Two of 2018's upcoming blockbusters have unveiled teaser posters, hinting at the arrival of The Predator and Alita: Battle Angel. At first blush, Alita and the new Predator may not seem to have a lot in common. Both, however, are taking much-beloved source material and attempting to turn them into box office gold amongst a sea of larger and more established properties next year. They're also two films that we don't know a whole lot about, despite being right around the corner. Of course, that's likely to start changing soon as the marketing picks up for the two potential tentpoles.

For The Predator, we've seen some set photos, teasing Shane Black's updated take on the property. We've also learned that, mixed in with the action, will be plenty of humor—something fans of Black's work have come to expect. Even more exciting, but the movie will follow the lead of Mad Max: Fury Road and the Fast and Furious franchise by mostly sticking to practical effects. Alita, on the other hand, is even more of a mystery. We know it'll be produced by James Cameron and directed by Robert Rodriguez, lending it plenty of credibility. The lead has also be cast, along with additions like Mahershala Ali in a dual role. Now, though, we have our first look at the early promotion of the films.

Collider is on hand at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas and snapped photos of teaser posters for both The Predator and Alita: Battle Angel. While they don't offer much, they likely mean more teases are on the way.

The Alita poster hints at its scope, while The Predator focuses on some humor. And just like their differing appraoches, both films will face their own sets of challenges next year. Like with Ghost in the Shell and Alien: Covenant this year, both movies will take fan-favorite media and attempt to update it. While Alita doesn't have the burden of source material that's as popular and will have some big names behind the scenes, it will also face the same whitewashing backlash as GITS. Though Ali and Michelle Rodriguez add more actors of color to the film than a typical blockbuster, Lana Condor is the only Asian-American actor in the whole cast, and she's not even the lead.

The Predator, meanwhile, may seem to mirror the new Alien, but there are a few key differences that might not afford it the same level of success. The main issue is, despite Black's impressive resume, Alien had the benefit of the original creator returning. Though Black acted in the original film, there's no guarantee he can write and direct a worthy follow-up. And while there's a chance Black's Predator could win over audiences, soft reboots of '80s franchises have not had much success in the past few years.

Of course, there's no telling how either of these projects will fare until we learn more about the story and get the first trailer. Regardless of the backlash, controversy, or fan outcry, both films are new potential franchises that will have to face off against superheroes, wizards, and galactic smugglers. Hopefully, we'll know more about The Predator and Alita: Battle Angel soon.

MORE: The Predator Set Photos

Source: Collider