Alien: Earth Set Report: What We Learned About the All-New FX Series

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In 2024, the Alien franchise experienced a massive revival, primarily due to the success of the movie “Alien: Romulus” at the box office. This spinoff, set between the events of “Alien” and “Aliens,” was popular among both viewers and critics, paving the way for numerous new opportunities in the thrilling sci-fi genre on the big screen. However, one common criticism leveled by fans is that “Romulus” may have been too cautious, drawing heavily from the most recognizable elements of the series. Contrarily, the upcoming FX series “Alien: Earth,” which has been in development since 2020, will not face such accusations. In addition to “Romulus,” 2024 was a significant year for the franchise as it was also when production on “Alien: Earth” began in Bangkok, Thailand. ComicBook had the opportunity to be present during the filming of this ambitious new project.

Noah Hawley, known for his TV adaptations like Legion and Fargo, is the creator of Alien: Earth. Instead of focusing narrowly on specific characters or storylines, as some might expect, he aims to capture the core essence of each title and breathe new life into them in a unique manner.

Hawley explained to the press that he wanted to continue sharing tales about beloved characters, hoping fans would be delighted rather than upset. He stressed that this new story would have its unique style and tone, without any intention of making it comical or bizarre for its own sake. What he strives for, he added, is a keen focus on character nuances and design elements to make the narrative feel authentic.

He stated, “When I modify these stories, which I’ve been requested to do on more than one occasion, I aim to understand what the initial story evoked in me emotionally and why. Then, I strive to elicit similar feelings while narrating a brand new tale. When I reflect upon that first film, it’s not merely a movie about a monster. It’s a depiction of humanity caught between the prehistoric parasitic era and the artificial intelligence future, both attempting to annihilate us.

Over the almost 50 years since the inception of the Alien series, enthusiasts might believe they’ve witnessed every possible plot twist. With Romulus being the seventh major film in the saga (ninth if we include the two Alien vs. Predator movies), it seems there are no more surprises left. However, Alien: Earth offers something unique that fans haven’t experienced before – an extended TV series format and a storyline set on Earth, which are both firsts for this franchise.

In the year 2120, Earth is ruled by five powerful corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. This era, known as the Corporate Age, hosts a unique blend of humans, cyborgs, and synthetics. However, the dynamics shift when the brilliant Founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unveils a groundbreaking innovation: hybrids, humanoid robots imbued with human cognition. The initial hybrid prototype, named ‘Wendy’ (played by Sydnee Chandler), signifies a new phase in the quest for eternal life. Tragedy strikes when Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship crashes into Prodigy City, and ‘Wendy’ and other hybrids encounter horrifying alien life forms that surpass anyone’s nightmares.

The Doomed Journey of the Maginot

The ship under scrutiny is called the Maginot, and although it’s not the exact same spacecraft as the ill-fated Nostromo from the initial Alien movie, they share the same design. To accurately portray the Nostromo for the series, production designers Andy Nicholson and Jason Knox-Johnston painstakingly analyzed every frame of the original Alien film. Their effort resulted in a remarkably accurate replica of the Nostromo. In fact, art director Roger Christian, who worked on the original Alien, is given special recognition in the credits of Alien: Earth, as his designs were reproduced.

One key distinction between the spaceship Nostromo and the Maginot, however, lies in their primary functions. While the Nostromo operated as a freight ship, the Maginot was transformed to resemble Charles Darwin’s Beagle, with the goal of gathering extraterrestrial species from various galaxies for scientific research purposes. Given that this is the Alien franchise, it’s easy to envision potential complications. Yet, there are several similarities between these two vessels, and you might even find yourself startled by a xenomorph emerging from the walls as you explore the Maginot, with its layout of distinctive cryopods echoing familiar scenes.

A New Era of Fear

For folks who might not recall the sequence of events in the Alien franchise, the movie Earth is set approximately two years prior to the occurrences depicted in the original Alien. Consequently, it can be thought of as a prelude to the main storyline. When Ridley Scott revisited the franchise for the prequel films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, he delved deeper into aspects other than just terrifying creatures, such as artificial intelligence, which he effectively showcased. Given that this is an Alien project, both the legendary xenomorph and other fearsome creatures will be present, attacking characters. However, Hawley seems to be addressing themes similar to those Scott explored in the prequels, including AI and the question of what truly defines a human being.

Any fan of the ‘Alien’ series will be familiar with the name Weyland-Yutani, but Prodigy is a fresh entity in the lore. Characterized by Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), Prodigy’s role within the series raises intriguing questions about its fate during the events of the original film. Notably, Weyland-Yutani could be seen as the established power in this universe, whereas Boy Kavalier and Prodigy are venturing into uncharted territories compared to their predecessors. This distinction is visually represented by the monitors used by the rival organizations; Weyland-Yutani relies on CRT screens with a 4:3 ratio, similar to what was featured in the original ‘Alien’, whereas Prodigy’s technology employs the more modern 16:9 aspect ratio.

An Immersive Production

Under Disney’s ownership of the Alien franchise under their 20th Century Studios label, various approaches could have been employed to bring the series to life, including The Volume, the innovative technology used in The Mandalorian. However, Bangkok proved particularly advantageous for depicting Hawley’s vision of Earth in 2120. A key aspect of this portrayal is the juxtaposition of high-tech, luxurious skyscrapers against grittier urban landscapes, as the entire city is encircled by dense jungle. This clash of lifestyles and geographical possibilities is emphasized in Alien: Earth; the affluent members of society reside in opulent skyscrapers, their social standing essentially determined by how high above the ground they live. The sets used in production serve multiple functions, as many environments are modular, allowing the art department to easily change set dressing and transform a single nondescript room or corridor into something completely unique by filming it from different angles and with various props.

One advantage of shooting in Bangkok is its climate, which mirrors the intense heat and humidity predicted by global warming scenarios for our series’ timeline. In fact, the moist environment of Bangkok closely resembles the scorching planet depicted in our show, Alien: Earth. Due to this moisture, laboratories in our story are constantly battling mold, even deploying autonomous cleaners that patrol every corner of a facility, relentlessly combating mold growth, much like high-tech Roombas.

Blending the Old With the New

Despite Hawley’s team introducing innovative aspects to the series, there will be numerous familiar touchstones and symbolic elements evoking the original films. The costume designers, Suttirat Larlarb and Srirattana Wattanavitkul, drew inspiration from the Nostromo crew’s outfits for the Maginot crew, maintaining their earthy character traits and backstories. The designs for Prodigy members, particularly Boy Kavalier, offered more creative freedom. The lead armorer, Benjamin Clarke, aimed to recreate the firearms from the action-packed Aliens, also referencing Lee Brimmicombe-Wood’s 1995 book, Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual, which provided an in-universe explanation of the Colonial Marines’ weaponry.

During my recent behind-the-scenes tour of the Alien: Earth set, two aspects stood out like a Xenomorph in a dark corridor: every crew member was passionately dedicated to this project, going above and beyond to honor the sci-fi franchise that instilled both fear and fascination among viewers. It appears they’re intent on preserving what made the original series great while breathing new life into it for a contemporary audience.

Showrunner Noah Hawley and his team have masterfully struck a delicate balance between respecting the past and pushing forward, shouldering the weight of the franchise’s storied history without being shackled by it.

The depiction of Earth in this new franchise seems entirely unique, yet still manages to deliver what fans have grown accustomed to, making its premiere on FX on August 12th an exciting event.

Keep an eye out for additional updates on our “Alien: Earth” series, featuring unique conversations with both cast and team members, right over here.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/alien-earth-noah-hawley-interview-spinoff-xenomorph-explained/embed/#

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2025-07-17 20:44