Summary
- Noah Hawley has a successful history of revitalizing established properties with fresh and unique approaches.
- Alien: Earth is a prequel to the franchise, set on Earth with a young woman and scientists encountering Xenomorphs.
- The Alien series has found new energy with Alien: Romulus under Hawley's direction, making Alien: Earth exciting.
Alien is a beloved franchise that has seen a mix of results over the past couple of decades. From the critically acclaimed first entry starring Sigourney Weaver, to the recently released Alien: Romulus, the Alien franchise has continued to thrive. Now, after ruling the big screen, the franchise is set to take to the small screen with Alien: Earth, helmed by writer and director Noah Hawley.
The series is currently drawing skepticism from fans of the franchise because the Xenomorphs will be brought to Earth — a fair concern. However, Hawley already has an impressive resume of tackling well-established properties and making something special. With Alien: Earth, Hawley looks set to bring his unique touch to a franchise that could benefit from a new approach.
Alien: Romulus Fans Shouldn't Sleep On Dead By Daylight
The Alien series is back in the public zeitgeist thanks to Alien: Romulus, and those looking for another Alien fix should check out Dead by Daylight.
Hawley's Short, Yet Impressive Resume
Hawley got his start in Hollywood by writing the screenplay for 2006's Lies and Alibis. From there, he went on to join the writers' room for the hit series Bones, where he also served as a producer. He would later go on to pen The Unusuals and My Generation, before he would eventually get his big break with 2017's Marvel series, Legion.
The X-Men series starred Dan Stevens as David Haller/Legion as a troubled young man who was diagnosed as schizophrenic, only to find he has special powers that would change his life forever. It was the second X-Men series on Fox, following The Gifted, and was hailed as an intelligent and visually arresting piece of television. It continued for three seasons, each one receiving a rating of at least 90%. Along with stunning visuals, the series' focus on bizarre world-building and mind-bending horror worked wonderfully with both the storytelling and acting from the show's impressive cast.
Following his work on Legion, Hawley would go on to pen Lucy in the Sky, before returning to television with the critically-acclaimed Fargo, based on the movie of the same name. Each season of Fargo took elements from the film and told a story that was both familiar, yet different.
Alien: Earth will mark the third popular IP Hawley will tackle, and perhaps the hardest of the three. The Alien franchise has tried to recapture the magic of the original films with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, but has struggled to do so. However, Alien: Romulus has injected some much-needed new energy into the franchise. Hopefully, this will continue with Alien: Earth.
Why Fans Should Be Excited about Alien: Earth
When it comes to Hawley, the well-regarded writer is known for taking a property and putting his own spin on it, all while honoring the source material. In taking on the X-Men, his series captured the essence of Legion as a character and the feel of a comic book property, while also finding a way to put a horrifying twist on it. The same can be said for Fargo. Rather than try to imitate the original film, Hawley found a way to both honor the film and yet deliver something new with each new season.
If there's one person who can do the Alien franchise justice, Hawley seems like the perfect fit. He knows how to capture the essence of what is needed, while still finding a way to do something new with a big-name property. Alien: Romulus shows that the Alien franchise needed new blood in it. When others are allowed to play within the franchise, and focus on delivering a good story rather than trying to replicate what came before, the results are positive. The film not only earned a Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 80%, but it also surprised at the box office, pulling in $315.7 million worldwide. It's a fresh start for the Alien franchise, and one that has left fans wanting more. While Alien: Earth might be different from what they imagined, with the Xenomorphs headed to Earth, it's something fresh and unique in a franchise that often does much of the same storytelling-wise.
Alien: Earth is a prequel to the Alien franchise. The Hulu series takes place three decades before the first film, when a mysterious vessel crash lands on Earth. A young woman and her ragtag team of scientists explore the crash, only to find themselves face to face with the deadly Xenomorphs. The project was first announced in 2022, and is one of many projects expected to come out based on the Alien franchise. It's a project that both Fox and Hawley took their time on, rather than trying to rush it. The studio seems keen on trying to protect both the Alien and Predator franchises, by bringing in talent that is capable of elevating the material while still honoring the legacy of what came before it. Bringing in someone like Hawley, who understands what fans want, but also knows how to make these properties all the more exciting is a smart move for a franchise that was thought to have stalled out creatively.
Alien: Earth will debut on Hulu in 2025.