For the past several years, the faraway galaxy has been on a bit of a hiatus — at least theatrically. That will change next year, however, with The Mandalorian & Grogu set for release in May, which will be followed by Starfighter in 2027.But while Star Wars prepares for a return to the big screen, Disney’s focus may already be shifting toward another corner of its sci-fi empire.Credit: LucasfilmRelated: ‘Predator’ Establishes Shared Universe With ‘Alien’ and ‘Independence Day’Following the streaming success of Prey in 2022 and the recent release of the anime film Killer of Killers, the Predator franchise has become one of Disney’s most surprisingly consistent properties. Critics have praised each new entry for experimenting within its framework while staying true to the franchise’s core mythology — something Star Wars hasn’t managed to do consistently in years, whether on the big screen or on Disney+.Now comes Predator: Badlands, which opened earlier this week to strong reviews. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who helmed the last two entries, it reimagines the formidable Yautja not just as hunters, but as heroes. Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is a young outcast navigating a dangerous planet with Thia (Elle Fanning), a damaged android, and a small alien creature that looks ready-made for merchandising — much like Grogu, AKA “Baby Yoda” from the hit Disney+ Star Wars television series The Mandalorian.Credit: 20th Century StudiosThe film even opens with a glowing-blade duel between Dek and his brother, a nod that feels straight out of Star Wars. In fact, there are plenty such references here, with Dek and Thia’s partnership being inspired by the scenes in Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980) where Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) carries a broken C-3PO (Anthony Daniels).But if Badlands feels like Disney’s answer to a missing Star Wars blockbuster, Killer of Killers pushes the idea further. The animated film teased the return of franchise veterans Naru (played by Amber Midthunder in Prey), Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the original Predator), and Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover in Predator 2), hinting at a shared continuity across formats. It’s the kind of cross-media planning Star Wars used to excel at — before fatigue set in.For now, the two universes couldn’t be on more different trajectories. Star Wars is waiting for its next hit, while Predator has quietly become the better, more dependable franchise. Disney may have just found another faraway galaxy that actually works.Predator: Badlands is in theaters now. Watch the trailer below:Disney’s official synopsis reads: “Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.”Have you seen Predator: Badlands? Do you think Disney is trying its luck in another faraway galaxy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!The post Disney Abandons ‘Star Wars’ for a New Faraway Galaxy appeared first on Inside the Magic.