Alien: Earth is here to help you get over your Xenomorph-shaped withdrawal. So while you might be still reeling from the horrors that took place in Fede Alvarez’s newest Alien installment Alien: Romulus, there's a lot more where that came from. The Alien franchise is coming back, but this time we’re heading to the small screen.
The FX Alien TV series has been in the works for a while now, having first been announced in December 2020, but things have really started to heat up for the upcoming TV show this year with filming officially coming to an end. What's more, lucky moviegoers who went to see Romulus were treated to the first look at the official trailer for Alien: Earth, which has now been released to the wider public. You can watch that below, but be warned, it's a scary one.
From what we know so far, the show looks to be a treat for OG Alien fans, with Alien helmer Ridley Scott on board as executive producer. On top of this, series’ creator Noah Hawley has vowed that while the movie takes place three years before Prometheus, it maintains the aesthetic of Alien and Aliens. But don't expect to see any Ellen Ripley copycats as although the show does follow a main female protagonist, she isn't like any other leading lady you’ve seen before.
Is that enough to entice you? Well, what are you waiting for? Come aboard this spacecraft and read on for everything we know about one of the most exciting new TV shows heading our way, from Alien Earth’s official plot and cast-list, to what kind of face-hugging fun we expect to see in the show. And when you’re done, make sure to check out our guide on how to watch all of the Alien movies in order ahead of the series.
Alien: Earth release date speculation
Alien: Earth will be released sometime in 2025. While we don't have an exact release date for the upcoming Alien TV series, we're pretty confident that we'll see Xenomorphs on our small screen early next year.
This is due to the fact that filming on Alien: Earth has already wrapped, and creator Noah Hawley has confirmed that the team is busy in post-production as we speak. 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 is going to create as well.
So, fingers crossed, we get confirmation on an early 2025 Alien: Earth release date soon! We'll keep you posted as soon as more news heads our way. In the meantime, you can read our Alien: Romulus review for more details on the latest entry in the franchise.
Alien: Earth trailer
The first teaser trailer for Alien: Earth is here – and it's a 15-second clip featuring a blood-dripping Xenomorph that ends with a jump scare.
We see Planet Earth before it slowly morphs into a Xenomorph which screetches 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.
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 30 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.
It's also set a few years before the movie Prometheus, which took place in 2093. In Prometheus, we see several scientists journey to the planet LV-223, in hopes of discovering the origins of humanity after uncovering a star map. However, instead, they discover the remains of ancient civilizations that were creating bioweapons and find themselves in the Zeta2 Reticuli system (aka the same region of space where Ripley's crew went and accidentally brought an Alien Xenomorph back on board their ship).
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 that the creatures will feature in the upcoming show, and will make a chilling entrance. "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 list of the best alien movies of all time and all the movies and shows you should watch before Alien: Romulus.
