Alien: Earth’sshowrunner has shared some insight about tackling the franchise’s first TV series. Alien: Earth season 1 is on its way, set to premiere on FX and Hulu on August 12. After nearly five decades of the prolific sci-fi franchise, this will be the first installment in the television medium, which is sure to spark discussion.
Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier was present at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, where he spoke with Alien: Earth creator Noah Hawley and the show’s cast. When prompted about the challenges of transitioning to television, Hawley shared that it’s vital for audiences to “feel like, ‘These guys understand what Alien is,'” upon watching the first episode.
Hawley explained that there would be changes due to the shift in medium, but that the primary challenge as a writer and creator is to provide fans with the essence of the franchise they know and love. Once they feel that sense of security and familiarity, it will be easier for audiences to sit back and enjoy the new project despite its differences. Read his full quote below:
ScreenRant: Noah, David, for you guys, what’s the biggest challenge of translating a cinematic terror to a serialized television series, and how do you keep that Alien DNA intact?
Noah Hawley: Well, the biggest challenge is authenticity, right? It’s different to make a sequel to a film than it is to translate it to another medium, which is television. And the most important thing is that, when people tune in [to] that very first hour, [they] very quickly feel like, “These guys understand what Alien is.” The moment that they see that, then they can relax into it and just watch the story that we’re telling them.
Alien: Earth Will Be A Challenge For Long-Time Franchise Fans – But That’s A Good Thing
Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth series will undoubtedly be groundbreaking material for the franchise, stirring up a range of emotions in audiences. That’s the most exciting part of this project, especially given his excellent repertoire of television work on Fargo and Legion. That said, it’s nice to know he’s still trying to maintain the franchise’s core feeling.
Related
Alien: Earth Creator Explains The Decision To Bring Xenomorphs To Earth
Exclusive: Alien Earth’s creator, Noah Hawley, shares his perspective on bringing the Xenomorph and the sci-fi franchise down to Earth.
Beyond just the shift in medium, the transition to Earth and the deeper exploration of the franchise’s world-building, as well as potential changes to the previous canon, are going to be disarming. That makes it all the more crucial that the series capture some semblance of familiarity for audiences to connect with.
With the show’s plot centered around a Xenomorph arriving on Earth via a crashed vessel, it’s likely that the first hour of television will offer some of the classic Alien horror tropes. The Xenomorph will likely remain present throughout the season, but giving audiences a taste of it early on feels paramount.
Alien: Earth Is The Most Exciting Alien Project In Years
I understand that there will be audiences who are apprehensive about many of the ideas Noah Hawley is bringing to the table, but I’m mostly just excited to engage more deeply with the world of Alien. Beyond just the sci-fi/horror, I’ve always found it to be a compelling fictional universe, and I’m excited for a fresh take on it.
Related
Alien: Earth Series Plot Details Revealed & Official Release Day Set Alongside New Images
New teaser images have been released for Alien: Earth, alongside a new synopsis and confirmation of the FX prequel series’ release date and schedule.
Noah Hawley is a brilliant TV creator. His work on Fargo can’t go understated, and Legion is one of the greatest comic book TV series ever made. I trust his vision for Alien: Earth completely, but I’m grateful to see him addressing how crucial it is that this series appeal to long-term fans.
