The Predator Fights Japanese Samurai In Amazing Prey Sequel Idea

On August 5^th, a Los Angeles-based journalist and critic, Byron Lafayette, posted about the idea of a Prey / Predator sequel on Facebook: “Hear me out, a Predator film set in feudal Japan starring Hiroyuki Sanada as a disgraced Ronin, who hunts down The Predator after he fails to protect his master from it. Watch the cash roll in.” The post quickly started gaining momentum and has since garnered more than 500 likes, over 190 comments and 3000 shares on Facebook alone, as well as being retweeted to Twitter and reposted to TikTok.

People Love the Feudal Japan Prey Sequel Idea

The post and idea have been well received by other critics and fans of the franchise, with comments like “Saw on Facebook, would immediately watch.” -@comicsexplained, and “Ok I’d be down for this in a heart beat.” –@OldCityPhilly_ on Twitter.

“@hulu are you paying attention? Tons of demand for this one. Make it happen. Guys, can we get a petition going?” -@TimSnowborn.

From the tweets and comments, it looks like the community is in love with the idea of a Prey / Predator sequel set in Japan starring Mortal Kombat’s Hiroyuki Sanada and wants Hulu to jump on the concept as soon as possible.

Concept Posters

Concept posters for the idea have been made and are circulating on the internet already as fans push this idea into the light.

“I read a post by @ByronLafayette with his take on a “Prey” sequel starring Hiroyuki Sanada in feudal Japan and I cannot want this more. Here’s a little teaser poster I put together. Pretty sure more will follow, love the premise! #Predator #PreyMovie” -@nunosarnadas

Lafayette is extremely appreciative of all the support that his Predator / Prey concept is getting, including the beautiful concept posters being made to represent his idea.

“I want to thank artist Nuno Sarnadas for the kickass movie poster he designed based on my “Prey” sequel concept starring Hiroyuki Sanada in feudal Japan. Sengoku means “fighting throughout the country,” a name which comes from the “Age of the Warring States” in history.” -@ByronLafayette

Honourable Story

Many fans are wondering what this Prey concept will look like in practice and how the Predators would appear in feudal-era Japan, with some suggesting that the Predator might be easily mistaken for an Oni in Japanese legends.

“Yes! A Predator could be confused for an Oni of Legend! And people who confuse Hunting humans for sport and taking the bodies back to the ships as a trophy, as Oni’s taking bodies back to the cave to eat them.” -@angryvikings

It seems that the current hope for a Prey sequel is that the predators have come to Earth once again in their search for a worthy opponent during the feudal era in Japan. In their search, they kill the master of Hiroyuki Sanada’s character, who then becomes a Ronin on a mission to avenge his master.

One comment on the original Facebook post suggested that the character should wear a traditional ceremonial mask once he starts his mission, only taking it off as a show of a worthy opponent when the predator eventually takes off his mask, as he is known to do in previous movies.

What We’d Like To See In A Prey / Predator Sequel Set in Feudal-Era Japan

More Akira Kurosawa Influences

While most of the Predator sequels haven’t had the same warm reception as the original, Robert Rodriguez’s Predators is considered by many fans to be a cut above the rest. This action-heavy sequel not only gave us a bit more lore surrounding the Predator / Yautja culture, but it also delivered one of the most badass scenes in the franchise.

The moment in question happens between a Predator and Hanzo, a yakuza swordsman. This moonlit katana duel, reminiscent of some of Akira Kurosawa’s classic filmmaking moments, embodies the exact kind of energy a Prey / Predator sequel set in Feudal Japan should have.

Of course, any movie set in such an era would do well to adapt some of Kurosawa’s visual techniques. As an honour-bound warrior, the Predator would more than likely find some common ground with the samurai of the time, providing us with some of the most memorable moments in the franchise in terms of hand-to-hand combat.

Keep Up Prey’s Style

Prey has a rather unique feeling to it when compared to the rest of the Predator franchise. Sure, the movie is still very much an action thriller with horror elements like the rest, but there’s a certain finesse that makes the movie much more palatable in the long run.

The bombastic style of The Predator would certainly be ineffective in a setting such as Feudal Japan. A film in this setting would benefit from a more constrained narrative, one that focuses more on the personal growth of the characters rather than just pure non-stop action sequences.

Another aspect of Prey‘s narrative that a potential Feudal Japan sequel could adopt is its focus on a strong central character. At its core, Prey is a very personal story, one that pits a young woman against circumstances no one could deal with. The film also focuses on the culture of the time, setting it as the backdrop for some of the character’s motivations.

Most of these elements could also apply to a Predator movie set in Feudal Japan. The idea of a Ronin, who sees killing the Predator as the only way to recover the favour of their master, could be a fascinating setting to explore.

Japanese Talent

Without a shadow of a doubt, there’s only one actor that we’d love to see starring in any potential Prey / Predator Feudal Japan film: Hiroyuki Sanada. After his breathtaking roles in recent films like Mortal Kombat and Bullet Train, not to mention his legendary performance in The Last Samurai, Sanada has become the modern face of Japanese acting.

Even if the film decides to focus on a female protagonist, Sanada is one of those actors that just has to make an appearance in this film. His presence would undoubtedly elevate the overall acting quality of the movie, not to mention that he’s one of the most believable actors to ever play a samurai on the big screen.

Other talents who just can’t be missing from the film are Rinko Kikuchi and Ken Watanabe. Additionally, Ririka, from the Netflix Ju-On series, could also lead a younger generation of Japanese actors into the Prey / Predator franchises.

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What do you think about the idea of a Prey / Predator sequel set in feudal-era Japan?