Prey Director Explains Why Predator Prequel Movie Is Set In The Past
Prey director Dan Trachtenberg explains why he set the Predator prequel movie in the past. The upcoming fifth entry in the sci-fi action franchise, excluding the Alien vs. Predator crossovers, takes place in 1719 and follows a young Comanche warrior named Naru (Amber Midthunder) attempting to protect her tribe as they are hunted by a technologically advanced alien predator. Prey is set to release on Hulu August 5, 2022, skipping a theatrical release.
Positive Prey movie reactions have already begun to emerge, with many viewers calling it the best film in the franchise since the original 1987 Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Comparisons include both movies being set in the wilderness and the element of intrigue surrounding the Predator's presence as a covert, stealthy operator. There has also been acclaim for the performance by Midthunder as she stars in her breakout feature film role.
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This reception to the movie may simply be a bonus to the reason why Trachtenberg decided to make Prey a Predator prequel movie. In an interview with Film Updates, the director discusses his reasoning for setting Prey 300 years ago, wanting to give a spotlight to Native American characters, specifically Comanche, who are never positioned as the leads of movies. Trachtenberg also stresses that his goal was to portray Indigenous characters outside of their historical portrayals in Westerns, hence Prey being set when the Comanche were at their strongest. Check out his full quote below:
Why not set it in the past? I think, well, mainly because I wanted to make a movie about protagonists that we never see as the leads of a movie, being Native American and the Comanche even
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