Predator franchise fans probably didn't expect for Prey to be such a success, given how much previous sequels have struggled. However, the debut of Prey on Hulu has turned out to be a tremendous success, breaking new records at the streaming platform and having many fans wondering why it couldn't have played in theaters. In addition to its high viewership, Prey was also met with critical praise and currently ranks as the highest-rated film of the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes.
Prey performing so well has been surreal for its lead star, Amber Midthunder. In a new interview with Collider, Midthunder addressed the success that the Predator prequel was able to achieve. She explains how what was most important to her was how it would be received by others in the Native community. Because the film was embraced, Midthunder couldn't be happier.
"There are no words for how that has felt. Really, the thing that I was thinking about the most, in making the movie, and then releasing the movie, was how Native people would feel about it. Indian country’s response to the movie was really what I felt the most anxious about. That was the biggest thing that was weighing on me, what the response for that would be. I feel like that’s who the movie was for and that’s what the movie was about, so to have it come out in that way, and to have Comanche people respond well, and to have Native people, in general, respond well, was a huge sigh of relief. And then, to have some of the interactions I’ve had with people, which have been really meaningful and really beautiful, and really, really moving, there’s nothing that could top that. There’s no amount of chart breaking or anything that could top what that means to me."
With that said, it's all just been a pleasant surprise to see Prey performing so well, and she makes it clear how grateful she is for things to have worked out this way.
"But then, you step back and look at all those other things, like the number one release and the high numbers on Rotten Tomatoes, and it literally feels like we’re living in a dream. I don’t think I thought about what would happen after the movie came out, but I know that I wasn’t expecting this at all, and I’m so grateful."
Prey Has Been a Big Hit for Hulu
Prey is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison. Along with Midthunder, the film stars Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, and Bennett Taylor. You can check out the official trailer and synopsis for the film below, which is currently streaming on Hulu.
An all-new entry in the Predator franchise, set 300 years ago, tells the story of a young Comanche woman, a fierce and highly skilled warrior, who stalks, and ultimately confronts, a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal.