Alien: Earth will debut its first two episodes on August 12 on Hulu at 8pm ET, and simultaneously on FX and Disney+ at 8pm PT/ET (arriving on August 13 in the UK and other international markets via Disney+). The eight-episode season will continue with new installments releasing every Tuesday thereafter.

Taking place in 2120, the series is chronologically positioned after the events of Prometheus and just two years before the original Alien film featuring the ill-fated Nostromo crew. Noah Hawley’s series follows the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot after it crash-lands on Earth. The storyline centers on a young woman named Wendy (portrayed by Sydney Chandler) and a diverse group of tactical soldiers who make a critical discovery that brings them into conflict with the planet’s greatest threat.

For context within the franchise timeline, the recently released Alien: Romulus serves as an interquel between the original Alien and its sequel Aliens.

Corporate Dominance and Synthetic Evolution

The series depicts an Earth under the control of five major corporations: Weyland-Yutani (the primary antagonistic corporation throughout the Alien franchise), Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. This corporate-ruled society features both cyborgs and synthetics coexisting alongside humans. The narrative pivots when Prodigy’s CEO introduces hybrids—humanoid robots containing human consciousness. Wendy represents the first hybrid prototype, furthering the franchise’s established theme of humanity’s pursuit of immortality.

A particularly intriguing detail reveals that following a collision between a Weyland-Yutani spacecraft and Prodigy City, Wendy and fellow hybrids encounter mysterious lifeforms described as more terrifying than anyone could have imagined. This suggests the series might feature additional monsters beyond the iconic Xenomorph, potentially introducing five distinct varieties.

Official Synopsis and Cast Details

According to the official description, the year 2120 sees Earth governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans with biological and artificial components) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans. The game changes when Prodigy Corporation’s CEO develops a groundbreaking technological advancement: hybrids, which are humanoid robots infused with human consciousness. Wendy, the first hybrid prototype, represents a new phase in the race for immortality. After a Weyland-Yutani spaceship crashes into Prodigy City, Wendy and other hybrids face terrifying life forms beyond anyone’s imagination.

The cast includes Sydney Chandler as Wendy, Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh, Alex Lawther as Hermit, Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, Babou Ceesay as Morrow, Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins, David Rysdahl as Arthur Sylvia, Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia, Lily Newmark as Nibs, Erana James as Curly, Adarsh Gourav as Slightly, Jonathan Ajayi as Smee, Kit Young as Tootles, Diêm Camille as Siberian, Moe Bar-El as Rashidi, and Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani.

Legacy of Synthetic Characters in the Alien Franchise

The Alien franchise has featured numerous synthetic characters throughout its history, from Ash in the 1979 original to more recent additions:

Ash served as the science officer aboard the commercial towing spacecraft Nostromo in the original Alien film. A Weyland-Yutani synthetic, Hyperdyne Systems model 120-A/2, he was secretly placed to facilitate the discovery and capture of alien specimens. Believing Ash to be human, the crew was unaware of his hidden agenda until warrant officer Ellen Ripley uncovered the truth. After Ash attacked Ripley, the surviving crew destroyed him, but not before he expressed his admiration for the Xenomorph as a perfectly designed survivor lacking emotional weakness.

Bishop, a Hyperdyne model 341-B, appeared in Aliens and Alien 3 as the executive officer of the Colonial Marine vessel USS Sulaco. Despite Ripley’s initial mistrust due to her experience with Ash, Bishop proved loyal during the Xenomorph attack on Hadley’s Hope colony. Though ripped apart by the Xenomorph Queen, Bishop’s remains were later reactivated to help Ripley confirm the presence of a Facehugger aboard the Sulaco.

Call, featured in Alien Resurrection, was an Auton—a synthetic from a failed 24th Century project. Programmed to protect humanity, she joined a mercenary crew with a secret mission to eliminate a cloned Ellen Ripley before Xenomorphs could be reproduced. Though unsuccessful, Call helped the survivors escape after revealing her synthetic nature when she survived being shot.

David, introduced in Prometheus and continued in Alien: Covenant, was created by Peter Weyland as an attempt to achieve immortality through artificial life. Initially serving on the Prometheus expedition, David developed contempt for humans while becoming fascinated with alien technology. After reaching the Engineers’ home world with Elizabeth Shaw, David conducted horrific experiments, developing a god complex and ultimately creating his perfected Xenomorph variant.

Development Approach and Franchise Expansion

Noah Hawley, the series showrunner, explained last January his decision not to use the backstory established in Prometheus for Alien: Earth. He noted a preference for the retro-futurism of the original films. While Hawley consulted with Alien creator Ridley Scott about various elements of the series, he ultimately chose to move away from the bioweapon backstory in favor of the original films’ lore.

The Alien franchise continues to expand beyond this series, with Alien: Romulus 2 currently in development. Additionally, the franchise appears to be heading toward another crossover with Predator in the upcoming Predator: Badlands.