Will Dek, Thia, and Bud return for more adventures?

Predator: Badlands director reveals what that ‘ironic’ ending twist means for a potential sequel

Will Dek, Thia, and Bud return for more adventures?

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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November 8, 2025 12:00 p.m. ET

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Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) in 20th Century Studios' 'Predator: Badlands'. Credit:

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

**This article contains spoilers for *Predator: Badlands*. **

Could a second hunt be on the horizon for the *Predator: Badlands* clan? The ending of the film certainly leaves it open to the possibility.

To recap, the Dan Trachtenberg-directed actioner follows a young Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), who is cast out from his family by his own murderous father, who killed Dek's brother, Kwei, when he refused to kill Dek for being the clan's weak link. Dek then goes on a quest to prove himself and get back in the Yautja's good graces, with a treacherous first hunt on a remote alien planet, where he chooses the "unkillable" creature known as the Kalisk as his target.

On his journey, he finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Elle Fanning), a friendly synthetic android sent to the planet by the dastardly Weyland-Yutani corporation (of *Alien* franchise fame), and Bud, an adorable pug-like creature later revealed to be a baby Kalisk.

Dan Trachtenberg attends the premiere of 'Predator: Badlands' on Nov. 3, 2025.

Jesse Grant/Getty

When Dek finally meets the dreaded Kalisk, an epic battle ensues, which gets interrupted by the other Weyland-Yutani synths, who take Dek and the beast hostage. Turns out, these androids have been sent to the planet to capture the Kalisk for the Weyland-Yutani corporation's nefarious secret research purposes. And, Dek isn't the only outcast here: Thia, who we learn has higher sensitivity settings than her fellow bots, decides to disobey orders by letting the Kalisk out, saving Dek, and stopping her fellow synths.

In the end, Dek doesn't have the Kalisk, but decides to prove himself as a Yautja in a different way. He, Thia, and Bud return to his home planet, where he kills his father, and the three decide to become their own unlikely clan. But, just as the trio is about to leave and embark on journeys unknown, a new ship touches down on Yautja Prime. When Thia asks Dek who it is, he says, "My mother," as the screen fades to black.

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So, what does this mean for a second *Badlands* entry? ** posed this question to Trachtenberg, and while he's quick to say there are no official green lights for a sequel, he does believe the ending scene sets one up nicely, should it happen.**

"It's definitely, I think, an awesome ending in that it is an ironic conclusion," he explains. "After we've just been dealing with this crazy father the whole movie, that it asks what *else* Dek might have to go through, and how much worse that could be in the hands of mom, but also because, of course, it means that should we get to see that realized, it would be a whole lot of fun."**

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In the meantime, audiences can enjoy *Predator: Badlands*, which is now playing in theaters.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Movies”