Prey 2: News & Rumors For Naru's Return In Prey Sequel

Although the movie was released only on the streaming service, Prey was both a critical and financial success, and it only makes sense for Disney to greenlight a sequel. The original cast is interested in the sequel, and there have already been news and rumors about the follow-up. However, with the successful theatrical release of Predator: Badlands, the series might be taking a new direction with Dek, the Predator protagonist. In this article, find out about the current status of Prey 2, including information about a possible return by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and everything we know about the fate of Naru.

Quotes From Amber Midthunder And Dan Trachtenberg

In interviews surrounding the future of Prey, both Amber Midthunder and director Dan Trachtenberg shared candid thoughts about the possibility of Prey 2 and Naru's return. When asked about any sequel plans, Midthunder admitted with a laugh that she genuinely wasn't sure what was happening next, saying, "I don't know. I don't know what's happening", while making it clear she wanted to return to the character and appreciated Trachtenberg's vision for the world. Trachtenberg, for his part, hinted at big ideas he had after finishing the first film, explaining that while there was "definitely a plan in mind", the realization of a direct sequel hinged on the success of his other Predator projects. What would come next for Naru remained something he was eager to explore.

A Direct Sequel To Prey

Prey left the door open for a sequel. Although it concluded its own storyline with Naru defeating and killing the Feral Predator, the animations shown during the credits heavily implied what would happen next. With the villagers and Naru looking at the skies, three Predator ships appeared from the clouds in a thunderstorm, just like when Feral Predator arrived. The Predator ships most likely arrived to either claim the body and gear of the Feral Predator and/or to avenge his death. Having a whole Predator clan fighting against a small Native American village might seem like overkill, but the Predators have an honor code and would possibly even the odds. They could use less advanced Yautja weapons or have fewer Predators in the fight (perhaps only three, as a nod to Predators and the first AvP movie). Naru would also step up her game, by training the villagers for the upcoming fight and becoming a respected and experienced leader of her tribe.

Naru In Stasis In Predator: Killer Of Killers

The ending of Predator: Killer Of Killers gives a clear indication of Naru's fate, although the timeline is left vague. We were shown a huge stasis farm of stored humans and other creatures, which included Naru with warpaint on her face, while still being young. The alternate ending of Killer Of Killers (which was deemed canon by the director) also showed Lieutenant Harrigan in stasis, indicating that it took place later than 1997 (where Predator 2 takes place). Predators have not invented time travel, so Naru would come out of stasis for a sequel in a present or future timeline, perhaps even in the late period of Predator: Badlands. However, it's still possible that Naru was not immediately taken after the events of Prey (when the ships arrived), but still had one last hunt against another Predator in the 18th century, to be seen in Prey 2.

The 1715 Raphael Adolini Pistol

Prey 2 is set to explain the final piece of the mystery of the origins of the 1715 Raphael Adolini flintlock pistol given to Lieutenant Harrigan at the end of Predator 2. Although this was already explained in the Predator: 1718 comic book from the 90ties, Prey retconned these events and depicted the pistol belonging to a French trapper, not a pirate captain. Naru obtained the pistol from the Frenchman and successfully (and painfully) shot the Feral Predator in the head with it, while the pistol remained with her. Prey 2 can then explain how the pistol ended up in Greyback Elder Predator's hands. It is possible that young Greyback is one of the Predators arriving in the three ships seen in the ending animation, although he seems to belong to a different Yautja clan, due to the big anatomical differences between Feral and Greyback. Perhaps three different clans arrive on the ships, setting up some kind of clan battle, where Naru is tossed in the middle and loses the pistol to Greyback. However, losing the pistol would not be a big loss to Naru, who is more interested in the survival of her tribe than prized Predator trophies. Finally, the pistol ended up in the finale of Predator: Killer Of Killers (used by World War 2 pilot Torres), but this happened likely after the events of Predator 2.

Naru Hologram In Predator: Badlands

Naru had a small cameo in Predator: Badlands, again hinting at her final fate. When Kwei and Dek looked at holograms depicting powerful beings on different planets (including the Kalisk on Genna), we were shown a glimpse of Earth. Next to Earth was a female Native American warrior with a bow, clearly intended to be Naru. This would mean that she was one of the most powerful warriors on Earth, a being that the Predators feared and respected. Although killing the Feral Predator was a strong feat, this could indicate she killed more Predators by the time of Predator: Badlands (set around the time of the 25th century). Whether she killed more Predators before or after being in stasis is left unclear. Predator: Badlands opened up the possibility of Dek meeting Naru once she is taken from stasis, possibly appearing in a Predator: Badlands sequel. As seen in Predator: Killer of Killers, some people are even put in stasis multiple times, as was done with Ursa, the female Viking.

Prey 2 Cast

Both lead actress Amber Midthunder and director Dan Trachtenberg have expressed interest in returning for Prey 2. In an interview in January 2023, Amber Midthunder said that they are in talks with the director, both loved the experience and are ready for the sequel. Although the Feral Predator was killed, Dan DiLiegro could easily return to play another Predator. Naru's mother Aruka (played by Michelle Thrush) and the war chief Kehetu (played by Julian Black Antelope) also survived, and could easily come back for the sequel. Studio ADI (Amalgamated Dynamics), who developed the Predator suits and effects, has been involved with all of the recent Predator movies, and their return would be a no-brainer. Naru's dog Sarii was a highlight of Prey, and it would be a mistake not to include him.

A Possible Return Of Arnold Schwarzenegger

A question on the mind of many fans is: Will Arnold Schwarzenegger return as Dutch Schaefer? Arnold did indeed return already in the Predator: Hunting Grounds video game back in 2021 as an old and battle-hardened Dutch. Arnold lent his likeness and even recorded a bunch of lore-heavy audio tapes for the game. Director Dan Trachtenberg recently said: "All I'll say is - there's still time for those guys. They're still around, and wouldn't that be awesome?", confirming his interest in having Arnold, or even Danny Glover, return in a later Predator sequel. Just like Naru and Lieutenant Harrigan, Dutch (a young version) was seen at the end of Predator: Killer Of Killers. They fell victim to the Predator's ability to kidnap and cryo-freeze its victims, for an ultimate hunt on one of their Game Preserves. However, this return of a young Dutch Schaefer would probably mean it needs to be an animated version, but still voiced by Arnold.

A Possible Team Up Of Many Characters

With multiple Predator projects now establishing survivors across different eras, the franchise appeared to be slowly building toward a larger crossover-style event. A future sequel such as Prey 2, Predator: Badlands 2, Predator: Killer Of Killers 2, or even Alien vs. Predator reboot could plausibly unite several iconic survivors, including Naru, Dutch Schaefer, Lieutenant Harrigan, and Royce from Predators. The ending of Predator: Badlands also opened the door for Dek, Thia, and Bud to be part of such a confrontation, especially given Dek's unresolved connection to his mother. These characters could be forced into an uneasy alliance to face a greater threat, such as a powerful Yautja leader or a large-scale Xenomorph outbreak. Given that Predator: Killer Of Killers already explored animation as a storytelling format, such a large-scale team-up story could also be told as an animated film or series. This allows the franchise to bring together characters from different timelines and eras more easily, without worrying about the mismatched ages of the actors.

Prey 2 Release Date

Prey 2 has not been officially announced, so understandably there is no release date yet. However, if it were announced in the near future, it might be possible to assume a release date. Most likely, it would receive both a theatrical and streaming release, similar to what Predator: Badlands got. Predator movies are usually released at the end of the summer, or in autumn, so a 2027 August would be possibly the earliest time for it. But as there is still so little information about the movie, a 2028 release is more likely.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Prey 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to the financially and critically successful Prey. Although no official announcements have been made, more information is bound to be released soon. The cast members and crew are interested in returning, and most likely, a direct follow-up to the Native American storyline will happen, which will connect to the flintlock pistol seen at the end of Predator 2. Hopefully, Predator Prey 2 will be released theatrically, and not only on a streaming service of Hulu and Disney+. On a side note, while Alien: Earth is progressing successfully into a second season, there are still no new updates on Aliens vs. Predator 3.

Tag Categories: Upcoming Alien & Predator Movies