The highly anticipated series Alien: Earth will premiere with two back-to-back episodes on August 12 exclusively on Hulu at 8pm ET, followed by broadcasts on FX and Disney+ at 8pm PT/ET. International audiences, including viewers in the UK, can stream it on Disney+ starting August 13. The season will consist of eight episodes, with new installments dropping every Tuesday.
Set in 2120, Alien: Earth takes place between Prometheus and the original Alien, just two years before the doomed voyage of the Nostromo. The story follows the crash landing of the USCSS Maginot, a deep-space research vessel, on Earth. Among the survivors are Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a unique prototype, and a group of hardened soldiers. Their discovery of an unimaginable threat forces them into a desperate fight for survival.
For context, the recent Alien: Romulus bridges the gap between Alien and Aliens, while Alien: Earth explores a previously unseen era in the franchise’s timeline.
A Corporate-Ruled Earth and Terrifying New Threats
By this point in the Alien universe, Earth is dominated by five powerful corporations: Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. The world is a mix of humans, cyborgs, and synthetics—until Prodigy’s CEO unveils a groundbreaking creation: hybrids, humanoid robots embedded with human consciousness. Wendy, the first of her kind, represents a leap toward immortality, a recurring theme in the franchise.
Things take a dark turn when a Weyland-Yutani ship crashes into Prodigy City, exposing Wendy and the other hybrids to nightmarish life forms far deadlier than anything encountered before. This hints at the introduction of new monstrous entities, possibly including never-before-seen Xenomorph variants.
Meet the cast of Alien: Earth
- Sydney Chandler as Wendy
- Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh
- Alex Lawther as Hermit
- Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier
- Babou Ceesay as Morrow
- Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins
- David Rysdahl as Arthur Sylvia
- Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia
- Lily Newmark as Nibs
- Erana James as Curly
- Adarsh Gourav as Slightly
- Jonathan Ajayi as Smee
- Kit Young as Tootles
- Diêm Camille as Siberian
- Moe Bar-El as Rashidi
- Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani
Synthetics in the Alien Universe: A Legacy of Deception and Heroism
Artificial beings have played pivotal roles throughout the Alien saga, from loyal allies to deadly adversaries. Here’s a look at some of the most notable synthetics:
Ash – The deceptive scientist
Introduced in Alien (1979), Ash (Ian Holm) was the Nostromo’s science officer—secretly a Hyperdyne Systems 120-A/2 synthetic planted by Weyland-Yutani to secure an alien specimen. His true mission led to betrayal, culminating in a violent confrontation with Ripley before his destruction.
Bishop – The loyal protector
Bishop (Lance Henriksen), a Hyperdyne 341-B model, appeared in Aliens (1986) and Alien 3 (1992). Unlike Ash, he proved instrumental in saving lives, even after being torn apart by the Xenomorph Queen. His sacrifice and unwavering loyalty made him a fan favorite.
Call – The rogue auton
Call (Winona Ryder) in Alien Resurrection (1997) was a 24th-century synthetic designed to protect humanity. Disguised among mercenaries, she sought to destroy Ripley’s clone to prevent further Xenomorph experimentation.
David – The twisted creator
David (Michael Fassbender), first seen in Prometheus (2012), was a synthetic with a god complex. His experiments with the black goo led to catastrophic consequences, continuing in Alien: Covenant (2017) where he manipulated events to perfect his Xenomorph creations.
A Return to Retro-Futurism
Showrunner Noah Hawley confirmed that Alien: Earth will distance itself from the bioweapon narrative of Prometheus, embracing the retro-futuristic tone of the original films. While he consulted with Ridley Scott, the series will forge its own path within the franchise’s lore.
With Alien: Romulus 2 in development and rumors of another Alien vs. Predator crossover in Predator: Badlands, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. Alien: Earth promises to deliver fresh horrors while staying true to the series’ roots.