Noah Hawley on What to Expect for ALIEN: EARTH

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A brief trailer for the movie Alien 3 once displayed an Xenomorph egg hatching over Earth, with the narrator stating, “In 1992, we’ll discover that on Earth, everyone can hear your screams,” a twist on the well-known tagline about space and silence. Despite various explanations, aliens coming to Earth never occurred. The only instances where these two elements intertwined were in the non-canonical Alien vs. Predator films. However, creator Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion) is now backing FX’s claims with the new series, Alien: Earth.

In May, I was part of a group of journalists who were privileged to preview an incomplete version of the first episode of ‘Alien: Earth’. Later, showrunner Hawley shared intriguing insights on why it was time for our world to make its own cry.

Hawley expressed that this is the initial foray into Earth’s setting for the franchise, opening up a host of unanswered questions such as who governs Earth, the political landscape, and how these systems function throughout the galaxy. Since the franchise has only hinted at Earth in Prometheus without elaboration, it presents an opportunity to explore what lies ahead in the next century – a time when Earth will become hotter and wetter. He also mentioned that he’s not counting against capitalism as they delve deeper into this expansive storyline. This statement elicited a wry chuckle from us all.

He went on to say, “I believe that in the future, corporate dominance will intensify. As for the movie Alien, it’s primarily about a corporation called Weyland-Yutani. What I find intriguing is this narrative, but I also appreciate the concept of injecting rivalry. In actuality, Weyland-Yutani is just one of two enormous tech conglomerates competing for global and cosmic dominance.

Hawley incorporated practical historical events and contemporary issues as well. For instance, he contemplated the time at the beginning of the 20th century when there were figures like Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse, all vying for control over electricity. In a similar vein, if we were to have a competition today between cybernetic enhancements, AI, transhumanism, and technological advancements, it’s hard to recall who the rival to Xerox was in such a race.

In contrast to Weyland-Yutani’s advocacy for android technology depicted in films, Hawley chose to present a unique twist in the series. Several principal characters are synthetics, essentially humans with advanced cybernetic bodies. One such synthetic is Wendy, portrayed by Sydney Chandler, who was a child placed into an adult body. The Lost Boys, led by Wendy, confront the terrors of xenomorphs and other creatures in their battles.

When considering the concept of children’s minds being placed in adult bodies, Hawley mentioned one aspect he pondered upon was identifying elements from existing works that would evoke a sense of familiarity. He referenced Newt from the second movie as an example of a child within the franchise, and Bill Paxton’s character as another instance of a childlike adult. In essence, Hawley believed that incorporating child characters would create a balance between originality and nostalgia in the series.

Hawley, always mindful and innovative, dedicated much of his time pondering the impact xenomorph-like entities would have on an ecosystem if introduced to Earth. He wondered how these creatures would transform the environment and how other organisms, such as insects and more, would interact with them. The idea of observing these creatures in a natural Earth setting was both unsettling and exhilarating for him when they finally reached that point in the story. It truly felt like a special addition to the series after six films, bringing something fresh and exciting.

The story in “Alien: Earth” unfolds just two years prior to the events depicted in the original “Alien”. Creator Noah Hawley drew inspiration directly from what transpires in that film. As you may recall, the crew is dispatched to an unknown planet with no clear objectives. It’s evident that someone is aware of these creatures, as they were sent there deliberately. This ambiguity about the creatures’ origins presents an intriguing aspect for exploration. The characters who discover the first eggs have been isolated from Earth for an indeterminate period, leaving room for speculation and storytelling. Hawley aims to create a large-scale narrative while maintaining credibility within the established canon of the “Alien” series.

Alien: Earth premieres August 12 on FX.

Kyle Anderson serves as the Senior Editor at TopMob, where he also hosts a weekly podcast delving into pop culture topics called Laser Focus. His film and television critiques are published here, and you can keep up with him on Letterboxd.

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2025-07-22 00:32