Alien: Earth is set to become the second new project in the Alien universe within recent years and the franchise`s first-ever television series, expanding upon Ridley Scott`s iconic sci-fi horror legacy. As with any fresh addition to the Alien lore, dedicated fans are eager to understand its place within the broader timeline. Alien: Earth provides a clear answer to this question, though it`s worth noting how this positioning has evolved over time.
With the series` premiere on FX and Hulu approaching on August 12, it has been officially confirmed as a prequel to the original 1979 film. The narrative of Alien: Earth unfolds in 2120, two years prior to the events of the first movie. This timing places the show nearly concurrently with the original film, a contrast to the cinematic prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which are set in 2093 and 2104, respectively.
Interestingly, during a set visit in April 2024, showrunner Noah Hawley initially had different ideas regarding the series` chronological placement. In a roundtable interview, he stated that he didn`t need to be overly precise yet, indicating that the concept of the show`s timeline had shifted over the past year and a half of production.
`I think we exist somewhere around Aliens, around the James Cameron story,` Hawley had remarked at the time. `You know, I haven`t had to get crazy specific with it, but the events of the first film are referenced in the show at some point. So I think it`s somewhere around the events of the second film, either before or just after.`
Had that initial temporal setting remained, Alien: Earth and the movie Alien: Romulus (set in 2142) would have occurred around the same period. However, at that point, the two projects were entirely unrelated. Perhaps influenced by Romulus`s box office success or other factors, Alien: Earth now officially precedes the events aboard the Nostromo from the first film, serving as its direct prequel, despite Hawley stating that his inspiration stemmed solely from the first two films.
It remains uncertain whether the specific reference to the Nostromo has been retained in the final cut of the first season`s episodes. This detail, too, might have been altered or removed. Viewers will discover the definitive answer when Alien: Earth premieres on FX and Hulu on August 12.