Priyanka Chopra Jonas Boards S.S. Rajamouli's Highly Anticipated New Film

In a major casting announcement, Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been tapped to star in a new film by acclaimed Indian director S.S. Rajamouli. The news comes just days before the release of Predator: Badlands, the latest entry in the long-running Predator sci-fi franchise.

Predator: Badlands, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, has already generated significant buzz, earning $4.8 million in previews. While this trails the $6.5 million earned by the recent Alien: Romulus revival, it still represents a strong start for the new Predator film. Industry analysts are closely watching how Badlands performs, as it aims to challenge the franchise's previous box office records.

Indeed, the Alien vs. Predator crossover film from 2004 still holds the top domestic opening for the Predator series, with a $38.2 million debut. The 2010 film Predators, directed by Nimród Antal, is the second-best opener at $24.7 million. As Predator: Badlands prepares to hit theaters, fans and industry watchers alike are eager to see if it can surpass these longstanding franchise benchmarks.