The new Alien: Earth TV series takes place in the year 2120, two years before the events of the original 1979 Alien movie. This makes it a direct prequel to Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi horror film. The show explores the first time Xenomorphs arrive on Earth, bringing chaos and terror to a world controlled by powerful corporations.
Alien: Earth Connects to the Original Alien Movie
The series follows the crash of the spaceship USCSS Maginot, which carries deadly alien creatures. The story focuses on Wendy, a young girl whose consciousness is transferred into a synthetic body, and a group of soldiers who must survive the alien threat. The timeline places Alien: Earth just before the USCSS Nostromo—the ship from the original movie—leaves Earth in 2122.
“The thing with Alien is that it’s not just a great monster movie. It’s the story of humanity trapped between its primordial parasitic past and its AI future, and they’re both trying to kill us,” said showrunner Noah Hawley.
The series introduces new elements like hybrids (humans with synthetic bodies) and expands on the corporate greed seen in earlier Alien films.
How Alien: Earth Fits Into the Franchise Timeline
The Alien franchise spans hundreds of years, but Alien: Earth is set in a crucial period. Here’s how it fits:
- 2089-2104: Events of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which explore the origins of the Xenomorphs.
- 2120: Alien: Earth begins, showing the first alien outbreak on Earth.
- 2122: The original Alien movie takes place aboard the Nostromo.
- 2142: Alien: Romulus (2024 film) happens between Alien and Aliens.
- 2179: Aliens and Alien 3 continue Ellen Ripley’s story.
- 2381: Alien: Resurrection takes place far in the future.
Unlike the Prometheus films, Alien: Earth ignores their complicated backstory and sticks closer to the original movie’s style.
Key Characters and Story Details
The series features:
- Sydney Chandler as Wendy, the first human-synthetic hybrid.
- Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh, a synthetic scientist.
- Alex Lawther as Joe Hermit, Wendy’s human brother.
- Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, a trillionaire CEO experimenting with immortality.
The crash of the Maginot unleashes not just Xenomorphs but other deadly creatures, forcing the characters into a fight for survival.
Where to Watch Alien: Earth
The first two episodes premiered on August 12, 2025, on FX and Hulu in the U.S., with new episodes airing weekly. International viewers can stream it on Disney+.
Also Read: Alien: Earth Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2 Release Time on FX, Hulu, and Disney+ for All Regions
Credits: Time, Polygon, IMDb
