FX's Alien Earth TV Series: News, Cast, And Plot Details

The Alien franchise embarks on a thrilling new chapter with the FX Alien: Earth TV series, marking its first-ever foray into live-action television. As eager fans await its arrival, we've meticulously compiled information from authoritative sources to craft a guide to the series. This article is your one-stop source for every detail you need, spanning the series' setting, cast, crew, plot, and more. It's time to prepare for the return of the Xenomorph to our screens, even if they are smaller screens at home.

Setting: Uncharted Territory – Earth

One of the most astonishing revelations about the FX Alien TV series is its unprecedented setting – Earth in the year 2120. This dramatic shift from the franchise's traditional outer-space and enclosed environments to the terrestrial realm adds an exciting layer of unpredictability. According to FX chairman John Landgraf, the show will be located "right near the end of this century," although later more specific statements set it in the year 2120. This setting change aims to infuse a sense of immediacy and higher stakes, deviating from the well-trodden spaceship or prison locales. While the Alien vs. Predator movies have explored Earth before, the newer Alien timeline headed by Ridley Scott has ignored these events.

First Teaser

Back in January, FX unveiled the first teaser trailer for Alien: Earth. The brief but intense teaser brings back the franchise’s iconic alarm sound, first heard in the original Alien teaser. In the footage, a mysterious creature violently bursts free from its containment pod, drifting through the zero-gravity corridors of the USCSS Maginot. Alarms blare and the ship’s computer issues frantic warnings as the vessel spirals toward Earth’s atmosphere. The teaser culminates in a chilling moment as the creature slams against a window. From an exterior perspective, we see the Maginot engulfed in flames as it begins its harrowing descent.

Plot: A Fresh Frontier for the Franchise

Alien: Earth is set in the year 2120, two years before the events of the first Alien movie take place (and 22 years before Alien: Romulus). Being set so close to the first Alien movie, it sets the stage to explain Weyland-Yutani's knowledge of the Alien, and the origins of Special Order 937. The USCSS Nostromo did leave Earth to Thedus in the year 2120, exactly the year the TV series takes place. Some of the promotional material for the series have focused on the USCSS Maginot, a similar space freighter that crash lands on Earth, possibly carrying the Xenomorph eggs or facehuggers. This sets off the plot of multiple parties trying to obtain specimens.

A Viral Campaign About The USCSS Maginot

At the beginning of March, FX Networks launched a Viral Campaign about the USCSS Maginot, the ship that sets off the events of the series. A USCSS Maginot crate was sent to some of the biggest Alien fansites, including AvP Central. Among the recovered items was a Prodigy Corporation data drive containing five video recordings captured aboard the ship before its crash. This contained footage from some of ship's crewmembers, including Morrow (still in hypersleep, and possibly an android), and the ship's cat Rascal, who looks just like Jones from Alien. Rascal seemed to be the one recording some of the footage, with a small head-mounted camera. It can even be theorized that Rascal ends up taking the place of Jones later, or is an android itself.

The Xenomorph Legacy: A Familiar Absence

A pivotal revelation is the absence of Ellen Ripley, the franchise's iconic hero portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. Series creator Noah Hawley underlines that Ripley's story has been masterfully told, and he has no intention of tampering with her character. As a result, the TV series ushers in a fresh cast of characters who will face the Xenomorph's terrifying menace without Ripley's involvement. While this might raise concerns for die-hard fans, it also offers an opportunity for new characters to carve their places in the Alien universe, free from the shadows of Ripley's legendary status. The absence of Ripley doesn't diminish the threat of the Xenomorph but rather heightens the challenge for the new cast and keeps fans eager to witness this unique take on the franchise.

Corporate Intrigue: New Players on the Board

Alien: Earth is set in a time when five powerful corporations — Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold—hold the influence of entire nations. With cutting-edge proprietary technology shaping the future, the promise of a new tomorrow looms on the horizon. While the Weyland-Yutani Corporation has historically played a central role in the Alien universe, other competing mega corporations have appeared in the expanded universe. This strategic shift creates opportunities to explore themes of competition, corporate greed, and the technological advancements that challenge humanity's very survival. The introduction of this new corporation opens up a fresh narrative landscape, allowing the series to delve into the complexities of corporate interests and the moral dilemmas they create.

Casting Excellence: A Stellar Lineup

The series boasts a promising ensemble cast, featuring accomplished actors from the realms of horror and science fiction. Stars such as Essie Davis ("The Babadook"), Alex Lawther ("Andor"), Samuel Blenkin ("Black Mirror"), Sydney Chandler ("Don't Worry Darling"), and Adarsh Gourav ("The White Tiger") ensure a captivating lineup. One of the final additions to the cast was Timothy Olyphant, perhaps the biggest star in the lineup. Other cast members include Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El. While legacy character appearances are unconfirmed, fans remain hopeful of seeing familiar faces from the franchise's storied past, including David the android (played by Michael Fassbender). This diverse and talented cast sets the stage for riveting performances and memorable characters, maintaining the franchise's tradition of compelling ensemble casts.

Production and Challenges

With Noah Hawley at the helm as the creator and showrunner, the series benefits from a seasoned hand. Furthermore, Ridley Scott, the visionary director behind the original Alien film, is attached as an executive producer, emphasizing the series' commitment to preserving the franchise's legacy. The Earth-based setting presents unique production challenges, but it also opens the door to fresh storytelling possibilities. While Earth's environment may differ significantly from the dark, claustrophobic spaceships of previous films, it offers an opportunity to explore a wider range of settings and scenarios. This change in backdrop is likely to inspire creative and visually stunning storytelling, delivering an Alien experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.

Release Date: The Eagerly Anticipated Return

The series was initially slated to premiere back in 2023, but after some delays will be released in summer 2025. The initial delays may have been associated with the strikes affecting the entertainment industry, including the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The producers might have also delayed the series until the release of Fede Alvarez's Alien: Romulus in 2024, which turned out to be hugely successful. However, no more delays are to be expected and the series will surely be released at the latest in August 2025.

Where to Watch: The FX and Hulu Connection

Given that FX produces the series, it is reasonable to expect that the upcoming Alien series will air on FX, alongside other popular shows like "What We Do in the Shadows" and "American Horror Story." If this is the case, new episodes will likely stream on Hulu one day after their initial broadcast. FX has also released some shows directly to streaming platforms. As Disney has acquired 20th Century Studios, the series might find a home on the newly merged service that combines Hulu and Disney+. The flexible streaming options ensure that fans worldwide will have access to the series, regardless of their viewing preferences.

Conclusion: The Countdown to FX's Alien TV Series Begins

The FX Alien TV series promises to breathe new life into the iconic franchise by venturing into uncharted narrative territory. Released already in the summer of 2025, the series assures a thrilling return of the Xenomorph to our screens. Stay tuned for further updates on AvP Central and prepare to confront the Xenomorph once more. Together with the upcoming Predator Badlands and a possible Alien Romulus sequel, the countdown to horror has truly begun.

Tag Categories: Upcoming Alien And Predator Projects