Alien: Earth’sshowrunner has shared some insight about tackling the franchise’s first TV series.Alien: Earthseason 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’sJoe Deckelmeier was present at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, where he spoke withAlien: Earthcreator 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 thatthe 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.
What Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth Comments Mean
Alien: Earth Will Be A Challenge For Long-Time Franchise Fans - But That’s A Good Thing
Noah Hawley’sAlien: Earthseries 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 onFargoandLegion.That said, it’s nice to know he’s still trying to maintain the franchise’s core feeling.
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 classicAlienhorror tropes. The Xenomorph will likely remain present throughout the season, but giving audiences a taste of it early on feels paramount.
Our Take On Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth Comments
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 ofAlien. 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.
Noah Hawley is a brilliant TV creator. His work onFargocan’t go understated, andLegionis one of the greatest comic book TV series ever made. I trust his vision forAlien: Earthcompletely, but I’m grateful to see him addressing how crucial it is that this series appeal to long-term fans.
