Summary
The confirmed title of the upcomingAlienTV show poses many questions about the focus of the TV series and how it will avoid the pitfalls of its prequel predecessors. It suggestsa setting that historically has not been executed well, building anticipation for how the show will deal with this. TheAlienfranchise has numerouscanon problemsand tension between its horror and action appeal, making any interpretation that honors the atmosphere of the inimitable original difficult to achieve.
Originally, the upcoming show had a working title ofAlien: Prodigy(viaAVP Galaxy). Although the title has been revised, the show seems to have retained a focus on human attitudes toward technology and mortality. For instance, the protagonist, Wendy, has a child’s consciousness put into an adult’s body – a new and experimental development for theAlienuniverse. The confirmation of a cryptic new title only adds to the growing list of intriguingdetails we know about the FXAlienTV show, suggesting that the franchise is finally fixing its two most problematic installments.
Every Alien Prequel, Ranked Worst To Best
Alien is a difficult franchise, and with its complex universe creating room for film disasters, some of its prequel movies are better than others.
Alien’s TV Show Is Almost Certainly Going To Be Set On Earth
The Title And What We Know So Far Is Closer To Home
An FX Networks executiverevealedAlienTV series’ official title,Alien: Earth. This reinforces one of the few confirmed details of the new show – that it will be set on Earth in the not-too-distant future.Its place in theAlienfranchise timeline will be 30 years before the events of the originalAlien,placing it toward the end of this century, a few years before 2089, when the prequelPrometheusis set. TheAlienTV show’s story will follow the emergence of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and its attempts to create android life in its relentless pursuit of immortality.
The show’s creator, Noah Hawley, has been plagued by setbacks to his project – both the pandemic and actor strikes have meant that season 1 has taken five years to make. He has promised that it will be worth the wait – withtheAlienfranchise author Sir Ridley Scottas an executive producerand a throwback to thematic concerns ofAlienandAliens(the most critically lauded in the franchise),Alien: Earthlooks to be a refreshing reset. Although it’s not chronologically mirroring the upcominginterquelAlien: Romulus,its setting and place in the timeline could set the show up for success.
The Alien VS Predator Movies Both Took Place On Earth – And Didn’t Work
The fact that the franchise’scontroversialAlien vs. Predatormoviesalso took place on Earth makesAlien: Earth’s setting a risk. Although the movies' premise, centering on a conflict between the Yautja and xenomorphs (originally teased inPredator 2’s iconic trophy room scene), made some interesting alterations to both series' canon, the results were disappointing.Alien vs. Predatorand its sequel,Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem,has low Rotten Tomatoes scores – sitting at 22% and 12% respectively.
The spinoff series' lore merging is ingenious, but produced mixed results. The weakness of theAvPmovies is that they have more of a slasher movie dynamic – especially inRequiem,which has a teen cast. Because the creature battle is center-stage, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for the human characters to develop, which is a common complaint about films in the franchise. However, something the firstAvPdoes extremely well isconveying the corporate greed that puts the explorers in danger, with little regard for safety – this is a theme promised to be explored inAlien: Earth.
Why The Alien TV Show Can Finally Do An Earth Story Right
Alien: Earth Could Actually Overcome Prequel Fatigue
Alien: Earthbeing confirmed as a standalone story within the universe gives it a freedom that follows a recent TV trend. For instance, theFalloutTV show was also a standalone story within the wider universe, making the characters original. Thishonors a well-established and much-loved franchise while avoiding the pitfalls of lore clashing. Setting the show on Earth could also refocus the story – thePrometheusduology impressively built a sprawling universe of lore, but frustrated audiences by opening up more questions. The new FX show could literally bring the focus back down to Earth.
Hawley is more interested in asking questions about humanity’s “primordial, parasitic past,” (Esquire) and the future of artificial intelligence in a nation facing disaster.
Itcould overcome prequel fatigue by givingthe “perfect” Xenomorphits mystery back– the show will focus more on androids. Hawley is more interested in asking questions about humanity’s “primordial, parasitic past,” (Esquire) and the future of artificial intelligence in a nation facing disaster. This is more relatable to current society. As Hawley has remarked, it’s not just a horror story about escaping from death (The Hollywood Reporter). Aside from the Weyland-Yutani backstory, it will also explore other corporations competing for monopoly over disturbing technologies. Its Earth setting will bringAlienback to the key question of whether humanity deserves to survive.
