Noah Hawley’s Alien series has wrapped filming and finally has a title. The creator of FX’s Fargo and Legion was announced to be working on an Alien television series for the network at Disney’s Investor Day in 2020. While most of the attention has been put on the upcoming film Alien: Romulus, fans have been eager for more details about the Alien television series, which Hawley has provided.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Hawley confirmed the series is called Alien: Earth. Filming has reportedly wrapped, as it began in 2023, but was delayed due to last summer’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Now Hawley is editing the series and thinks fans will dig it:
“I’m in post, editing away, and obviously there’s a large visual effects component that takes time. But I couldn’t be happier with the show we shot. If people wanted a television series based on the world of
Alien
, I think I’m gonna give them something special.”
Alien’s Long Road to the Small Screen
In 2017, the Alien franchise seemed to be reaching its end; Alien: Covenant bombed at the box office and Disney began talks to acquire 20th Century Fox. Fans wondered where the R-rated franchise would fit within the larger Disney plan. At first, it seemed like it was destined for streaming, as Alien: Earth was first announced in 2020 — one year after Disney officially acquired 20th Century Fox — and the studio was emphasizing streaming films and television series.
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Since then, Disney and 20th Century Studios have developed big plans for Alien. Just as Marvel and Star Wars are brands that can sustain feature films and television series, Alien looks to do the same. Alien: Romulus opens in theaters on August 16, with Alien: Earth likely arriving in 2025, five years after the series was announced. Alien: Earth is a prequel to 1979’s Alien, but Hawley has already said it will ignore the events of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.
Alien: Earth stars Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, and Essie Davis. Justified‘s Timothy Olyphant is playing the synth role that every Alien entry needs. Hawley’s ability to take properties like Fargo and X-Men and turn them into critically acclaimed television series is certainly enough to get fans excited. Between Alien: Earth and Alien: Romulus, the sci-fi franchise has the potential to reclaim its former glory.