Predator: Badlands Director Reveals Inspiration from Star Wars: Chewbacca and C-3PO Sparked Iconic Scene!

Fans of “The Empire Strikes Back” might recall the memorable scene where Chewbacca carries a disassembled C-3PO on his back while fleeing Cloud City. This iconic image has been recreated in various forms of merchandise, including LEGO Star Wars sets. Surprisingly, this scene served as the creative spark for the new concept in the forthcoming film, Predator: Badlands.

In the movie Predator: Badlands, a character played by Elle Fanning, Thia, forms a partnership with a youthful Predator named Dek, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. The story picks up with Thia being revived after an apparent encounter with a monstrous creature. Interestingly, Thia is a synthetic human created by Weyland-Yutani, the infamous corporation from the Alien series.

However, Thia finds herself in dire straits, severed at the waist, and must be transported on the back of the Yautja (Predator) as they pursue an entity described as “an unkillable beast” and “the ultimate apex predator.” The working title of the film, Backpack, now seems quite fitting given this plot detail.

While Star Wars provided some inspiration, director Trachtenberg has acknowledged other influences as well. He has previously stated that the video game Shadow of the Colossus inspired aspects of Predator: Badlands. However, it becomes clear that several other video games also played a role in shaping the film’s companion dynamic, including Half-Life 2, Uncharted, and God of War.

Trachtenberg elaborated, “Several games have impacted me over the years and have merged into this project. Notably, Half-Life 2 introduces you to a robotic dog – almost like a pet but also a friend. Similarly, the reboot of Prince of Persia and Uncharted involve companions that enrich the journey. And, of course, the 2018 version of God of War. All these elements have influenced the relationship between Dek and Thia in the film, among other things.”

As Predator: Badlands prepares to debut in theaters on November 7, fans of the Predator franchise are eager not only to see how this new dynamic plays out but also to explore the extent of its connections to the Alien universe.