5 Deep-Cut Alien & Predator Connections Hidden Across The Movies

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The Alien and Predator series have always seemed like a natural fit, creating one of the most popular shared universes, similar to Marvel. While the two films directed by Paul W.S. Anderson in the early 2000s weren’t well-received by fans of either franchise, the idea of the technologically advanced Predators battling the terrifying, acid-blooded Xenomorphs still holds a strong appeal.

Despite attempts to distinguish the two franchises on film in the 2010s – with new Alien movies ignoring parts of the Alien vs. Predator story and multiple Predator reboots – the crossover continued in other formats like books, comics, and video games. Now, another crossover appears to be in the works.

After the success of the movie Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg is now in charge of the Predator series and is developing its story further – a story that may include the alien with two mouths. The new film, Predator: Badlands, borrows the powerful Weyland-Yutani corporation from the Alien franchise and features a Predator who has switched sides, potentially setting up a future crossover between the two series.

It’s helpful to first consider the complex relationship between these two series, which have both drawn inspiration from each other and tried to establish their own identities.

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The Xenomorph Spear – The Predator

Shane Black’s The Predator seemed like a fresh start, but it included many nods to the previous films. It directly referenced the events of the first two Predator movies, and even featured Jake Busey as the son of his father’s character from Predator 2.

The movie Alien vs. Predator also includes a nod to its predecessors. When Olivia Munn’s character, Casey Brackett, enters the lab filled with Predator technology, she passes a display case holding the spear made from an alien tail – a weapon the Predator originally created for Alexa Woods in the first AvP film.

Okay, it was a small moment, barely noticeable if you weren’t really looking, but as a long-time fan, that little nod totally blew my mind! It was the first real hint in ages that these two universes could connect again, and it got me seriously excited about what might happen next. It was like a secret message just for us die-hards.

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Predator: Killer of Killers – The Grendel King’s Xenomorph Tails

Before directing Badlands, Dan Trachtenberg laid the groundwork for his take on the Predator universe in the Hulu film Killer of Killers. That movie solidified many of the ideas about the Yautja – including their history and lore, which had been developing for years – and even hinted at connections to the Alien franchise.

Chapter three, titled “The Battle,” introduces the heroes to the Grendel King, a massive leader of the Predator clan. His armor is strangely constructed, and includes parts that seem to be from xenomorph tails.

When asked directly by ScreenRant, Trachtenberg was deliberately vague, explaining that they wanted viewers to speculate about the origins of the creatures and skeletal remains seen in the film. However, it’s pretty clear that xenomorphs are part of this new universe, and that a Predator considers hunting them a significant accomplishment.

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Alien: Romulus – The Predator/Facehugger Countdown

The new film, Alien: Romulus, felt more like a collection of inside jokes and references to the broader Alien universe than a fully developed story. While it appeared director Fede Alvarez avoided connections to the Alien vs. Predator films, he later confirmed a single nod to those crossovers.

As the facehuggers thaw out in the cryo-chamber, the temperature readings on the digital display rise in a way that mirrors the countdown on the Predator’s wrist device in the first movie. Director Alvarez confirmed this was intentional, telling a fan on X (formerly Twitter) that he’s heavily influenced by the Terminator, Alien, and Predator franchises.

After the success of Romulus, director Alvarez expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Dan Trachtenberg to co-direct a new Alien vs. Predator film.

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The Xenomorph Skull – Predator 2

It’s clear now how significant this became. While that single image of the xenomorph skull in Predator 2—seen in the Predator ship at the end of the movie—has since become iconic and launched a whole franchise, it was originally a subtle and playful Easter egg. The filmmakers didn’t anticipate its future impact at all; it was just a fun, lighthearted addition.

As a huge cinema fan, what really struck me about that scene was the clear implication that a Predator had actually taken down a Xenomorph. Back then, with only the first two Alien films out, that was a massive deal! It really showed just how far and wide these yautja hunters ranged and what formidable creatures they could conquer.

Combining these monsters once seemed like a really strange idea, but looking back, it feels completely natural given how popular both franchises are.

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Predator: Badlands – The Same Android Upgrade As Romulus

As a big fan, I’ve noticed Weyland-Yutani is everywhere in Predator: Badlands. It’s not just little nods to the Alien universe – the androids, the MU/TH/UR system, even those huge power suits – they feel like they genuinely belong in this world. But there’s one specific detail that really blew my mind and makes the connection to Weyland-Yutani feel much deeper than just a fun Easter egg.

In the movie Alien: Romulus, when the android Thia, played by Elle Fanning, is deactivated, the Weyland-Yutani company’s ‘W’ logo briefly appears in her eyes. This visual effect originally debuted in the 2010 Aliens vs. Predator video game and is now officially part of the Alien movie universe, having been established by the android character Andy in Alien: Romulus.

It’s a minor detail, but it links the two latest installments of the franchise by ensuring a consistent look for the key technology featured in both.

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2025-11-11 01:19