Killer Of Killers Ending Breaks The Franchise Wide Open

The following contains spoilers for Predator: Killer of Killers, now playing in theatersPredator: Killer of Killers’ explosive ending unites the three time-displaced heroes of the animated anthology in a way that opens up the future of the franchise for upcoming sequels. For the most part, the film is set across three time periods and focuses on different battles with different Predators. This leads to the film’s final sequence, where the three are revealed to have all been captured by the Yautja and brought to a distant alien world to fight in gladiatorial combat. It’s a wild way to end the movie, leading to a massive team-up and escape attempt.

Killer of Killers ends with Ursa recaptured while Torres and Kenji make their escape, setting up a natural sequel following their attempts to survive a hostile alien world. This ending also confirms the sheer number of other captured aliens and humans that the Yautja have captured, including one fan-favorite character from a previous film who can now easily return in a sequel. Here’s how the ending of Predator: Killer of Killers expands the Predator franchise lore, how it directly connects to Prey, and what it means for the future of the franchise.

Predator: Killer Of Killers’ Gladiator Match & “Grendel King” Explained

The Predator Warlord Quietly Establishes A Lot About Predator Culture

Predator: Killer of Killers introduces the “Grendel King,” a Predator warlord who helps set up a very exciting future for the franchise. The Grendel King is introduced in Killer of Killers’ fourth segment, which brings the three protagonists of the film (Ursa, Kenji, and Torres) together on a Yautja world. Although it’s unclear if this is their home world, the sheer level of infrastructure, the presence of a ruler like the warlord, and a fleet at the ready suggest this is one of their primary planets.

This includes one where warriors who have defeated Predators are forced into gladiatorial combat against one another, proving themselves to be the “killer of killers.” The coliseum vibe suggests this isn’t a holy event, and more of a means of celebrating the violent Predator culture that has come to define the Yautja. The Grendel King is a big lore addition to the Predator franchise as it firmly establishes a societal hierarchy within the alien species, while also introducing new customs that reflect their nature as the sci-fi equivalents of big game hunters who enjoy watching “lesser species” duke it out.

Killer Of Killers Reveals Thousands Of People Have Killed Predators

The Yautja Have Been Able To Spread Across The Entire Galaxy

A surprising turn in the final moments of Killer of Killers reveals a larger number of people have defeated the Yautja over the years than one might initially expect. After Ursa remains behind to cover Torres and Kenji’s escape, she’s placed back into a frozen state and deposited in a massive vault of other frozen people and creatures. There’s an unknown number of frozen people and aliens, but given that Ursa is among the captured warriors, it appears that this is the collection of all the people who have killed a Predator that was stalking them.

On the one hand, this is a horrifying reminder about how many people have been hunted by the Yautja, with typically only a few (or even just one) surviving their encounters with the deadly aliens. It also underscores just how many Yautja there are and how advanced their race is. On the other hand, it’s a little reassuring to see that so many have been able to bring down their respective Predators, underscoring the reality that these aliens aren’t an unstoppable force, even if they are dangerous. It’s a big reveal that teases a larger scope for the Predator universe.

Prey’s Naru Returns In Predator: Killer Of Killers – What It Means

Killer Of Killers Confirms That Naru Is Still Alive Long After The Events Of Prey

The final shot of Killer of Killers reveals that Naru, the protagonist of Prey, is among those whom the Yautja have captured. A young Comanche woman in the 17th century, Naru’s ambitions to be a hunter instead of a healer were tested by a Predator that came to her region. Outwitting and killing the Yautja with his own weaponry, Naru ended the film triumphant — but with a credits tease that more Predators would soon come to Earth in pursuit of her. Killer of Killers confirms her fate after that film, revealing she was also captured and preserved by the Yautja.

It’s possible Naru has yet to be awakened, or that she has been thrown into a similar coliseum battle and came out the victor. She could even be unleashed by an attempt by Kenji and Torres to save Ursa, setting up a new team-up. Regardless, the fact that Predator: Killer of Killers confirms that Naru is still around and seemingly alive raises the possibility that the Prey heroine could return to the franchise in the future, even as the series seems to be more openly embracing the sci-fi elements of the universe.

How Predator: Killer Of Killers Sets Up Badlands, Prey 2, & More Movies

Predator: Killer of Killers is a very exciting addition to the larger Predator franchise, as it lays the groundwork for all sorts of follow-up stories. Torres and Kenji escaping onto a hostile Yautja world would be a very fun story, building off the momentum of this film’s ending to great effect. Given the strong character depth of the film and the positive early reception to the movie, there might be plenty of reason to revisit the characters as they try to escape the Predators hunting them.

The confirmation that Naru is still alive in this future means the series could shift focus back to her and set up Prey 2. Prey 2 could explore how she was captured by the Yautja or could focus on her efforts to escape the alien race if she is awakened. Naru’s prescene is also a clever way to suggest that any previous survivor of a Predator film (whether that be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch from Predator, Adrien Brody’s Royce and Alice Braga’s Isabel from Predators, or Boyd Holbrook’s Quinn from The Predator) could also have been captured and could return.

Effectively, any former hero could have been preserved for their ability to hold their own against a Yautja warrior. There’s also the mysterious impact the film could have on the Predator: Badlands, which focuses on a Predator sometime in the future. On top of potentially revealing more about Yautja culture, the mysterious film could focus on the fallout of humans escaping into a Yautja world. Predator: Killer of Killers is a great addition to the franchise across the board, but the most exciting part about it is how it sets up an exciting future for the series going forward.