By adding one forgotten 15-year-old species to its roster, Disney’s newAlienprequel can finally makePredatorcannon. 2024’sAlien: Romulusdefied expectations and proved to be a compelling addition to the overarching franchise. Although an official follow-up to the film has not been confirmed, it could happen in the future if everything falls into place. Fortunately, theAlienfranchise is far from over and is all set to expand its lore with an upcoming series,Alien: Earth.
Created by Noah Hawley,Alien: Earthserves as a prequelto the firstAlienmovie. In theAlienfranchise’s overarching timeline, it unfolds two years before the 1979Ridley Scott movie. While most details surrounding the movie’s plot and creature roster are still under wraps, its teasers and trailers have given away several hints surrounding its setting and the type of alien creatures its characters could face. Based on one of these teasers,Alien: Earthcould also make room for a long-forgotten species, which could even confirm thatPredatoris canon to the franchise.
Alien: Earth Could Have Predators' River Ghost As One Of Its Alien Life Forms
The Show’s Teaser Suggests It Will Feature Five Different Life Forms
AlienandPredatorare two franchises that have a fair share of crossovers, but the extent of their connection has always remained ambiguous within the official canon. TheAlien vs. Predatorfilms attempted to merge the two universes by featuring two of the most iconic alien beings from both in the same frame. However, despite the loose ties, it is hard to tell whether all movies from both franchises truly exist within the shared universe.Alien: Earthcan finally bury all doubt surrounding these connections by featuring the River Ghost species fromPredators.
The upcoming show’s latest teaser, titled “Crate,” hints that it will feature five dangerous species from the darkest edges of the universe. This has led many viewers to speculate that, alongside the Xenomorph, the show could feature a Predator or hybrid version of the two creatures. Since the River Ghost was introduced as a whole new species inPredators, it would make sense for the show to have it as one of its five alien beings.
Alien: Earth’s Teaser Might Have Already Hinted At The River Ghost’s Return
The Teaser Features Visuals Of Insect Legs
After watchingAlien: Earth’s teaser, many viewers could not help but notice how it features mysterious insect-like beings (viaReddit). While some speculated that the visuals represented a Xenomorph, others theorized the insectoid creature could be a hybrid alien. Interestingly, the insect-like visuals could also be a solid reference to the River Ghost species. InPredators,River Ghosts clearly had insect-like legs and a skeletal frame that gave them a distinct, bug-like appearance.
The movie also established that several insects live on their skin, seemingly allowing them to survive the harsh conditions on thePredators' game reserve. This raises the possibility that the visuals from the teaser are hinting at the River Ghosts' return in the series. If a River Ghost happens to be amongAlien: Earth’s creature roster, the prequel could establish a solid connective thread to the Predator franchise. The entire timeline of the two franchises would still be confusing, but River Ghost’s inclusion could create a loose bridge betweenAlienandPredator.
Why The River Ghosts Would Be The Perfect Additions To The FX Show’s Alien Roster
The River Ghosts Would Be Worthy Predator Replacements
Having both Xenomorphs and Predators in the same show could overcrowd the narrative and also risk diluting the unique sense of terror that each creature brings to the table. The presence of both alien beings would also significantly reduce the odds of the show’s humans' survival, which could undermine the tension that comes from watching characters struggle against one powerful being. Therefore, instead of having Predators on board,Alien: Earthcould hint atPredatorlore by featuring a River Ghost.
Since River Ghost also bears some similarity to Predator in appearance, it could be a worthy replacement for the creatures in the show’s first installment. As seen inPredators,River Ghosts are also less intimidating than the Yautja, which would giveAlien: Earth’s characters a fair chance at beating them. Hopefully, the upcomingAlienprequel will not miss this opportunity and feature the River Ghost species in some capacity.
