- Alien: Earth will be released on FX and Hulu on August 12, 2025.
- The television show is a prequel to the 1979 film, set in 2120.
- It will feature eight episodes and will run until September 23, 2025.
With its groundbreaking take on the science-fiction genre, the Alien franchise debuted in 1979. Since then, it has captivated a huge fandom that remains on the edge of their seats to see what’s next for the top-tier IP. After blessing the industry with several films, the franchise is looking forward to expanding its horizons with Alien: Earth, a television series that will premiere on FX and Hulu on August 12, 2025. So, while everyone is excited for this new chapter, they are also curious to know if it is a prequel. Here, we have answered whether Alien: Earth is a prequel and where it fits in the Alien timeline.
Is Alien: Earth a Prequel to the Alien Franchise?
Yes, Alien: Earth is a prequel to the franchise. The events of the Alien: Earth series take place two years before those that occurred in the 1979 Alien film, which was set in 2122. That means the upcoming television series will feature a 2120 setting, which makes it a prequel to the film Alien and a sequel to the prequel films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, released in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
Noah Hawley recently revealed in an interview that Alien: Earth draws some significant inspiration from the first two movies, ie. Alien and Aliens. Moreover, even though it takes place after the prequel films, the new television show doesn’t follow in their footsteps. To be precise, the prequel films explored the origins of Xenomorph and Alien; Earth is not going to unnecessarily focus on it.
Instead, it will sustain the essence of the sequels- survival horror and the terror of the Xenomorph.
Alien: Earth sees the humans and their battle against the Xenomorph moving forward. Earth is being governed by five corporations, and the humans on the planet coexist with hybrids and synthetics. These hybrids are robots with human consciousness, and Wendy is the first prototype. She finds herself face-to-face with a Xenomorph after she decides to investigate the space vessel that crash-lands on her planet.
Alien: Earth might not only introduce u to a new set of characters, a new setting, and even more advanced technology, but it may also give us the answers that we have been seeking since the first film.
