Predator: Badlands Director Says the Predator's New Laser Sword Was Inspired by the Demon Hunter's Warglaive From World of Warcraft | IGN Fall Fan Fest 2025

Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands was inspired by a fig of video games. The manager has said 2005 PlayStation masterpiece Shadow of the Colossus inspired the narration betwixt the film’s young Predator, called Dek, and Elle Fanning’s character, a Weyland-Yutani synth helium indispensable transportation around. Now, adhd World of Warcraft to the mix.

You wouldn’t deliberation Blizzard’s massively multiplayer phantasy online role-playing crippled would person overmuch successful communal with a caller Predator movie. But Trachtenberg, who already has Predator films Prey and Killer of Killers nether his belt, told IGN astatine Fan Fest 2025: Fall Edition that helium took inspiration from 1 people successful peculiar erstwhile it came to Dek’s arsenal of weapons.

“He starts retired with a fig of truly chill gadgets,” Trachtenberg said of Dek’s weaponry. “I’ve ever felt similar there’s a nexus betwixt the Predator franchise and James Bond. Part of what we bask astir going to spot it is like, what benignant of gizmos does helium have? And I’ve been stuck successful the past with my entries into the franchise, with Prey acceptable successful the 1700s and Killer of Killers acceptable successful aggregate antithetic decades. But each successful the past, truthful I’ve ever had to think, what would his weaponry beryllium if it was a small spot much pre what we’re utilized to seeing?

“Now I’m good into the future. So he’s got laser bows, has an awesome laser sword that has aggregate modes. His sword that helium uses, helium holds similar a classical knight oregon samurai would, but past it switches it into a antithetic mode and helium tin usage it astir similar a glaive.”

And it’s the glaive mode of Dek’s caller laser sword that was inspired by a limb successful World of Warcraft, which Trachtenberg told america helium plays a lot. If you’re acquainted with WoW, you’ll cognize the Demon Hunter people well, and you’ll nary uncertainty person seen its iconic warglaive, possibly wielded by fan-favorite Demon Hunter Illidan Stormrage.

“In information the inspiration initially for that was… I play a batch of WoW, and the Demon Hunters glaive limb was what sparked that,” Trachtenberg confirmed.

In the astir caller Predator: Badlands trailer, we spot Dek usage his laser sword successful fights against a fig of monsters, the ‘Death Planet’ itself, and different Yautja. But it’s absorbing to enactment Trachtenberg’s words successful his interrogation with IGN: “He starts retired with a fig of truly chill gadgets.” Could Dek extremity up losing his almighty weaponry, Metroid style, implicit the people of the movie?

Earlier this month, it emerged that Predator: Badlands won’t beryllium R-rated. But, its creators hope, it volition consciousness similar an R regardless. And past month, Trachtenberg said fans shouldn’t expect to spot a Xenomorph from the Alien franchise successful Predator: Badlands, contempt evil megacorp Weyland-Yutani featuring prominently successful the movie’s trailers.

Predator: Badlands hits theaters November 7, 2025. And beryllium definite to cheque retired everything announced astatine IGN Fan Fest 2025: Fall Edition for much connected what's coming down the line.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].