Alien Earth TV Series: What We Know About FX’s Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Horror

The chilling silence of deep space is about to be shattered. On August 12, 2025, FX and Hulu premiere Alien: Earth, the first-ever television series set within the iconic Alien universe. Helmed by acclaimed showrunner Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion) and executive produced by the franchise’s godfather, Ridley Scott, this long-awaited prequel promises to plunge viewers back into the terrifying, corporate-infested cosmos that made the original film a masterpiece. Set a mere two years before the ill-fated voyage of the Nostromo, Alien: Earth aims to recapture the raw, unknowable dread that defined the 1979 classic, while introducing compelling new characters and threats.

A Prequel Returning to the Franchise’s Terrifying Roots

Alien: Earth centers on the crew of the spaceship Maginot, transporting highly dangerous biological specimens across the galaxy. Their mission goes catastrophically wrong when the ship crash-lands on Earth itself. Among the survivors is Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a groundbreaking “hybrid” – a terminally ill child whose consciousness now inhabits a synthetic adult body. Wendy makes a horrifying discovery that imperils the entire crew, setting the stage for a nightmarish confrontation with the universe’s most perfect killing machines: the Xenomorphs.

Crucially, Hawley has made it clear that his vision deliberately sidesteps the lore established in Ridley Scott’s recent prequel films, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). Those films introduced the Engineers and positioned the Xenomorph as a deliberate bioweapon. “For me, and for a lot of people, this ‘perfect life form’… is the product of millions of years of evolution,” Hawley explained in a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “The idea that, on some level, it was a bioweapon created half an hour ago, that’s just inherently less useful to me.” This approach signals a return to the Xenomorph’s origins as an enigmatic, evolutionary apex predator, restoring the primal fear of the unknown that fueled the original film. Hawley has also hinted the series will explore how the Weyland-Yutani corporation first learned of the Xenomorphs, directly setting up their sinister motives in Alien.

New Faces, New Horrors in an Expansive Universe

Hawley’s ambition extends beyond revisiting familiar terrors; he aims to replicate the original film’s sense of discovery and awe through a fresh ensemble cast encountering new threats. Alongside Wendy is her synthetic mentor, Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant). Samuel Blenkin stars as Boy Kavalier, the brilliant but potentially dangerous CEO of Prodigy Corporation (a rival to Weyland-Yutani) and the inventor of the hybrid technology. The crew is rounded out by Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis), a seasoned mentor; Atom Eins (Adrian Edmondson), Kavalier’s ruthless fixer; and researcher Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl), who harbors deep skepticism about the hybrid experiments.

Significantly, Hawley confirmed the introduction of new extraterrestrial threats alongside the iconic Xenomorphs. “I want you to have that feeling [of primal terror] because that feeling is integral to the Alien experience,” he told Consequence of Sound. “But I can’t do it with those creatures. So let’s introduce new creatures where you don’t know how they reproduce or what they eat, so you can have that, ‘Um, I’m out’ feeling many times a week.” This expansion promises to keep even seasoned fans on edge, exploring uncharted biological horrors within the franchise’s dark universe.

Must Know

1. When and where does Alien: Earth premiere?
   The first two episodes of Alien: Earth debut on August 12, 2025, on FX and Hulu. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly every Tuesday night. It is the first TV series set in the Alien universe.
2. Is Alien: Earth connected to Prometheus and Alien: Covenant?
   Showrunner Noah Hawley has explicitly stated he is largely disregarding the lore introduced in those Ridley Scott prequel films. His focus is on the Xenomorph as an evolved “perfect organism,” not a recent bioweapon, aligning more closely with the original 1979 Alien film’s terrifying ambiguity.
3. Who are the main characters in the Alien: Earth series?
   The series follows the crew of the spaceship Maginot, led by Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a “hybrid” with a child’s mind in a synthetic adult body. Key figures include her mentor Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), Prodigy Corp CEO Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis), fixer Atom Eins (Adrian Edmondson), and researcher Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl).
4. Will there be new aliens besides the Xenomorph?
   Yes. Noah Hawley confirmed the Alien: Earth series will introduce new extraterrestrial creatures alongside the classic Xenomorphs. He aims to recreate the original film’s sense of unknown terror by presenting threats with unfamiliar biology and behaviors.
5. What is the plot of Alien: Earth?
   Set two years before Alien, the series follows the Maginot crew transporting dangerous biological samples. After crash-landing on Earth, hybrid crew member Wendy discovers a horrifying threat, leading to a deadly confrontation with Xenomorphs and other alien entities, all while corporate interests loom.
6. Who is creating the Alien: Earth TV show?
   The series is created and showrun by Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion). Ridley Scott, director of the original Alien and Blade Runner, serves as an executive producer, lending his iconic vision to the project.

Boldly venturing into uncharted terror, Alien: Earth resurrects the franchise’s core dread while forging its own terrifying path. With Noah Hawley’s visionary storytelling and Ridley Scott’s guiding hand, this FX and Hulu series promises a harrowing descent into cosmic horror. Mark your calendars for August 12th – prepare for the scream to be heard across the streaming universe. Don’t miss the premiere on FX and Hulu.