MOVIE NEWS – Disney just threw the entire Predator universe for a loop by changing the ending of its latest film. The move has split the fanbase right down the middle. Predator: Killer of Killers now features an extended finale with massive implications for the franchise’s future—and it even rewrites parts of its storied past.

Just a few days ago, Predator: Badlands was all anyone could talk about thanks to its trailer. But Disney is making sure we keep the conversation alive about their previous film, Predator: Killer of Killers. This weekend, 20th Century Studios revealed that the film now has a brand-new ending—just 20 seconds longer, but enough to further cement this animated adventure within the nearly 40-year-old sci-fi saga, one that’s always been about the toughest heroes.

Spoiler alert! To explain, I have to reveal the surprise

In a surprise announcement at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that Predator: Killer of Killers (titled Predator: Asesino de Asesinos in Spain) now has an extended ending where two legendary franchise characters return. This ending isn’t available everywhere yet—only the U.S. version of the movie has it so far—but it’s already stirred up controversy.

If you’ve seen Killer of Killers, you’ll remember the three main characters end up sealed in cryostasis chambers, only to be thawed for a gladiator-style fight at the end. But after the credits, in a post-fade-to-black moment, we discover the Yautja have amassed a vast collection of prey in suspended animation, with the camera focusing on Naru (from Prey). This implies that, at least for this clan, capturing surviving humans as trophies or challenges is standard practice.

But Naru isn’t alone in this new ending; she’s joined by a young Arnold Schwarzenegger (Alan “Dutch” Schaefer from the original film) and Danny Glover (Mike Harrigan from Predator 2). Most fans see this as obvious fan-service orchestrated by director Dan Trachtenberg, but in the process, it tramples over several established stories—leaving longtime viewers cold.

What Really Happened to Dutch and Mike Harrigan?

This is especially true for Mike Harrigan. In Predator 2, his story ended with him defeating the Predator and earning the respect of a Yautja clan, so much so that their leader, Greyback, tossed him an antique flintlock pistol engraved with “Raphael Adolini 1715” as a trophy. It turns out, though, that Harrigan’s efforts didn’t mean much—he, too, winds up in a cryo-chamber.

As for Dutch, this new ending undercuts the backstory fans received in Predator: Hunting Grounds, which established him as a veteran who’d been fighting the Yautja for forty years—not as a young man stuck in stasis. Sure, the games aren’t considered absolute canon, but you can imagine why many fans and gamers aren’t thrilled about the change.

This big fan-service play may be a headline grab for Disney and a chance to stoke fan dreams of a Marvel-style crossover, but another segment of the fanbase is outraged. Many on Reddit are asking why this was necessary—especially since Predator 2 had a perfect conclusion. “Why have Harrigan captured when the tribe actually showed him respect at the end of the movie?” “I loved the idea that the prey could earn the Yautja’s respect and be treated as an equal,” read some of the top comments.

Fans Are Already Theorizing About the Mess

Of course, fan theories are already running wild about what Dan Trachtenberg was thinking. Some say the “captured” characters are actually clones, while others believe the Yautja clans have different traditions—some honor their prey, while others just want new trophies and harder challenges. The fate of Glover’s and Schwarzenegger’s characters will have to wait for future films.

It’s unlikely we’ll see any answers in Predator: Badlands, the upcoming live-action film scheduled to hit theaters on November 7. Recently, the director said he was excited about a secret project and that there’s nothing more thrilling for a Predator director than bringing back two franchise legends. For now, though, it’s all speculation. What’s your take?

Source: 3djuegos