‘Predator’ Prequel ‘Prey’ Will Take Place 300 Years in the Past

The Predator movie franchise just got another boost. According to new reports, a prequel to the iconic horror movie is in the works with a planned release for next year. Here’s what we know about Prey, the next film in 20th Century Fox’s sci-fi/horror franchise. 

The ‘Predator’ movie franchise dates back to the ‘80s

The 1987 original Predator is considered a classic in the pantheon of sci-fi/action/horror films. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in an iconic, career-defining role. The movie was directed by John McTiernan. The plot centers around repeated confrontations between the human race and the ‘Predators,’ a race of volatile extraterrestrial monsters. 

The original Predator movie’s box office and critical success touched off a franchise. Predator 2 came in 1990. Likewise, Predators hit theaters in 2010. Finally, producers released The Predator in 2018. 

Moreover, the film series spawned a set of crossovers including Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). Finally, the entire set of films inspired a number of comic books, novels, video games, and other related paraphernalia. 

‘Predator’ prequel ‘Prey’ will steam on Hulu in 2022

The fifth film in the Predator movie series won’t play in theaters. Instead, it will stream in the US on Hulu. Internationally, it will be available on Disney+. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Prey’s director is Dan Trachtenberg of 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016). The movie’s plot centers around a female Comanche warrior named Naru (played by the appropriately-cast Amber Midthunder of CW series Roswell, New Mexico). She confronts and fights alien Predators who are hunting her tribe. THR reports that the film takes place 300 years ago in the Comanche Nation.

Per the film’s Wikipedia page, the hostile invasion is the Predators’ first journey to earth and attack on humans. 

Jhane Myers is credited as producer with Jeff Cutter as cinematographer. The screenplay is by Patrick Aison. Additional cast members include Dane DiLiegro, Stefany Mathias, and Dakota Beavers. 

Filming took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and wrapped in September of 2021.  Hulu will steam the Predator movie prequel in the summer of 2022, though producers haven’t announced an official release date. 

2018’s ‘The Predator’ movie was a disappointment

Fans are hoping that Prey will revive the franchise after the disappointing The Predator failed to impress them in 2018. 

Its critical reception was lackluster. Variety’s Dennis Harvey said it was “an exhaustingly energetic mess in which a coherent plot and credible characters aren’t even on the cluttered menu.”

Review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes shows that critics and fans were equally disappointing. The Predator movie received abysmal 33% critical and audience ratings. 

That makes Prey’s upcoming release a highly anticipated streaming event.