Disney’s 20th Century Studios and Marvel have announced a first-of-its-kind comic book crossover event, pitting the Predator against the world of Planet of the Apes. This ambitious project will also see updates on the Alien: Earth TV series.

A Historic Crossover

The five-issue comic series, scheduled for release in July 2026, marks the first official meeting between these two legendary science fiction franchises. Previous cinematic crossovers, such as Alien vs. Predator and Freddy vs. Jason, have proven the popularity of such concepts, but also the challenges of execution.

Disney's Role in Streamlining Crossovers

The acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney has simplified the process for these types of crossovers. Having franchises like Alien, Predator, and Planet of the Apes under one corporate umbrella has removed many of the previous logistical and rights-related hurdles.

The Story: Apes as the Hunted

The comic, written by Greg Pak (Planet Hulk) and illustrated by Alan Robinson (Longshots), centers on astronaut Arch. Her rescue mission goes awry when she crash-lands on a future Earth ruled by apes. She then finds herself caught between the apes and the Yautja – the Predators.

A Reversal of Roles

The narrative will explore the unique dynamic of the apes, typically apex predators, becoming the hunted. This role reversal is expected to be a central theme, examining how the apes react to being prey. The Yautja are expected to target the Gorilla soldiers and Chimpanzee leaders.

Arch’s knowledge of 21st-century technology and her ability to navigate this conflict may determine the fate of humanity.

Expanding the Alien Universe

Alongside the crossover, the Alien franchise is expanding with the live-action TV series, Alien: Earth. Executive produced by Ridley Scott and led by Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion), the series premiered on FX and streamed on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally.

A recent interactive quiz tested fans’ knowledge of the Alien universe, covering details about the showrunner, premiere date, and streaming platform.

A Renewed Focus on Sci-Fi Franchises

These projects – the Predator vs. Planet of the Apes comic and the Alien: Earth TV series – demonstrate a renewed commitment to expanding and interconnecting 20th Century Studios’ science fiction properties under Disney. This offers fans new content and potential for future crossovers and shared universe storytelling.