Alien Franchise Timeline Explained: When Each Movie & TV Show Takes Place

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As a devoted fan of the Alien franchise, I can’t help but notice the intricate timeline that spans across multiple movies, TV shows, and digital series. It all began in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking film, “Alien,” where I joined the crew of the spaceship Nostromo as they faced off against the mysterious Xenomorph – a creature that has since left an indelible mark on science fiction history. Over the years, various additions to the franchise have only served to enrich its lore, peaking with FX’s latest offering, “Alien: Earth,” where for the first time ever, the Xenomorph sets foot on our home planet.

To date, there are seven movies that fit within the Alien series’ continuity, disregarding the 2004 film “Alien vs. Predator” and its sequel in 2007. As for television content, “Alien: Earth” is the only official series in the franchise so far. Some fans argue that the “Alien: Isolation” digital series, inspired by the video game of the same name, should also be considered canon, although this has not been officially confirmed. Arrange these nine productions in chronological order, and you’ll find it easier to understand the franchise’s overall timeline.

9) Prometheus Takes Place in 2093

Although it’s one of the more recent films in the Alien series, released in June 2012, the movie Prometheus is set at the earliest point in the timeline. The story begins in 2089 when characters Elizabeth Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover the Engineers’ star map. We later leap to 2093, when the Prometheus spacecraft arrives at LV-223, revealing the encounter between the crew and the Engineers, who are planning a genocide against humanity. During their journey, the android David (Michael Fassbender) develops an obsession with a mysterious black liquid, believed to have the power to change genetics and biology, thus initiating the development of the Xenomorph.

Covenant.” However, Scott has hinted that this planned trilogy may not be fully realized, despite one more story being needed to connect the dots between “Covenant” and the first “Alien” movie from 1979. “Prometheus” stood out in the “Alien” series for its more realistic and character-driven approach compared to previous installments, and possibly because of its closer connection to our contemporary world.

8) Alien: Covenant Takes Place in 2104

Nine years post the events depicted in “Prometheus,” I find myself as a part of the crew aboard the Covenant, a colony ship bound for Origae-6 in May 2017. An unexpected accident prematurely awakens us from our slumber, and during our recovery, we catch sight of a potential home world. Upon investigation, we stumble upon Dr. David, the android left behind on LV-223 from “Prometheus,” as well as his macabre experiments – the neomorphs, early precursors to the Xenomorph species that would terrorize future crews.

As the android Walter (played by Fassbender), I soon realize David’s sinister intentions: he plans to escalate his research to give birth to the deadly Xenomorph form we have come to know and fear. “Covenant” didn’t quite fill the narrative gap between the prequels and the original “Alien,” but it certainly provided a compelling continuation of the storyline.

7) Alien: Earth Takes Place in 2120

It’s disappointing that the suspenseful ending of ‘Alien: Covenant’ hasn’t been resolved yet, but the upcoming series ‘Alien: Earth’, set to release in 2025, promises new twists for the franchise. Taking place sixteen years after ‘Covenant’ and two years before the original ‘Alien’, ‘Alien: Earth’ features a Xenomorph that resembles the one we’re familiar with. Interestingly enough, it appears that in the timeframe between ‘Covenant’ and now, Weyland-Yutani has developed an interest in the Xenomorph and other alien species. Their intention was to transport the Xenomorph to Earth, however, these specimens have found themselves under the management of the Prodigy Corporation. This development sheds some light on Weyland-Yutani’s pursuit of the creature from the initial ‘Alien’ film.

6) Alien Takes Place in 2122

In 1979, the film “Alien” was revolutionary for its time, as it was set in the future year of 2122 – a mere two years after the events depicted in “Alien: Earth.” The story unfolds on board the Weyland-Yutani mining ship, Nostromo. The crew is jolted out of stasis when the ship picks up a mysterious signal from planet LV-426. Upon investigating this transmission, they discover alien eggs, leading to an unfortunate incident where Kane (John Hurt) encounters a facehugger and gives birth to a Xenomorph. The creature systematically eliminates the crew members, but Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) ultimately manages to eject it into space and destroy the ship.

5) Alien: Isolation Takes Place in 2137

As a die-hard Alien fan, I’ve always found myself drawn to the unofficially confirmed but widely recognized connection between the Alien: Isolation – The Digital Series and the core Alien timeline. This 2019 animated production, which unfolds a full 15 years after the original film, is inspired by the 2014 video game of the same name. The story focuses on Amanda Ripley (Andrea Deck), Ellen Ripley’s daughter, who joins a Weyland-Yutani team on a mission to an abandoned space station, seeking answers about her mother’s disappearance and the Nostromo’s flight recorder. Along her perilous journey, she encounters not only treacherous humans and malfunctioning androids, but also the fearsome Xenomorph, further entwining it with the Alien universe’s narrative.

4) Alien: Romulus Takes Place in 2142

In August 2024, a new installment of the Alien series titled “Alien: Romulus” was released, taking place 20 years after the first Alien film but 37 years prior to Aliens. Directed by Fede Álvarez, this movie follows the journey of characters Rain (played by Cailee Spaeny) and Andy (David Jonsson), along with their companions, as they search for cryostats from a deserted Weyland-Yutani space station to make a nine-year voyage to Yvaga III. However, the group finds themselves in trouble when Weyland-Yutani had been conducting experiments with facehuggers and Xenomorphs on the Romulus and Remus stations – which leads to these creatures attacking them upon their arrival.

Even though it mainly functions independently, the movie “Alien: Romulus” paid tribute to numerous earlier installments in the “Alien” series. For instance, Ian Holm’s likeness was employed to depict the disassembled android Rook, who bore the same shape as Ash from the first “Alien” film. Moreover, the ongoing obsession with Xenomorphs by Weyland-Yutani was further explored, and a nod was given to the Nostromo. Lastly, in “Alien: Romulus”, Kay (Isabela Merced) gave birth to a genetically altered human-alien creature, which had been transformed by the enigmatic black liquid from “Prometheus”, 239 years prior to the events in “Alien Resurrection”. This creature is now called Prometheus Fire.

3) Aliens Takes Place in 2179

37 years following “Alien: Romulus” and 57 years after the original “Alien”, Ellen Ripley is discovered and rescued in James Cameron’s “Aliens” (1986). Over those 57 years, LV-426 had transformed into a human colony, much to Ripley’s dismay. However, as one might expect, the colony was attacked by Xenomorphs. Ripley teams up with a group of Colonial Marines and the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) aboard the Sulaco for a trip to LV-426 to investigate. Upon arrival, they encounter numerous Xenomorphs, facehuggers, and even the alien Queen, all deceased at the hands of Ripley, Bishop, Hicks (Michael Biehn), and young Newt (Carrie Henn).

2) Alien 3 Takes Place in 2179

Immediately following the conclusion of Aliens (1986), Alien 3 from 1992 saw the demise of Hicks, Newt, and Ripley alongside the damaged android Bishop on Fiorina “Fury” 161, a penal colony world. Despite director David Fincher often expressing his disapproval towards the movie, Alien 3 introduced intriguing advancements in the series, such as delving into the fate of Ellen Ripley. In a selfless act to prevent Weyland-Yutani from acquiring the alien Queen embryo growing within her, Ripley chose to sacrifice herself. The death of both the alien Queen and Ripley seemed poised to bring a fitting conclusion to the Alien saga.

1) Alien Resurrection Takes Place in 2381

Approximately 202 years following the events depicted in the films “Aliens” and “Alien 3,” the story of “Alien Resurrection” unfolds. In this installment, scientists from the United States Military aboard the USM Auriga engineered a clone of Ellen Ripley, incorporating a Queen Alien embryo within her. Dubbed Ripley 8, this clone possessed enhanced characteristics due to traces of Xenomorph DNA in her system. This genetic modification also endowed her with heightened empathy and a psychic connection to the creatures.

The USM Auriga was also home to numerous Xenomorphs being studied scientifically. However, these formidable beings managed to break free from their confinement, leading to intense confrontations between Ripley 8, a team of mercenaries, and the escaped Xenomorphs.

In “Alien Resurrection,” a human-alien hybrid was introduced long before the debut of the more streamlined version in “Alien: Romulus.” By cloning Ripley’s DNA, the grown alien Queen developed a human womb to bear this hybrid. However, both the hybrid and the spaceship Auriga were eventually defeated by Ripley, causing the ship to crash onto Earth and explode. The later adventures of Ripley 8 (Sigourney Weaver) and the synthetic character Call (Winona Ryder) were not further detailed, and neither have been seen or mentioned since. Subsequent movies and shows in the “Alien” series took place prior to “Alien Resurrection.

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2025-09-02 19:44