Latest Predator movie takes inspiration from Comanche Nation

Prey, the latest movie spinoff from the Predator franchise, taps into the warrior spirit and beliefs of the Comanche Nation.

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The film, starring Amber Midthunder, Mohammad Albaaj, Dakota Beavers and Michelle Thrush, is based on the 1987 movie Predator, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, and is set in the Northern Great Plains in 1719. Midthunder, who is a member of the Fort Peck Sioux Tribe, plays the role of Naru, a female Comanche warrior.

This prequel movie follows three direct sequels in the form of Predator 2 in 1990, the 2010 movie Predators and the final movie The Predator in 2018. The franchise has also released two crossover movies with the highly successful Alien franchise, Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007.

The rise of the female warrior

Midthunder is the latest in a series of actresses to play a strong female lead, dating back to Angelina Jolie’s title role in the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movies and Milla Jovovich in the Resident Evil movie series, as well Sigourney Weaver in the Alien series a few decades before those.

Tomb Raider and Resident Evil both began life as video games and it is evident that the influence of strong female leads in video game titles and movies has inspired the iGaming sector to get in on the act. The industry covers a wide range of themes in its slot offerings for online gambling in Canada and increasing numbers of female characters are featuring in slot games in the form of Medusa 2 and Power of Gods The Pantheon, along with female hunters in the form of Robyn. Clearly, the increasing popularity of female characters has contributed to the proliferation of these slot titles.

The movie reflects the diversity and history of North America and takes this a step further by giving audiences the option of a Comanche-language dub for a truly authentic experience. This innovation was particularly important for producer Jhane Myers, who is a Native American Comanche and Blackfeet American Indian: “Everything is exact, correct and authentic, and sometimes, when films are made, it’s not always done that way. It’s either an afterthought or it’s done on the fly.” The movie also features the traditional hunting equipment of the Comanche Nation, which is juxtaposed with the futuristic weaponry of the Predator.

Raising the prospect of further movies

Director Dan Trachtenberg ensures that everyone will stay glued to the screen as the closing credits roll by featuring a teaser (which we will not reveal to you) that suggests there could be more movies to follow. There is every chance this could be the case as Hulu has already announced that the movie is the biggest movie or TV series premiere to ever feature on the US streaming service.

The latest movie in the Predator franchise has created an original plot inspired by the Native American Comanche Nation. The movie also raises the prospect of increased roles for female minorities in action roles, breaking with the tradition of domination by white males, and to a lesser extent, white females in the field. With the movie enjoying a successful premiere, there is a good chance we will see further movies in the series.