In the recently released Predator: Badlands on Disney+, the Weyland Yutani Corporation, known from the Alien franchise, plays a very prominent role, as the Predator’s android companion, Thia (Elle Fanning), is a product of that same shady corporation. With this, director Dan Trachtenberg has made it clear once again that the science fiction worlds of Alien and Predator are part of the same universe—and has thus paved the way to reconnect them in a possible new Alien vs. Predator crossover.
Although there are no concrete plans for this yet, the groundwork has at least been laid. However, the Alien elements aren’t the only references to another sci-fi franchise in Badlands, though another Easter egg has been inserted in a much more subtle way. In fact, attentive fans have already spotted it in the trailers for the survival adventure, and it has now been confirmed by those involved: on the trophy wall of the spaceship belonging to the Predator protagonist Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi)—or rather, his brother Kwei—is indeed the skull of a Harvester from Independence Day!
The mysterious creatures threatened to invade Earth in Roland Emmerich’s 1996 super-blockbuster (worldwide box office: $817 million) and, 20 years later, again in its sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence. But apparently, the invaders, in their story, did not only confront humans, but also the Predators or Yautja. The head on the wall makes it clear, at least, that Kwei apparently encountered (at least) one of them and emerged victorious from a fight.
Is Predator vs. Independence Day on the way?
But does this mean we’ll soon have a Predator/Independence Day crossover? For now, the answer is clearly no. A corresponding project is not (at least officially) in development. In fact, the Harvester’s skull in Predator: Badlands is really just a fun Easter egg.
However, this now also places Independence Day within the universe of Alien and Predator, thereby opening up at least the possibility of merging these science fiction franchises. And let’s not forget: a very similar Xenomorph trophy Easter egg in Predator 2 gave rise to an entire sub-franchise with Alien vs. Predator. So, who knows: maybe one day the same awaits us in terms of a connection with Independence Day. At least legally, that would be easy, since the alien invasion action movie is also part of the portfolio of 20th Century Studios, which is now owned by Disney.
