Summary

• Planet of the Apes is a better fit for a Predator crossover than Alien, thanks to its success and unique premise.
• Combining Predators with intelligent apes in Earth's setting could create a more engaging narrative and exciting location.
• A potential Ape Vs. Predator project is feasible with 20th Century Studios and could offer compelling protagonists and narrative.

The Predator movies have already had one successful cinematic crossover with Alien, but there's another series that would be an even more exciting fit for the long-running franchise. Ever since a xenomorph skull appeared in Predator 2, the prospect of Alien and Predator coming together has been a dream for sci-fi fans. The dream became a reality in 2004, with the first Alien Vs Predator movie, which itself spawned a direct sequel in 2007. Despite this history, however, Alien and Predator are not the only sagas that could work well in combination.

The Predator franchise is in many ways ideally suited to crossover projects. The movies' key concept of a deadly extraterrestrial that scours the universe in pursuit of the most dangerous game could potentially bring it into conflict with all kinds of exciting opponents. As one of the most iconic sci-fi monsters ever created, it was perhaps inevitable that its first crossover adversary was the equally legendary xenomorph. Now that aliens and predators have battled each other in two separate movies, however, there's another crossover proposal that seems even more exciting.

Planet Of The Apes Is Better Suited For A Predator Crossover Than Alien

Given that the Predator franchise has historically followed the template of Yautja coming to Earth in order to find worthy prey, the most suitable franchise for a crossover is not Alien, but Planet of the Apes. Successfully rebooted in 2011, The Planet of the Apes saga has exploded in popularity, generating over $2.2 billion at the global box office across 10 movies. Set on an alternate version of Earth, the movies star intelligent apes who depose humanity as the planet's dominant species. It's this detail that makes the saga a potentially fascinating Predator crossover.

On a basic level, the prospect of Predators fighting the super-intelligent apes of the Planet saga is potentially thrilling. Beyond this, however, part of the problem with the Alien Vs Predator movies (aside from the story, script, and infamously terrible lighting) was its Earth setting. Despite having a whole universe of potentially exciting settings, the human protagonists made a grounded, relatable setting essential. The consequence was a disappointingly dull location for the showdown. Combining Predator with Planet of the Apes, on the other hand, instantly makes Earth a more interesting location for an interspecies battle, fixing a major problem.

There is also a narrative issue with Alien Vs Predator. Despite being two of the most terrifying monsters ever created, neither the aliens nor Predators are particularly blessed with personality. As a result, neither is a particularly compelling protagonist, with a more charismatic presence necessary to make the action engaging. Planet of the Apes has already proven it can deliver on this front. Andy Serkis' Caesar ably demonstrated how an ape can be a compelling main character, removing the need for the human presence that held the Alien Vs Predator films back.

How An Ape Vs. Predator Crossover Could Work

Practically, there shouldn't be many obstacles between an Ape Vs. Predator crossover project. Both properties are part of 20th Century Studios, so there shouldn't be much negotiating over rights if a collaboration is proposed. Unlike other successful franchises, neither Predator nor Planet has a recognizable main actor who could prove an obstacle in contract negotiations, potentially making a crossover even more straightforward.

It's also fairly easy to see how the two sagas could come together narratively. After the events of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it's clear that apes are still the dominant species – despite hope for humanity's future. In this context, a Predator coming to Earth would likely have to face off against the ape equivalent of Dutch's team from the original movie – a fascinating match-up given the different physical characteristics of apes and humans. Combining the personality of Planet's intelligent apes with their unique physicality could make for a fascinating fight against a Predator.

Why Predator & Planet Of The Apes Might Not Crossover Anytime Soon

While Ape Vs. Predator is a potentially intriguing prospect, the reality is that any such collaboration is unlikely in the immediate future. Not only are there no official plans for a crossover, but the project is unlikely while both franchises are in a fertile creative patch. Fresh off the success of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the Planet saga feels inevitably headed towards a Planet of the Apes remake, with many more stories still to be told. Distracting from the franchise with a Predator crossover would be detrimental to this effort.

Likewise, Predator has been completely rejuvenated after the successful release of the Hulu movie Prey. With Badlands set to follow in the near future, Predator is in no need of another Alien-style crossover to maintain relevance. The situation means any future Ape Vs. Predator movie is a long way off. Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing and exciting idea – however unlikely.