'Alien: Earth' offers a deep and stimulating depiction of chaos set within a compelling 'Alien' series installment, meeting and surpassing audience expectations.
In a groundbreaking move for the Alien franchise, the new TV series Alien: Earth is set to premiere, taking the terrifying alien saga to our very planet, Earth. The show, set in the year 2120, is unique within the franchise as it focuses on Earth, rather than space or off-world settings, as previously seen in the movies.
The plot revolves around a mysterious Weyland-Yutani spaceship that crash-lands on Earth, prompting a young woman named Wendy—a synthetic "hybrid" android with the mind of a child—and a group of tactical soldiers to investigate the wreckage. As they delve into the alien mystery, they encounter terrifying life forms that pose an unprecedented threat to humanity.
The series is set just before the events of the original 1979 Alien film, providing a near-prequel context while focusing on corporate and technological backstory largely unexplored in the movies. The future Earth depicted in the show is dominated by five powerful corporations (Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold) competing to develop advanced technologies, including humanoid robots infused with human consciousness, like Wendy.
Alien: Earth distinguishes itself from previous Alien films in several key ways. The series is set essentially on Earth itself, bringing the alien threat home, unlike all prior Alien films that take place primarily in outer space or on distant planets. The plot also explores the power struggle between mega-corporations and their race to create synthetic life, introducing a broader social and political dimension to the story, unlike the survival-focused, horror-centric tone of the original films.
Creator Noah Hawley emphasizes that the TV format allows for long-form storytelling centered on character development and thematic exploration, contrasting with the "two-hour survival story" structure typical of the movies. The series aims to expand the franchise by deepening its worldbuilding on Earth and human society, developing complex characters, and addressing thematic issues through a longer, serialized format while maintaining the franchise’s sci-fi horror roots and connection to the Weyland-Yutani corporate mythology.
The series features a large ensemble cast with Wendy, Lawther's Hermit, Boy Kavalier, Kirsh, and Morrow as significant characters. The Xenomorph, revealed in the show's premiere, causes the WY-owned USCSS Maginot to crash-land in Prodigy City. The series consists of eight episodes in its first season, with a new episode premiering each following Tuesday on Hulu beginning at 8 pm ET and on FX at 8 pm ET/PT.
For those outside the US, Alien: Earth can be found on Disney+, with prices varying by country. In the UK, the Standard (with ads) plan is £4.99/month, the Standard (no ads) plan is £8.99/month or £89.90/year, and the Premium (4K) plan is £12.99/month or £129.90/year. In the US, the series can be streamed on Hulu. The available plans are Hulu (with ads) for $9.99/month or $99.99/year, and Hulu (no ads) for $18.99/month.
The unique style of Alien: Earth is due in part to Hawley's energetic and offbeat editing, and Jeff Russo's original score for the series is unlike anything heard before in the Alien universe. The series broadens the Alien universe's horizons with two new additions: Cyborgs and hybrids. The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth is not the only extraterrestrial being; Hawley and his crew have introduced additional nasty extraterrestrial beings. The Xenomorph's presence extends beyond the double premiere, but not always in expected ways.
Olyphant and Ceesay face unique acting challenges with their characters Kirsh and Morrow, respectively. The series' two-episode premiere is imminent, with Alien: Earth premiering on Tuesday, August 12, with the first two episodes available to stream on Hulu at 8 pm ET and on the FX linear channel at 8 pm ET/PT, and on Disney+ internationally on August 13.
Whether you're a long-time fan of the Alien franchise or new to the series, Alien: Earth promises to deliver a thrilling, character-driven narrative that expands the franchise's worldbuilding and deepens its exploration of the human condition in a time of corporate power and ecological threats. Don't miss the premiere on August 12!
- The new TV series Alien: Earth, set to premiere, offers a unique twist in the Alien franchise by bringing the terrifying alien saga to Earth, introducing a broader social and political dimension to the story.
- The series, airing on Hulu and Disney+, features a large ensemble cast and introduces new extraterrestrial beings, broadening the Alien universe's horizons with cyborgs and hybrids, and is notable for its energetic editing and original score.
- For movie enthusiasts and fans of science fiction, Alien: Earth promises an engaging, character-driven narrative set on Earth that combines entertainment, news, technology, and sci-fi-and-fantasy elements, marking an exciting expansion of the Alien universe.
