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

Fans of the Alien and Predator franchises have a thrilling year ahead in 2025. The anticipation is high with two new Predator films directed by Dan Trachtenberg, including the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated Hulu series Predator: Killer of Killers. Additionally, Noah Hawley, known for Fargo and Legion, is bringing us a new chapter in the Alien universe with the FX show Alien: Earth. While these projects aren't officially linked, the shared history between Alien and Predator, featuring numerous crossovers in films, comics, and video games, has fans buzzing with excitement.

A closer look at the promotional materials for Predator: Badlands and Alien: Earth hints that Disney might be setting the stage for a new Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover. Let's dive into the developments of these iconic franchises and explore why an AVP return could be imminent.

The teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands sparked speculation about a potential AVP revival. It introduces Elle Fanning as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic connected to a new Predator named Dek, confirmed as the film's protagonist by Trachtenberg. While this connection alone doesn't confirm an Alien crossover, it becomes more significant with the new promotional videos for Alien: Earth.

In the Gestation Complete teaser, several Easter eggs tie into Alien lore. The black liquid mutagen from Prometheus appears, leading to an egg sac resembling one seen in Alien: Romulus. A mutated facehugger emerges from it, contained on a ship called the Maginot, similar to the Nostromo from the original Alien. The creature, labeled "Species 37" and linked to a Mass Effect reference, has unknown DNA according to the ship's computer, MU-TH-UR. Given that Alien: Earth is set two years before the events of Alien, this suggests that Species 37 might have been the initial clue for Weyland-Yutani about the Xenomorphs.

Alien and Predator’s Long, Intertwined History

The connection between Alien and Predator dates back to the 1989 Dark Horse comic series, Aliens vs. Predator, long before the first AVP film in 2004. Predator 2 in 1990 included an Easter egg with a Xenomorph skull on the Predator's ship. Numerous AVP comics and video games followed in the '90s, establishing their shared universe before the mainstream popularity of cinematic universes.

Despite the two AVP films in the 2000s, Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007, the series struggled due to poor reception, despite box office success. While superhero and sci-fi blockbusters were on the rise, AVP was seen as a B-tier property by 20th Century Fox, despite the high quality of past Alien and Predator films.

Ridley Scott’s original Alien is a horror masterpiece, James Cameron’s Aliens is an iconic sequel, and John McTiernan’s Predator is an action classic. While AVP didn't need to aim for Oscars, the films fell short compared to the best of their individual franchises. The 2010s saw further challenges with Ridley Scott’s Prometheus series stalling after Alien: Covenant and Shane Black’s The Predator failing to rejuvenate the franchise. However, with the success of Prey in 2022 and Alien: Romulus in 2024, both franchises are seeing a revival.

With teases from upcoming projects, the idea of a new AVP feels closer than ever.

A sequel to Alien: Romulus is in development, with director Fede Álvarez set to return and expressing interest in directing an AVP film. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, revitalizing the franchise while maintaining the Prometheus series' connection through the third act's Engineer-alike monster. Characters Rain Carradine and Andy are in stasis heading to Yvaga III, setting the stage for their continued adventures. Could Predator: Badlands, also set in space, feature Easter eggs hinting at a connection to Alien: Romulus?

Álvarez suggests that the best approach for an AVP film would be a surprise crossover, where audiences think they're watching a Predator movie, only to encounter Xenomorphs, or vice versa. This unexpected twist could be the key to a successful AVP film.

The Alien Movies' Long History of Recycling Rejected Ideas

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Álvarez's enthusiasm for an AVP film is promising, suggesting a fresh take on the crossover. The previous AVP films, set on contemporary Earth, had limited scope and struggled with character development, leading to fan rejection. A new AVP could disregard these films' continuity and start anew. With Predator: Badlands featuring a Predator as the lead, Dek could become the hero of a new AVP, and the crossover could explore the Predalien concept further. An Engineer mutagen creating a hybrid of Alien, Predator, and Engineer would be a thrilling addition to the universe.

With both Alien and Predator franchises thriving, the prospect of a new AVP film seems inevitable. Given the popularity of cinematic universes and cross-medium storytelling, a new AVP is more a matter of when, not if. With talented filmmakers like Álvarez and Trachtenberg involved, fans may finally see the epic battle between these iconic monsters on the big screen once again.