The hunt is on again—this time in full animation.
Following the massive success of Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg returns to the Predator universe with a surprise project no one has seen coming. Titled Predator: Killer of Killers, this animated anthology film is set to premiere exclusively on Hulu on June 6, 2025.
In a franchise full of twists and reinventions, Predator Killer of Killers marks a bold new step—a fully animated, three-part story that explores the Yautja’s terrifying presence across different periods in human history. Each segment features a deadly warrior from a different era, hunted by the universe’s ultimate predator.
According to the official synopsis, the anthology centers around:
- A Viking raider seeking vengeance alongside her young son
- A ninja in feudal Japan, clashing with his samurai brother
- A World War II pilot encountering an alien menace in the sky
Though each tale stands alone, they’re all bound by one brutal throughline: even the fiercest human killers are just prey when a Predator enters the battlefield.
A Secret Project Born Amid Badlands
While Trachtenberg is already deep into Predator: Badlands—set to hit theaters this November—he somehow found time to co-direct Killer of Killers alongside Josh Wassung of The Third Floor (the VFX house behind Marvel, The Boys, and more). The film was developed quietly, even as Badlands was in production.
“We were writing the script for Killer of Killers while prevising stuff on Badlands,” Trachtenberg shared. “I’d remote in from New Zealand to watch cuts and give notes. It was like hopscotch… a crazy, dumb idea. But here we are.”
The film features a talented voice cast, including Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn. And if the first 20 minutes are any indication—according to journalists who previewed the Viking segment—it doesn’t skimp on the franchise’s signature intensity. Expect gory decapitations, fierce close combat, and a visual style inspired by Mortal Kombat Legends and Arcane.
Animation Unleashed: Predators Like You’ve Never Seen
Free from the limits of prosthetics and suits, Killer of Killers unleashes new designs and combat sequences impossible in live-action. The Viking Predator, for example, is a hulking brute wielding a sonic-charged fist weapon—his haymakers turning skulls into mist.
Each time period was chosen to highlight specific fighting styles and historical tension. The Viking arc offers chilly, blood-soaked landscapes; the feudal Japan chapter dives into family betrayal and swordplay; while the WWII dogfights add an aerial, high-stakes thrill.
Trachtenberg aimed to shoot the animated film as if it were live-action. Drawing from his previous experience directing cinematic scenes for the game Warframe, he brought the same cinematic energy to the project. “I wanted it to feel like a Predator movie, just told through animation,” he said.
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A Standalone Entry With Franchise Potential
Though fans may wonder how Killer of Killers connects to Badlands, Trachtenberg insists the animated film stands entirely on its own. “There’s no need to rewatch Predators or anything else. This is its own beast,” he said. “The stories are about connection, legacy, and survival—classic Predator themes, just through a fresh lens.”
Despite no confirmed sequel plans, the possibilities seem endless. With history as its playground and animation as its engine, Predator: Killer of Killers opens the door for countless future stories featuring humanity’s greatest warriors against the galaxy’s deadliest hunters.
Mark your calendars: the hunt begins June 6, only on Hulu.
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