One of the Yautja's most powerful, most iconic weapons will not be featured in Hulu's upcoming Predator prequel film, Prey -- and director Dan Trachtenberg has a good reason as to why.
During an interview with Empire, Trachtenberg discussed his decision to exclude the Plasmacaster from the next entry in the Predator franchise, which takes place long before the events of the original 1987 film. "The primary thing that I wanted to remove was the plasma caster," the director said.
"Just because it just felt like such an instant win button," he explained. "I wanted to make sure that the fight could be as exciting as possible without stripping it of its advantages. He doesn't have all the tools that he has in the in newer movies. But he does have awesome new gadgets for people to see."
A shoulder-mounted, heat-tracking energy weapon capable to dealing out a devastating amount of damage, the Plasmacaster has been the Yautja's signature tool of destruction since 1987's Predator, famously being used by Jungle Hunter in that film. The Unrated Edition of the 2004 crossover film Alien vs. Predator even revealed that Yautja only obtain the Plasmacaster after completing a rite of passage that involves them hunting Xenomorphs (though the AVP movies do not appear to be canon to the main Predator series).
Set to premiere exclusively on Hulu in the United States on Friday, Aug. 5, 20th Century Studios' Prey is the fifth main-series entry in the Predator franchise, following Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018). The film will be distributed via Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in other international markets.
Taking place in the Great Plains of North America during the year 1719 -- 268 years prior to the events of the original Predator -- Prey follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a skilled warrior and member of the Comanche tribe. Naru sets out to protect her people from an emerging threat, which turns out to be a Predator (Dane DiLiegro), a member of the advanced alien race known as the Yautja. Their rivalry ultimately culminates in a "vicious and terrifying showdown."
See what weapons the Predator uses in its battle against Naru when Prey premieres on Hulu on Aug. 5.
Source: Empire