Warning: Contains SPOILERS for PreyDespite Prey's satisfyingly violent and inspiring journey, the film's credits still ended on a visual cliffhanger that could be teasing the most exciting sci-fi sequel since Aliens. By the conclusion of the film, Naru has slain the most frightening Predator to date and been rewarded by her tribe with the title of War Chief. As the credits recap the story of Prey, however, another Predator ship is seen descending through the clouds.
In previous Predator entries, it's established that the Predator species returns to Earth after a hunt has concluded to either retrieve their victorious warrior or to scrub all evidence of their excursion from the surface of the planet. Even with that in mind, the antagonist of Prey was an all-new Predator variant who was more aggressive and temperamental than his predecessors. There's a chance that the aliens arriving during the credits teaser will also behave differently from previously depicted iterations.
If the appearance of the Predator ship at the end of Prey doesn't signify the peaceful conclusion fans have been conditioned to expect, it's likely setting up a high-stakes and action-packed sequel similar to how Aliens followed the original Alien film. After all, modern credits scenes often hint at the next conflict to be faced by the heroes. Teasing a mere exchange between Comanche and Predator people doesn't benefit the series whatsoever. If Prey 2 continues to break Predator trends by becoming another worthwhile sequel, Naru could return in a fight reminiscent of Ellen Ripley's Aliens collision on Hadley's Hope.
Prey's Ending Already Hints At A Bigger Conflict
Pitting Naru against a group of Predators instead of against an individual wouldn't be the only immediate parallel between Prey 2 and Aliens either. With Naru easily established as the most compelling Predator protagonist since Dutch in the first film, the need to establish a recurring hero (or heroine) within the Predator franchise is more apparent than ever. That said, Naru wouldn't be elevated to the same iconic heights as Ellen Ripley by merely returning to retread her arc from Prey. Prey ended with Naru succeeding in the Big Hunt, even after contending with the Predator's advanced weaponry, and she thereby proved herself to her people. Prey 2 will need to be about more than just survival and a conflict that sees Naru's tribe threatened by a group of Predators would provide the perfect opportunity for Naru to expand on her newfound capabilities. Just as Aliens saw Ripley transform from survivor to warrior, Naru too must transform.
Of course, the Alien franchise has exhibited plenty of its own mistakes from which Prey 2 can learn. While Alien remains heralded as a sci-fi masterpiece and Aliens continues to be recognized as a staple of the action and horror genres, Alien failed in one important category. Alien 3 was hated, and the franchise has struggled to find its footing ever since. If Prey 2 expands on Naru's journey, instead of deviating from it by minimizing the teased conflict or by jumping to an entirely different point in history, the Predator series could set itself up to attain the holy grail of sci-fi cinema: a competent and enjoyable trilogy.
While looking so far ahead might be frowned upon, it's hard not to be excited about the future of Prey. After breaking Hulu records and setting a new standard for Native American representation within film, the prospect of Prey 2 feels bigger than any previous Predator sequel. In fact, Prey's positive reception is something sci-fi titles like Alien should strive to replicate. Regardless of whether or not Naru's tale does continue into the franchise's future, Prey has undeniably set a new standard for modern renditions of these historic horror properties.