Is Dan Trachtenberg returning to the Cloverfield universe? Here's all about the latest updates

Is Dan Trachtenberg gearing up for his return to the Cloverfield universe? The Predator: Badlands creator has just signed a new first-look deal with Paramount for three years, which makes his return to the hit sci-fi franchise possible.

After a string of independent projects and short films, Dan Trachtenberg got breakthrough success with his first feature directorial debut, 10 Cloverfield Lane, the second and most successful installment in J.J. Abrams' sci-fi horror trilogy. The franchise is known for bringing in a different director for each installment, with Matt Reeves helming the first film and Julius Onah directing the 2018 film. However, after Dan Trachtenberg's latest three-year deal with Paramount, he might return to direct another installment, which could be a direct sequel to 10 Cloverfield Lane.

The Dan Trachtenberg-Paramount deal signals his return to the Cloverfield universe

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Dan Trachtenberg has teased his return to the Cloverfield franchise. While Dan Trachtenberg revealed that a return to the J. J. Abrams-produced trilogy was not the reason behind his Paramount deal, it has certainly opened the gates for his return:

''It was almost like a, "Oh my God, wait, when we were talking about stuff, it came up, and I was like, 'Oh yeah, wait a second. I've done that. I could, maybe [do another Cloverfield film].'" So maybe, and I certainly kept in touch with the folks at Bad Robot and J.J. [Abrams], and we've certainly discussed different things over the years...''

Trachtenberg-directed 10 Cloverfield Lane, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman, remains one of the most popular and financially successful films from the sci-fi franchise, which grossed more than $110 million at the box office against a $15 million budget. The movie is especially popular among audiences, and fans are eagerly waiting for Dan Trachtenberg's return to the franchise.

However, after the 2016 movie's success, Dan Trachtenberg pivoted to the Predator franchise, with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers. The recently released and highly successful Badlands practically resurrected the Predator franchise and the creator is already working on a fourth film in the franchise.

Exploring the future of the Cloverfield franchise

While Dan Trachtenberg continues to divert all his attention to the fourth Predator film, his latest deal with Paramount has opened the gates for his return to the sci-fi universe. In 2016, producer J. J. Abrams teased the future of the franchise and a potential fourth film that "could be [something] really cool that connects some stories." While the hit sci-fi franchise has delivered some of the best standalone stories in the trilogy, the producers and creators seem keen on connecting the universe with the fourth film. Abrams teased the possibility of a team-up between Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Michelle and Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Ava.

In 2022, Babak Anvari was confirmed to direct the untitled fourth Cloverfield film, with a script written by Joe Barton and produced by Jon Cohen, Abrams & Hannah Minghella. Additionally, in 2016, Dan Trachtenberg also shared his plans to expand the franchise with a direct sequel to his 2016 film.

While plans for Abrams' sci-fi franchise are set in motion, Trachtenberg is keen on working on individual Paramount projects and the fourth Predator film for now. In a statement, he said:

"When I was figuring out what to do after Prey, the ideas for Badlands, Killer Killers, and a third project were all equally exciting. So the idea of doing that third thing would be an absolute thrill. More of this stuff would be awesome. And also — I want to make movies that don't always have Predators in them."

Teasing his future with Paramount, he added:

"I'm thrilled, and they are thrilled to make some of the original movies that I've always had in my head and heart. And of course, they also have very cool IP and all that."

After the commercial success of Badlands, Trachtenberg is working on the fourth Predator film, which will introduce the female Yautja (in Dek's mother) in live-action for the first time.