Predator Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg says Dimitrius brings 'unbelievable' vulnerability to a young Predator

Predator Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg talks about Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi playing a young Predator in the new film.

Updated on: Nov 4, 2025, 16:09:16 IST

By Abhimanyu Mathur

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The Predator franchise takes on another step in a new direction with the upcoming film, Predator: Badlands, which makes a young Predator the protagonist for the first time. Set on a remote, lethal planet, the film sees the young predator tackle obstacles coming his way and form an improbable, volatile pact with a cyborg.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in Predator: Badlands.

Director Dan Trachtenberg has opened up on casting the two pivotal characters, and how actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi brings vulnerability to the character.

Dan Trachtenberg on Dimitrius

“Dimitrius was one of the most remarkable finds of my career,” said Dan, “He had a lovely audition, but we wanted to see what he was capable of physically, so we had a day where we brought in a bunch of stunt performers and set up an obstacle course. The way Dimitrius navigated that course was insane. The swashbuckle he brought to all the sliding, jumping, leaping, and weapon work was cooler than the stuntmen. Dimitrius had a special physicality.”

The filmmaker added that Dimitrius brought emotionality to the role as well, generally not seen for Predators in the franchise. “Then on set, Dimitrius showed up not just for the physical work, but for the emotional work. It was unbelievable to see where he went. I wasn’t prepared for how he brought so much to this creature who’s simultaneously vulnerable, but terrifying, ferocious and visceral,” he added.

All about Predator Badlands

The Predator franchise began with the eponymous film in 1987. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, it was a grand success. Since then, two sequels, a reboot, and one spinoff have followed. The franchise also has two crossover films with the Alien series, resulting in two Alien vs Predator films. Predator: Badlands also stars Elle Fanning. The film releases in theatres on 7 November in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhimanyu Mathur
Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More

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