Fugitive Predator: Profile Of The Rogue Yautja

The Fugitive Predator was a rogue Yautja who appeared in the 2018 film The Predator. Unlike others of his kind, he acted as a defector who attempted to aid humanity with the Predator Killer suit against the bigger Upgrade Predators. However, this did not stop him from slaughtering human adversaries. Same as the larger Assassin Predator, he was identified as a hybrid bearing human DNA, a rare deviation from typical Yautja physiology.

The Hybrid Rogue Predator

The Fugitive Predator was part of a subspecies of hybrid Yautja who possessed traces of human DNA, and possibly from other species. This hybridization was the result of genetic experimentation conducted by the Predator species to enhance their physical and mental abilities. Supposedly, this group of Predators ripped spines from their victims to extract their DNA. He stole a weapon known as the Predator Killer and intended to deliver it to humans so they might defend themselves for a possible Predator invasion. His actions placed him at odds with another Predator clan nicknamed the "Upgrade" or "Assassin" Predators and labelled him a traitor in Predator society.

Arrival On Earth

The Fugitive Predator arrived on Earth's orbit through a "space portal", followed by the more advanced Upgrade Predator ship in hot pursuit. While escaping, the Fugitive’s vessel sustained heavy damage and crash-landed on Earth. His escape pod (along with the Predator Killer) ejected and landed in Mexico, while the Upgrade Predator landed in another location. The Fugitive Predator's arrival on Earth was very similar to the events of the Predator: Bad Blood comic, where the Bad Blood Predator arrived with the Enforcer Predator following.

First Contact

The Fugitive Predator’s first contact with humans occurred near the pod's crash site. Coincidentally, a sniper named Quinn McKenna was on a mission nearby to eliminate Mexican targets. Instead, he discovered the Yautja's helmet and wrist gauntlet. Despite his injuries, the Predator survived the crash and began to track down his lost armor and weapons to complete his mission. His arrival triggered human military interest and eventually led to his capture by Project Stargazer.

Capture By Stargazer

The human organization known as Project Stargazer (a successor organization to OWLF from Predator 2) captured the Fugitive Predator soon after his arrival. Scientists discovered his hybrid genetic structure and held him for study in a secure facility. His capture allowed human authorities to gain insight into advanced Yautja technology and biology. However, this was not the first Yautja to be captured by Stargazer. Another "Fugitive" Predator was held and escaped in similar circumstances during the events of the The Predator: Hunters and Hunted prequel novel. This shows how bad Stargazer was at containment.

Escape From Stargazer

While in captivity, the Fugitive Predator awakened from sedation partly due to the confusion in the laboratory about the arrival of the Assassin Predator. Fugitive broke free of his bindings and slaughtered numerous scientists and guards within the Stargazer facility. He retrieved some of his pre-crash gear, a helmet and shoulder cannon (from the other Predator recently held captive), and grabbed a human assault rifle to bolster his firepower. Although on a mission to save humanity, the Fugitive's actions during this escape are very questionable.

Fight With Loonies

Outside the facility, the Fugitive Predator encountered a group of human mercenaries known as the Loonies. These were a group of veteran soldiers banded around Quinn McKenna. He commandeered a military truck, dispatched its occupants, and escaped in the confusion. Later on, he engaged the Loonies near a school where his bio-mask and wrist gauntlet ended up (held by Rory McKenna, Quinn's son). After having a short firefight, the Assassin Predator arrived, and the Loonies escaped.

Fight With Assassin Predator

At the school building, Fugitive finally faced the upgraded Yautja adversary, referenced as the Assassin Predator. The Assassin had tracked down the Fugitive with the help of Yautja dogs. When his ranged attacks from the shoulder cannon nearly missed, Fugitive approached for close-quarters combat, which was a bad tactic against such a big and strong adversary. He attempted to use his wrist-blades, which had no effect on the Assassin's armored skin.

Death Of Fugitive Predator

The Assassin Predator snapped the Fugitive's blades, struck him down, removed his helmet, and delivered a fatal killing blow by tearing off his head and spine. The Assassin was not even interested in his trophy or the DNA from the spine, just disposing of the head. The Assassin then continued his search for the Predator Killer weapon. In this moment, the Fugitive exited the movie halfway, replaced by the Assassin Predator as the main villain. This was a disappointing moment, as the Fugitive Predator was shown to be a capable Yautja, although he slaughtered humans for no good reason.

Fugitive Predator Vision

The Fugitive Predator’s visual systems operated on multiple layers, combining his natural Yautja infra-red detection with advanced helmet-enhanced optics that could scan far beyond human sight. His bio-helmet allowed him to remotely access its sensors and review image logs. For instance, he used it to identify a note in a basement through the helmet’s display and then track down the mask’s location. The mask could also translate human text to the Yautja language. While cloaked, he still relied on subtle heat differences and motion cues, but in combat scenarios he employed his helmet’s targeting lasers and zoom modes to lock onto enemies and terrain features. While the Fugitive relied on the mask, the Assassin Predator did not even need one, both his vision and breathing was augmented.

Armor And Gear

The Fugitive Predator carried a full complement of standard Yautja equipment, including a cloaking device, samurai-like armor, and a bio-helmet. He also carried a specialized wrist gauntlet which contained advanced functions such as remote ship interfacing and the ability to deploy holographic devices. The Fugitive also carried portable cloaking spheres, also usable by humans. The bio-helmet logged visual data of Predator experiments and included a miniature plasma cannon built into the mask, making it nearly as potent as his shoulder weapon.

Weapons

In combat, the Fugitive Predator utilized classic Yautja weaponry: wrist-blades for close-quarters fighting, a shoulder-mounted plasma cannon for ranged firepower, and a shuriken for tactical strikes. During his escape from the Stargazer facility, he also armed himself with a human assault rifle (SIG SG 552), one of the few Predators to do so. He used voice mimicry even without his helmet to deceive humans, and deployed his severed opponent’s arm to give a thumb-up signal while driving a truck. Despite his arsenal, his wrist-blades snapped during his duel with the Assassin Predator.

Other "Fugitives"

The Emissary Predators were originally featured only in an alternate cut of The Predator, which was replaced when the film’s third act was rewritten into a more horror-focused sequence. In that version, two allies of the Fugitive Predator arrived on Earth and allied themselves with human soldiers to fight the Assassin Predator. They wore modified U.S. military gear and wielded human weapons, even riding atop an armored vehicle alongside the Loonies during the battle. The Emissaries were presumed to have been killed in the conflict. They were later made part of official franchise lore through a NECA action figure line and a DLC for Predator: Hunting Grounds.

Behind The Scenes

The Fugitive Predator was portrayed by actor Brian A. Prince, with additional performance work by Kyle Strauts for certain stunt and motion capture scenes. The design team created a more streamlined and agile version of the Yautja, standing about 7 feet 8 inches tall, to distinguish him from traditional Predators. Much of his original backstory, including the presence of the Emissary Predators and his attempt to deliver a weapon to humanity, was altered in the film’s third act. His sequences combined practical stunt effects with advanced stunt coordination, and his design later inspired collectible figures and in-game appearances.

Conclusion

The Fugitive Predator was a rare example of a Yautja who acted against his own kind, signaling a Predator Civil War on Yautja Prime. Although he was still violent and killed many humans, his true goal was to help humanity prepare for the growing threat of upgraded Predators. His story ended perhaps too soon, as many fans would have liked him to survive at least to the end of the movie. Fugitive wasn't another "bigger and badder" CGI Predator that the series often strives for (such as the Assassin). Indeed, the Fugitive was hybridized, but didn't really use any of his hybrid features.

Tag Categories: Individual Predators, Predators From The Movies