It has been a very long time coming, however Noah Hawley’s “Alien” TV present is lastly coming our approach in 2025 after first being introduced in December 2020. Formally titled “Alien: Earth,” the present goes to, in the end, carry the dreaded Xenomorphs to face humanity on our personal turf. Sure, this already occurred within the “Alien vs. Predator” motion pictures, however these usually are not technically a part of the official canon. That stated, this present being a part of the official canon does increase some attention-grabbing questions on its place within the general franchise timeline.
Not too long ago, a really temporary teaser for “Alien: Earth” was launched on-line, one which additionally got here with a synopsis for the present. It explains that “a mysterious area vessel crash-lands on Earth, a younger lady (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical troopers make a fateful discovery that places them face-to-face with the planet’s best risk.” The footage additionally features a Xenomorph, making it explicitly clear that this is not going to be some unknown alien risk — the lethal, good organisms with acid for blood are coming to Earth. That is an attention-grabbing idea, however it’s a matter of when that is all taking place that makes issues tough.
Again in February 2022, FX Networks head John Landgraf revealed some particulars concerning the “Alien” present, saying that it takes place roughly 70 years any more Earth. Meaning, roughly talking, it is going down round 2094. Curiously sufficient, that is nearly precisely when Ridley Scott’s 2012 prequel film “Prometheus” takes place, because the movie is about in 2093. That is the place issues get a little bit tough.
As we noticed in that movie, an alien race generally known as the Engineers was answerable for seeding humanity on Earth. In addition they created the alien spore that creates Xenomorphs as we all know them. Nevertheless, Xenomorphs do not truly seem in “Prometheus.” On the very finish, a Xenomorph-like creature generally known as the Deacon reveals up, however that is as shut as we get. And therein lies the potential downside.
Alien: Earth has to stroll a wonderful line to make sense
It is doable that Mr. Landgraf wasn’t precisely on the cash together with his 70-year feedback in 2022. Trying elsewhere on the timeline, 2017’s “Alien: Covenant” takes place within the 12 months 2104, roughly 80 years from now. That movie sees the emergence of a correct Xenomorph as we all know it. So if the present takes place nearer to these occasions, possibly it could make extra sense?
That official synopsis additionally would not explicitly state that Xenomorphs are on the crashed ship — it simply says the people encounter “the planet’s best risk.” Perhaps some Engineers make their approach again to Earth, bringing a few of the alien spore with them? In such a state of affairs, all the genetic materials to make a Xenomorph could be available. That will surely present an attention-grabbing wrinkle. It will imply that Michael Fassbender’s David would have created the creatures lightyears away from Earth, whereas they had been created by different means on our planet as effectively.
That is all speculative, to make certain, however it’s extra to get at the concept these are questions that the present will seemingly want to deal with to ensure that it to make sense. In any case, “Alien: Romulus” did not ignore Ridley Scott’s prequels, so it is unlikely that Hawley’s present will, both. It is only a matter of how Hawley chooses to deal with them, and the way the present matches in with what already exists.
I spoke extra about this with /Movie editor Ben Pearson on immediately’s episode of the /Movie Each day podcast, which you’ll be able to hearken to under:
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“Alien: Earth” is about to reach on Hulu in 2025.
