The Connection Between the Predator, Alien, Blade Runner, and Soldier Films
The very unique worlds presented in each of these properties exist in the same universe. While this has been expressed by the filmmakers themselves, there is actually sufficient in-story (or in-universe or in-content) evidence to link each franchise.
The multitude of superhero characters and universes that, for more than a decade, have commanded massive attention prove that bigger and more is better. This is further evidenced by the ever growing budget sizes and the fact that most, if not all, of the major studios have their own franchise. If going far and wide is the best strategy, then what better play is there than combining the Predator (1987), Alien (1979), and Blade Runner (1982) series, along with 1998’s Soldier, to create a Sci-Fi behemoth?
The instances of arguable universe-linking events go back as far as Blade Runner, where the monitor of a flying police spinner shows the same PURGE screen shown in the “Narcissus” shuttle seen in Alien. And in the decades since, plenty more such events have taken place across all four universes.
In 1990’s Predator 2, Danny Glover’s Lieutenant Mike Harrigan has a final confrontation with the Predator, which takes place in the alien’s spacecraft. While navigating the insides of the ship, Harrigan finds a trophy case displaying all the different species that the Predators have hunted and killed. Within the case, the skull of a Xenomorph can be seen, along with multiple human skulls as well as those of unknown species. How the Predator and Xenomorph species faced off in the first place would make a very interesting story, as would exploring the unknown species.
A second universe-linking event, and perhaps the most definitive, is the crossover films Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). In this Earth-set series, the two species are depicted as being in conflict with one another, to the extent that even the Predalien, a hybrid species, comes to be. While these stories are spin-offs of each of the titular franchises, it is important to recognize that while the Alien prequel films, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), are — or were — supposed to tell the origins of Alien universe and connect to the first film, they don’t actually retcon the AVP films on account of the fact that there is a mural in the Engineer spacecraft (the Juggernaut) which shows that Xenomorphs existed prior to Prometheus. So, the events of Alien vs. Predator could have easily taken place at the beginning of the 21st century, while Prometheus takes place near the end.
The connections of Alien extend all the way to Blade Runner (1982) as well. Other than the PURGE link mentioned above, there are at least two more links, each of which is found in the bonus features of physical media releases of both Alien and Prometheus. The “Nostromo Dossier,” found in the 20th Anniversary Alien DVD release, contains a casual mention that Dallas, captain of the Nostromo, at some point took a paycheck from Tyrell Corporation. Said corporation is, in the Blade Runner universe, a high-tech firm whose founder and CEO goes by the name of Eldon Tyrell. This individual, according to the Prometheus steelbook release, was the mentor of Peter Weyland, the CEO and founder of Weyland Industries, a corporation within the Alien universe. Exploring that relationship would also lead to interesting stories, especially considering the kinds of business dealings and collaborations that could have taken place.
Blade Runner, then, connects to 1998’s Soldier by way of the implication that the genetically-engineered soldiers meant to replace Kurt Russell’s Sergeant Todd and his comrades are in fact replicants, a theme brought along from Blade Runner. A spinner was also brought along and can be seen among some the wreckage of the waste disposal planet in which Soldier takes place. Finally, references to Sergeant Todd’s record show that he fought in the Shoulder of Orion and Tannhäuser Gate battles, which took place within the Blade Runner story.
While some of these connections are by association — Predator is connected to Blade Runner only through Alien — they are connections, nonetheless. When lined up, they create a massive universe that is fair game for these content-hungry times. The only caveat is that Blade Runner and Soldier are Warner Bros. properties, while Alien and Predator belong to Disney now that it has acquired 21st Century Fox. Competitors don’t usually collaborate, but it is worth mentioning that 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. did so in the past to great success — see Irwin Allen’s The Towering Inferno. The question today would be: Can Warner Bros. and Disney? It never hurts to dream.
