Hollywood Film “Prey” Making Strides In Indigenous Representation
On Friday, 20th Century Studios released Prey on Hulu in the United States, and Disney+ everywhere else. The film, directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), is a prequel to the long-running Predator franchise and follows a Comanche warrior named Naru as they try to protect their tribe from the highly evolved alien hunters.
The film’s lead, Fort Peck Sioux actress Amber Midthunder, has received high praise for her work in the film from critics and audiences alike for her portrayal of an Indigenous action hero. She has also received praise from her peers, including The Incredible Hulk himself Mark Ruffalo, as well as Jesse Ventura, who played Blain Cooper in the original 1987 Predator film. Amber can next be seen in Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is currently expected to premiere sometime in 2023.
Prey is also making headlines for its inclusion of a Comanche dub. 20th Century Studios is touting Prey as the first film to receive a Comanche dub, as well as the first time a film has debuted in an Indigenous language alongside the English version. Director Dan Trachtenberg has confirmed that all of the actors reprised their roles for the Comanche dub of the film. It is worth noting that if you want to experience the Comanche dub on Disney+ here in Canada, you don’t access it from the language options, but from the Extras menu.
While Prey is set ambiguously in The Great Plains, the film sports some relatively more local connections. Not only was it filmed in Calgary, but the film also features Cree actress Michelle Thrush (North of 60, Fargo), First Nations actor Julian Black Antelope (The Flash), and Squamish actress Stefany Mathias (Longmire) in key roles.
Prey is currently available to stream on Disney+ in Canada. There are currently no plans for a theatrical release.