Noah Hawley takes us down to Earth in his entry into the Alien Saga with twists that promise to be franchise-changing.
With filming recently completed, the Alien universe is set to expand with the prequel series Alien: Earth, directed by Noah Hawley. Combining the classic elements of horror and science fiction with a strong focus on social conflict, Hawley takes us to a familiar yet terrifying new setting: our own planet.
Descriptive title and expectations
From the offices of FX, the head of the network, John Landgraf, statements confirm that Alien: Earth has not only completed the filming phase, but is fully in post-production. Landgraf, in a seemingly casual conversation about the Emmy nominations of other network series like Fargo and Shogun, slipped in critical details about the highly anticipated series, which is slated to premiere in the first half of 2025.
As Hawley shared in an interview with Vanity Fair, the implications of the setting on Earth are profound.
The cast of Alien: Earth is as promising as it gets, including Sidney Chandler, best known for her role on Don’t Worry Darling, and Alex Lawser, who starred on Black Mirror and Andor. Samuel Blenkin, most recently seen in The Sandman and again in Black Mirror, joins Shadow and Bones Keith Young. Issy Davies and Adarsh Gourav bring more talent to this explosive mix, while Timothy Olyphant plays a wonderfully synthetic role, while David Rydahl’s character is shrouded in mystery.
Connections with the big screen
FX for Alien: Earth, not only finished this season, but went so far as to discuss the development of a second for Alien: Earth, even before the first official premiere, showing the second development. This confidence could indicate an imminent renewal of the series.
In addition, we cannot forget that Alien: Romulus, a new film directed by Fede Alvarez and scheduled for release on August 16, 2024, will also be part of the growing universe. By Ridley Scott
With Alien: Earth, Noah Hawley promises to explore the deepest, darkest horrors of space, but challenges our understanding of social conflict within the framework of science fiction. The series, set on our planet, makes us wonder: what happens when it’s a haunted house and there’s no escape?
A little trip at the beginning
Alien (1979) – A seed of space terror
The beginning of the saga, directed by Ridley Scott, set a new standard for horror and science fiction. In Alien, the crew of the ship Nostromo encounters a hostile spirit, which begins to hunt one by one in the vastness of space. The film introduced one of cinema’s most iconic female characters, Ellen Ripley, brilliantly played by Sigourney Weaver. Their relentless struggle to survive the xenomorph creature raises deep questions not only about its durability, but also about extraterrestrial life and corporate ethics.
Aliens (1986) – Terror turns into action
James Cameron takes the lead in the second film, turning the space thriller into an unbridled action experience. Aliens expanded on the xenomorph mythology, introducing an alien queen and exploring the concept of space colonization. Ripley returns, this time as an orphan girl as a warrior guardian, facing not only creatures, but also corporate negligence. The film redefined the action-horror genre with an emphasis on themes of motherhood and survival.
Alien 3 (1992) – Return to claustrophobic horror
Directed by David Fincher, Alien 3 featured a more sober and contemplative tone. Ripley finds out that a new xenomorph has traveled with her and crashes on a prison planet. This episode resumes the psychological and claustrophobic terror of the original, focusing on death and sacrifice. Although it received mixed reviews, the style and narrative approach delved into Ripley’s vulnerability and isolation, exploring themes of redemption and faith.
Alien: Resurrection (1997) – New life, new terror
The fourth film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, took the saga far into the future. 200 years after her death, Ripley is locked away and revived, returning with enhanced abilities and a disturbing relationship with the xenomorphs. The film mixes horror with science fiction and raises questions about bioethics and identity. With a more whimsical and whimsical tone, Alien: Resurrection attempts to test the boundaries between human and alien, but received a critical reception that polarized fans and critics alike.