From Comanches to World War II: How the Animated Film 'Killer of Killers' Unexpectedly United the Entire Franchise
The new animated release connected Prey, Alien: Earth, and even Predator 2.
Fans expected another hunt but got much more. The animated film Predator: Killer of Killers, released on June 6 on Hulu, turned out not to be just a collection of stories about three heroes from different eras but a key puzzle piece in the Predator cinematic universe. References, crossovers, hints at upcoming projects — all are now intertwined, making this the most ambitious project in the franchise since the original Schwarzenegger film.
Killer of Killers: New Arena and Familiar Faces
The film consists of three parts: Vikings in the 9th century, samurai in the 17th century, and World War II pilots. In each story, the hero defeats a Predator — only to end up... in a cryo-chamber.
It turns out the hunters aren’t just hunting; they are gathering the best fighters for gladiatorial battles on their home planet. An arena, explosive collars, a fight with a kaiju, and a meeting with the Predator leader — all now part of the franchise’s inner mythology.
From Predator to Alien: Earth
In the post-credits scene appears Naru — the heroine from Prey. This confirms that the animated anthology directly continues the film’s storyline and is officially included in the main franchise timeline.
Raphael Adolini’s gun from Predator 2, a cameo of a character resembling Dutch, and shots of a cloak made from xenomorph tails — all clearly connected to the upcoming Alien: Earth, set to premiere in November. It will feature new heroes, including the synthetic Tia played by Elle Fanning. And possibly a crossover with the Alien franchise.
Building the Universe
Director Dan Trachtenberg has already proven he has a plan. Killer of Killers became his prologue — visually sharp, expertly directed, and emotionally gripping. After it, the ending of Predator and the Predator mythology as a whole are perceived differently.
The ending is clear: everyone who defeats a Predator doesn’t gain freedom but enters a closed loop. And that is a whole different story.
