The following contains spoilers for Predator: Killer of Killers, now streaming on HuluPredator: Killer of Killers takes my favorite aspect of Prey and improves on it in some shockingly effective ways. The animated anthology is a spiritual successor to Prey, with both movies reimagining the premise of the Predator franchise in new historical eras. While Prey was set entirely in the Comanche nation in the 17th century, Predator: Killer of Killers' anthology approach takes place across 9th-century Scandinavia, feudal Japan, and the Pacific Theatre in World War II. These new eras provide some exciting new action set-pieces for the filmmakers to tackle.

This is quietly the most impressive quality of Predator: Killer of Killers takes that quality and improves upon it. In fact, the animated film could — and should — become a foundational springboard for the future of the franchise as a whole.

Killer Of Killers Tripled Down On The Coolest Detail About Prey

Killer Of Killers Showcases Different Cultures Facing Off With Predator

One of the coolest parts about Prey was the way it incorporated historical elements into the Predator framework, something Predator: Killer of Killers takes to an extreme. Prey immediately stood out from the rest of the sci-fi franchise by taking the story back centuries to the 17th century. As a result, the film was able to ground a timeless story of an underappreciated young woman struggling to prove herself and give it a distinctive visual backdrop. The change in culture, weaponry, and setting didn't detract from the standard tropes of a Predator film and breathed fresh air into the concept.

Predator: Killer of Killers goes even further than that by hopping between three distinct settings and periods. Even beyond the cultural shifts and differences in available weaponry, the different periods highlight different styles of combat and approaches to conflict, whether that be the berserker charge of Ursa, the sly footwork of Kenji, or the inventive mechanical skills of Torres. All of those little cultural touchstones make the characters unique, but their inherent drives (like Ursa's love for her son or Kenji's feud with his brother) make them feel universal despite their different lives.

The result is an anthology that absolutely nails the best aspect of Prey three times over, creating new and unique environments to throw a Predator in. The Predators are tailor-made for each scenario, pushing the limits of their era and forcing the main characters to scramble in some pretty clever ways to survive. The anthology feels connected thematically, but each short is visually distinct and given a different vibe thanks to the different eras and how the film approaches them.

Killer Of Killers Pits Historical Eras Against One Another

I Never Knew I Needed A Viking/Ninja Vs. Predator Fight, But Here We Are

That approach to history would be impressive enough, but then Killer of Killers' final segment takes it even further by pitting them against each other. The fourth segment of Killer of Killers reveals that lots of people have killed Predators over the years, but these victors have then been kidnapped by the Predators and forced to take part in their coliseum combat. The interplay between the different cultures is instantly charming, with the language barrier and differences in personality quickly establishing a fun connection between the human heroes of the film.

The movie then has the best of both worlds, pitting the champions of different eras against each other before teaming them up to fight the Grendel King. The fight between Ursa and Kenji is a great little showcase of their skills at work, before audiences get the unique sight of a viking and ninja teaming up in a fight scene. The cultural differences give way to human connections, leading to some of the film's most effective little emotional beats (like Ursa remaining behind to save Kenji and Torres). These connections make the fourth segment of the film incredibly fun.

I Want Predator: Killer Of Killers To Be A True History Anthology

Predator Could Become A Great Way To Show Off Any Era In Human History

By proving how easily the Predator series can be adjusted to fit into different historical settings, Predator: Killer of Killers could easily justify countless sequels. Each subsequent entry in the series could explore different settings, showcasing a wide breadth of human history with a naturally action-packed and frightening edge, thanks to the presence of a Predator. Predator could become a hyper-violent answer to Doctor Who, traveling across time and space to showcase important historical eras through an exciting lens.

I hope we get dozens of sequels [to Predator: Killer of Killers] that explore different eras.

This concept could generate limitless storytelling potential. The series could hop back in time to the earliest examples of man and go deep into the future, thanks to the seemingly timeless qualities of Yautja culture. There could be easy ways to explore human conflict by pitting different kinds of warriors into a similar coliseum situation, only to have the characters be incapable of overcoming their differences. Killer of Killers has so much theoretical potential thanks to its format and approach to Predator, and I hope we get dozens of sequels that explore different eras.

Killer Of Killers' Ending Sets Up Prey's Naru For A Historical Clash

A Killer Of Killers Follow-Up Could Replace Prey 2

One of the most exciting developments of Killer of Killers' ending is the way the film quietly answers a lingering question about Prey. The anthology's final scene, focusing on a cryogenically frozen Ursa being placed back into storage by the Predators, reveals that Naru is among the warriors who were captured and brought to the Predator world. A prospective sequel to Predator: Killer of Killers could unleash the character and pit her alongside other historical characters like Ursa, showcasing her skills and adaptability.

Getting Naru back would be a great way to showcase more human interactions despite language barriers, putting the Comanche warrior alongside all sorts of other kinds of people. A sequel to Killer of Killers could even become a stealth sequel to Prey by shifting focus to Naru in one of its segments. It could further cement the connection between the live-action and animated Predator films, cementing the shared universe. Predator: Killer of Killers is an absolute blast that is perhaps most impressive for the potential it establishes for the future of the Predator franchise.