Alien: Earth is bringing Xenomorphs to the small screen, and we couldn't be more terrified or excited. Much like the Xenomorph was to Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley, the show is still a mysterious beast, but there are some details floating around.
Unsurprisingly, given the title, the show will be taking place on Earth, a rare setting within the Alien movies (discounting the Alien vs Predator films). Noah Hawley, the mastermind behind TV shows Fargo and Legion, is serving as showrunner, which is already extremely promising. A couple of mysterious teaser trailers have hinted at a potential crossover and a possible cameo from Jonesy the cat, so there's already some connective tissue going on.
We've uncovered information on all that and more, including our best release date predictions, plot theories and a list of all the confirmed cast members. If you need reminding of what makes Xenomorphs so fearsome, our guide to watching the Alien movies in order will guide you through a marathon of the other installments.
Alien: Earth release date speculation
Alien: Earth will be released sometime this summer in 2025. While we don't have an exact release date for the upcoming Alien TV series, this was confirmed in a teaser that showed new footage from the series.
Filming on Alien: Earth wrapped last summer, and creator Noah Hawley confirmed that the team was busy in post-production afterwards. While editing and adding visual effects on anything sci-fi-related takes time, it makes sense for Alien: Earth to capitalize on the renewed hype for the franchise that the 2024 movie Alien: Romulus created.
So, fingers crossed, we get a confirmation for an exact Alien: Earth release date soon! We'll keep you posted, and in the meantime, you can read our Alien: Romulus review and our guide on the Alien: Romulus Easter eggs for more on that entry.
Alien: Earth trailer
The first teaser trailer for Alien: Earth was a 15-second clip featuring a blood-dripping Xenomorph, and ending with a jump scare.
We see Planet Earth before its shape slowly turns into a Xenomorph and screeches at the viewer. Because we know that Noah Hawley doesn't play around when it comes to violence (thanks to Fargo) and that he plans to follow the aesthetic from Alien and Aliens, we know this is going to be quite the scary ride. Movie-goers who went to see Alien: Romulus were treated to the Alien: Earth trailer beforehand.
Since then, FX has released a couple of different teasers. One of them, released in November 2024, confirmed that the show takes place in 2120, only a few years before the events of the original Alien movie. Another Alien: Earth teaser, released in late January 2025, put us in the Xenomorph's point of view. The footage follows a Xenomorph racing through a human spacecraft, with emergency lights flickering red, and an automated voice repeating "Containment Breach".
Our best look yet, however, was part of an FX showreel that teased all the TV shows coming in 2025, from The Bear season 4 to new outings like Adults and Dying For Sex. The Alien: Earth footage kicks in around the 0:40 mark, where a familiar sound effect in the background has left fans thinking that the series might actually be an Alien vs Predator project. "When the monsters come, all you can do is scream," a character can be heard whispering, supporting the idea that there are multiple threats. Watch it above.
Another teaser, which you can see below, was released in March 2025 and reveals several new characters – and a ginger cat. Could this be Jonesy, Ellen Ripley's feline companion on board the Nostromo in Alien? The clip is filmed like a video diary and a label in the corner of the screen says it's "recovery footage" from a Weyland-Yutani ship called the USCSS Maginot.
Alien: Earth plot
Unfortunately, not much is known about the plot for Alien: Earth. However, we do know that the upcoming TV series will be a prequel to the original 1979 Alien. The new Alien TV show will take place in 2120, just two years before Ellen Ripley encountered her first Xenomorph on the Nostromo.
Per the official logline: "When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat." Chandler's character Wendy is a woman who has the body of an adult and the consciousness of a child. Timothy Olyphant plays Kirsh, Wendy's synth mentor and trainer.
However, Alien: Earth will not bridge the gaps between the Alien timeline, as it takes place on Earth. According to Deadline, it will be focused on the Weyland-Yutani Corporation's race to develop robotic life. That doesn't mean we won't be seeing Xenomorphs, mind.
The eerie extraterrestrials will make an appearance, as Hawley revealed to Deadline. "There’s something about seeing a Xenomorph in the wilds of Earth with your own eyes," Hawley teased, adding, "I can’t tell you under what circumstances you’ll see that, but you’ll see it – and you’re going to lock your door that night."
The director then stated, although he refrained from going into specifics, that the creature will look different from what we have seen before but will still keep the same silhouette, calling that detail "sacrosanct." Hawley added, "But some of the elements as we know, whatever the host is, informs what the final creature is. I just wanted to play around a little bit to make it as scary as it should be."
We cannot even imagine what monstrous form an earthly Xenomorph may take, but we would like to see it regardless, so we're keeping an eye out for any more plot details and news!
Alien: Earth cast
The cast for Alien: Earth is stacked with stars who have appeared in several of the best TV shows around, such as Game of Thrones, Shadow and Bone, and Fargo. You may recognize names such as Timothy Olyphant (who starred in the likes of The Mandalorian and Scream 2) or Alex Lawther (as seen in The Last Duel and Andor).
We also know that Noah Hawley is writing and directing the upcoming Alien TV series, and plenty of cast announcements have already been revealed for undisclosed character – exciting stuff!
Below is the complete Alien: Earth cast list:
- Sydney Chandler as Wendy
- Alex Lawther as CJ
- Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier
- Essie Davis as Dame Silvia
- Adarsh Gourav as Slightly
- Kit Young as Tootles
- Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh
- David Rysdahl
- Babou Ceesay
- Jonathan Ajayi
- Erana James
- Lily Newmark
- Diêm Camille
- Adrian Edmondson
- Moe Bar-El
- Sandra Yi Sencindiver
Where can I watch Alien: Earth?
Once it releases, you'll be able to watch Alien: Earth on Hulu if you are in the US and on Star via Disney Plus if you're not. We're still waiting for confirmation for a streaming platform for UK readers, though.
However, given how other FX series, such as What We Do In The Shadows, have arrived on Disney Plus or the BBC, we assume that the upcoming Alien series will be heading to either of those two streaming hubs in the future.
Keep your eyes on this guide as we update you on the latest streaming news. While we wait, you can also check out our list of the best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now!
For more outer-world fun, check out our lists of the best alien movies of all time and all the best sci-fi movies on Netflix.
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