Elle Fanning’s primary Predator: Badlands character is put through the wringer in the new film, and the star reveals there’s a surprising amount of practicality to it. The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor plays multiple roles in the movie, namely that of Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who is introduced in the movie as being intensely damaged, having the bottom half of her body torn off by the notoriously unkillable Kalisk.
Much of Predator: Badlands‘ story sees Thia and Dek, the franchise’s first-ever Yautja protagonist, reluctantly teaming up to hunt the Kalisk together, with Fanning’s synthetic character strapped to him in a similar vein to a backpack. Through their journey across the alien planet of Genna, Thia unlocks new layers of vulnerability in Dek, the runt of his family who is out to finally prove himself to those on Yautja Prime with his first hunt.
In honor of the movie’s release, ScreenRant interviewed Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi to discuss Predator: Badlands. In looking at the practical nature of the film’s production, Schuster-Kolomatangi expressed that, while “it was a lot” to don the Yautja suit, it’s “such a cool aspect” of the Predator franchise that he’s proud to help continue the tradition of:
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi: There’s always been somebody in the suit. It’s always been practically done, and it’s a tangible thing that people can see. I’m very, very happy that Dan is able to keep that tradition going within the franchise.
Schuster-Kolomatangi did, however, admit that it wasn’t “a piece of cake” to be in the Predator suit, describing it as being “grueling on the body” as he was “sweating buckets“ from how hot it gets in the suit. He also found that it could be “a little bit mentally challenging” and “quite restrictive” trying to find the proper physicality for Dek. Thankfully, it was still a rewarding experience for the New Zealand actor, feeling “bada–” when looking at himself dressed up and eventually finding a smooth process to “embody the character and shift literally your whole physicality” to fit.
On Schuster-Kolomatangi’s mention that he had “a really cool scene partner with me” and “strapped to me back“, Fanning confirmed that “everything was done for real on wires” when it came to Thia being a pseudo-backpack for Dek. Explaining that her legs were kept “in a sling and blue stockings” in order to edit out her cut-off lower body, she recalled the pair “going up mountains in New Zealand through rivers” rather than acting in a studio:
Elle Fanning: He also had a wheelbarrow, like this seat that I would sit on like a chariot. And it would be on his hips, and then he would have to lug me. We were very supportive. He was like, “Hey, are you good back there? Are you okay? Are we comfortable?” As comfortable as we could be. But he really had my back.
Thia & Dek’s Relationship In Predator: Badlands Is A Classic Comedic Styling
ScreenRant: If you could strap any fictional character to your back and carry them around, or you had to, which would you like to have with you?
Elle Fanning: Oh, that’s fun.
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi: I’m going to say Genie from Aladdin. At least he can give me some wishes. I think he’d be a bit light.
Elle Fanning: That’s really good. This is probably not my answer, but I’m thinking Olaf — that’s funny, right — from Frozen. But is he kind of annoying? He’s kind of like my character. They’re kind of similar, putting this together, maybe that’s why I don’t think that’s my answer, but hey, it popped into my head. [Laughs]
ScreenRant: I’m sure I’m not the first one to point this out, but there is a bit of a C-3PO-Chewie dynamic going between you two.
Elle Fanning: For Dan, that was the inspo.
ScreenRant: So I mean, how do you describe the dynamic between these two characters?
Elle Fanning: Gosh, it is kind of a classic, like the straight man, then the comedic chatterbox, and eventually she wears him down, and they become buds. But I love their dynamic. I think it’s so unusual, especially for a Predator film, to say that you might let out a bit of a laugh in a Predator movie. It’s very, very unexpected. But there’s so much heart, especially in their relationship. I think they’re both kind of these broken toys. It’s almost like the island of misfit toys. Can we come together? And they kind of recognize that in each other. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of violence and gore, there’s an amazing spine rip in the film that I think Dan has said is one of his favorite of the franchises. So, you’ll get your fight fix. There are a lot of stunts. But I admire their relationship, and how much heart Dan was able to infuse into that.
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi: Yeah, I think their relationship is just funny to watch. Two contrasting characters. Like Elle said, there’s the straight man and then the chatter box that just knows everything about everything.
Elle Fanning: Especially when she’s a robot, she really does know. [Laughs]
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi: Yeah, it never turns off. [Laughs] So that aspect of it is just quite funny to watch on screen. But it’s beautiful to watch the dynamic shift, and Dek’s whole purpose on Genna is to hunt the unkillable creature. He’s standing by his Yautja hunt alone. The whole aspect and everything that he’s learned on Yautja Prime, it’s being tested here now. He’s never been off the planet. This is his first time venturing out. He’s unblooded, which means he’s never had to go on a hunt before. He’s naive in that thinking. So yeah, he comes across a lot of things. And I think Thia’s character really helps to shape his new identity as we see in the film. It’s a really unexpected thing.
Be sure to dive into some of our other major Predator: Badlands coverage with:
Predator: Badlands is now in theaters!
- Release Date
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November 5, 2025
- Runtime
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107 minutes
- Director
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Dan Trachtenberg
- Writers
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Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison, John Thomas, Jim Thomas
- Producers
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Brent O’Connor, John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Dan Trachtenberg, Ben Rosenblatt
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Elle Fanning
Thia / Tessa
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Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Dek / Father