Prey is the next installment in the Predator franchise and serves as a prequel to the previous four films.
Disney recently hosted a virtual press conference for the film, which The Illuminerdi was fortunate enough to attend.
The press conference, hosted by Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, included director Dan Trachtenberg, producer Jhane Myers, and actors Amber Midthunder and Dakota Beavers.
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Trachtenberg revealed insights into the film’s lengthy production during the thirty-minute event.
Disney Purchasing Fox Affected Prey’s Production
When asked why Prey took so long to release, director Dan Trachtenberg revealed that development started about a year after releasing his first feature film, 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane.
“I started developing this maybe a year after 10 Cloverfield Lane came out. And the last movie came out in theathers. And then, the Fox-Disney merger happened. And all of those things really delayed this from getting going.”
In 2019, Disney purchased 21st Century Fox for over $73 billion. During this time, Fox’s slated projects, including the Predator prequel, were put on hold as Disney decided what to do with the recently acquired Fox properties.
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The combination of the merger plus 2018’s The Predator’s less-than-desired reception put the status of Trachtenberg’s Prey in question.
Lead actress Amber Midthunder, who plays Naru, confirmed the film’s extended production schedule. The actress initially auditioned for the role in 2020, before the COVID pandemic. She didn’t hear anything regarding the project and the part until a year later.
I auditioned for this movie, originally, in early 2020, like pre-pandemic, Dan and I met. And then it disappeared, like similar experience to Dakota kind of it, like, disappeared from my life for a while, and then it came back. Then it was, like, like, oh, hey, it was under, you know, like a working title. And somebody said, like, oh, this movie is back. And I think they want you to audition again.
Eventually, things worked out for both Trachtenberg and Midthunder. Prey made it through the Disney acquisition, found a home on Hulu, and began production. Production took place in Canada and took six months to complete in 2021. Midthunder talked about how the cast and crew formed a strong bond since production occurred during the pandemic and their families couldn’t come.
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Prey will premiere at San Diego Comic-Con on July 21 and release on Hulu (United States) and Disney+ (Internationally) on August 5.
About Prey:
Release Date: August 5, 2022
Directed By: Dan Trachtenberg
Produced By: John Davis, Marty P. Ewing, John Fox, and Jhane Myers
Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, and Julian Black Antelope
Synopsis: The origin story of the Predator in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Naru, a skilled female warrior, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth.
Are you excited to see Prey? Would you rather see this movie in theaters or on a streaming service? Where do you want to see the franchise go from here? Let us know, and make sure to follow us on Twitter.
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