The Apple TV+ series Invasion has captured audiences with its global perspective on an alien incursion, but many viewers are left wondering if the story jumped from the pages of a best-selling novel. The answer is both straightforward and fascinating. While the show is not a direct adaptation of any book, its creative roots are deeply planted in classic science fiction and extensive real-world research, making its terrifying premise feel unsettlingly possible.
The Direct Answer About the Book Connection
Invasion is an original creation for television. It was not adapted from a pre-existing novel. The series was co-created by Simon Kinberg and David Weil, who developed the concept specifically for Apple TV+. The narrative of an alien threat seen through the eyes of ordinary people around the world was built from the ground up for the screen.
However, the creators did not work in a vacuum. The show is a fresh story that draws strong inspiration from one of the most foundational works in the genre. Kinberg has openly discussed the literary roots of his inspiration.
“I was really inspired by the book War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells,” Kinberg said. “That’s where it started for me. It’s a book that I read when I was a little kid, and it’s a story that I always wanted to tell in some form.”
This inspiration is particularly evident in the show’s perspective. Like Wells’ novel, Invasion focuses on the ground-level experience of a cosmic event, emphasizing the human drama and confusion over grand military strategies.
Building a Believable Invasion with Real Science
Beyond literary inspiration, the creators of Invasion were committed to building a story that felt grounded and realistic. To achieve this, they went beyond typical fiction research and consulted with real-world experts. Kinberg and his team spent five years preparing for the show, a process that involved reaching out to scientists and specialists.
They approached experts from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the SETI Institute, organizations dedicated to the exploration of space and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. These consultations helped shape a more authentic and scientifically plausible invasion scenario.
“I think a part of science fiction, especially when it comes to aliens, that sometimes people don’t get right in storytelling, is what is in place right now in our militaries and our governments in case of an alien visitation,” Kinberg explained.
This research influenced key plot points. For instance, the show explores the idea that for aliens to survive on Earth, they would first have to change the planet’s atmosphere to suit their biology. This attention to detail gives the series a layer of credibility that separates it from more fantastical stories. The recent real-world discussions and U.S. government reports on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) have only made the show’s premise feel more timely.
A Global and Character-Driven Narrative
From its inception, Invasion was designed to be different from typical alien invasion stories. The creators wanted to move away from the common trope of a single hero saving the day and instead present a fractured, global experience.
Kinberg described his initial pitch for the series as “War of the Worlds meets Babel,” referring to the 2006 ensemble drama. The goal was to create a show where the human characters and their personal struggles were compelling enough to stand on their own, even without the alien threat.
The series follows a diverse group of characters including Aneesha Malik, a mother in a failing marriage; Mitsuki Yamato, a Japanese mission controller; and Trevante Cole, a soldier in Afghanistan. The show argues that these individuals, who already felt like outsiders in their own lives, are the most relatable people to navigate a world-shattering event.
“This isn’t Tom Cruise or Will Smith running down the street saving humanity,” David Weil noted. “We wanted this to feel like people who our global audience could connect to.”
The Journey of the Series Through Three Seasons
The first season of Invasion, which premiered on October 22, 2021, introduced the slow-burn arrival of the aliens, focusing on building tension and developing its core characters. The show was renewed for a second season in December 2021, which debuted in August 2023 and expanded the conflict as humanity struggled to fight back.
The series has continued its story with a third season, which premiered on August 22, 2025. Season 3 opens with a time jump, showing a world that has managed to defeat the alien threat, only to face a new and more dangerous wave of “apex” aliens. This new season brings the show’s far-flung characters together for the first time, forcing them to unite on a common mission.
The design of the new aliens was a meticulous process. The visual effects team, led by supervisor Eric Henry, looked to nature for inspiration, studying the movements of underwater life and the physical forms of creatures like jellyfish, insects, and sub-Saharan animals to create beings that feel both organic and terrifyingly real.
Also Read: Invasion Season 3 Episode 8: What Happens After Mitsuki’s Alien Discovery?
