Original: What can we expect from Prey 2?
After nearly unanimous acclaim for Hulu’s new Predator film, many viewers are on a hunt of their own for more information about the future of Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey, with some speculating that we may see Naru’s story develop further in subsequent installments. But while her coming-of-age tale (set in Comanche Nation, 1719) may be the best of Predator films since the 1987 original, with Trachtenberg’s directorial chops unimpeachable in the horror genre at this stage, is there a more compelling story to tell In Prey 2?
Warning: Minor spoilers for viewers that have not seen Prey.
Looking back at Prey for hints in Prey 2
In Trachtenberg’s Prey, Naru, a young female Comanche hunter, and her dog Sarri find themselves in the crossfire of a hunt most viewers are well accustomed to now: the galactic game hunting Yautja visit Earth to stalk humans (or ship them to a distant planet for Hunger Games-style hunts), outmatch their Prey physically and technologically, and wreak absolute and total havoc in their wake, annihilating opponents in search of the most capable among them.
But why?-many forget that the dynamic between the two has evolved over time.
In 2004, Alien v. Predator‘s Alexa “Lex” Woods (Sanna Lathan) gave us some insight into the ancient Yaujta/human symbiosis via the interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphs, which recorded a time when humans were voluntarily sacrificed once a century for the Yaujta, not as prey but as hosts for Xenomorphs (their preferred game). In return, the Yaujta helped early humans build pyramids and jumpstart civilization as we know it.
However, the Yaujta’s view of humankind took a significant turn for the worse when a Predator-led hunting party was forced to suicide bomb an entire culture (the fictional, Bouvetøya) as a feral Xenomorph horde overran them.
Since then, the Yaujta appear to view humans as nothing more than sport, their previous alliance a relic of the past.
But could it be that humankind’s relationship with the Yaujta is more complicated than that?
Was Trachtenberg’s Predator yet another species and could we see more in Prey 2?
We know that there are at least two types of Predators (Predators and Super-Predators), both of which are incredibly hostile toward one another, with the former only slightly friendlier with others than the latter (when facing a common enemy alongside humans). But could there be a third species of Predator that we have yet to learn more about?
The technology used by Prey‘s Yaujta is also different. Not only do they have more primitive masks, but they also appear to hunt with rudimentary tools in comparison (this Yaujta had no plasma caster to speak of, for example).
In both looks and tech, Prey’s Yaujta are different from Predators of the past. Could we see a sequel that explores this mythos further?
Only time will tell, but viewers are no doubt anxious to learn more about the primal version of the Yaujta we’ve been introduced to in Prey.
When can we expect a sequel to Prey?
According to Screenrant, viewers will get Prey 2 sometime in 2024 or 2025.
There are virtually no references to corroborate this expectation. Still, it is reasonable that Screenrant would expect a 2 -3 year development and production window – does anyone who has seen Prey question whether there will be a follow-up or not?
Doubtful. Trachtenberg’s Prey is a certified hit sitting at 92% fresh on the Tomatometer.
The question isn’t if, it’s when, but what may be more interesting is: about what?