teases of upcoming projects, the prospect of a new AVP film seems more imminent than ever.

Is it time for a new Alien vs. Predator movie? ----------------------------------------------

Yes.No.Let's discuss in the comments.Uh, whoever wins... we lose?

AnswerSee ResultsConverging for Carnage ----------------------

It's also worth noting that a sequel to Alien: Romulus is currently in development, with director Fede Álvarez attached to return and expressing interest in directing an Alien vs. Predator film. Alien: Romulus was a significant critical and commercial success for Disney, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining the connection to the Prometheus series. With characters like Cailee Spaeny’s Rain Carradine and David Jonsson’s Andy heading to Yvaga III, a direct sequel might explore their continued journey. Additionally, with Badlands also set in space, there's potential for cameos or Easter eggs hinting at a Romulus connection.

Álvarez has suggested that the best approach for an Alien vs. Predator movie would be to surprise audiences. He told Collider, "The best AVP will be the one that you don’t know is AVP until the other guy shows up. You think you’re watching a Predator movie, and then they land in some place and there are creatures, and fucking hell, it’s a Xenomorph. That would get me. … Or vice versa, you’re in an Alien movie, and then suddenly a mysterious creature is there, and you can hear that sound, and you see the cloak, and you go, ‘Is that a fucking Predator?’"

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

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Álvarez's enthusiasm for AVP raises hopes that a new take on the crossover will succeed where previous attempts failed. The earlier films, set on contemporary Earth, were limited in scope and struggled to engage audiences with their characters. These films were so poorly received that a new AVP could easily disregard them and start fresh. With Badlands introducing a Predator as the lead character, Dek could potentially become the hero of a new AVP. Additionally, a new crossover could expand on the Predalien concept introduced in previous films. Perhaps some Engineer mutagen could create a terrifying hybrid of Alien, Predator, and Engineer.

With both Alien and Predator in a healthier state than they've been in years, the idea of a proper crossover film is likely on Disney's radar. Given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium integration, a new AVP feels inevitable. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg now involved, these iconic monsters might finally get the epic battle they deserve on the big screen.