Alien: Earth Isn’t Breaking A Franchise Rule, It’s Exploring Its Greatest Fear

Alien: Earth Isn't Breaking A Franchise Rule, It's Exploring Its Greatest Fear

Key Takeaways

  • Alien: Earth TV series will explore xenomorphs on Earth, a concept never before seen in the franchise.
  • The show taps into viewers’ greatest fear by bringing the terror of xenomorphs to humanity’s home planet.
  • Alien: Earth is set to premiere in 2025, promising to add new levels of brutality and fear to the iconic franchise.

As a long-time fan of the Alien franchise who has spent countless sleepless nights watching those terrifying creatures stalk through the dark recesses of space, I am beyond excited for Alien: Earth. The idea of the xenomorphs invading our home planet is a chilling prospect that taps into our deepest fears.


One horror franchise that has seen a resurgence in recent years is the Alien franchise. The iconic series that began with1979’s Alien, and since then, has followed humans discovering the deadly xenomorphs in the depths of space. The franchise has not only spawned multiple sequels, but more recently, some prequels that show the full extent of the deadly predators and their reach across the galaxy. However, there has always been one location that the franchise has yet to bring the xenomorphs to: the surface of Earth itself. That concept is set to be explored in the upcoming television series Alien: Earth.

It’s possible that viewers might believe there’s a long-standing rule preventing the appearance of terrifying alien creatures on Earth within the franchise, as they’ve never been shown there before. However, creators have not received such instructions. Instead, the movies maintain an eerie atmosphere set in deep space, aboard spacecraft or stations, rather than Earth. To date, only two films have depicted the xenomorphs on Earth, and those were from the Predator vs. Alien collaboration series. A standalone film titled Alien: Earth, focusing entirely on Earth-based xenomorph encounters, could capitalize on the most chilling aspect of the Alien series: the terror of these creatures invading our own planet.

The Alien Franchise So Far

In 1979, the initial movie of the series, titled “Alien,” was directed by Ridley Scott. This film introduced the iconic character who made a significant impact on the science fiction world – Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. As fate would have it, Ripley was the solitary crew member left alive aboard the Nostromo spacecraft. Her ordeal began when she encountered the face-huggers, terrifying beings that implanted their victims with the xenomorphs. These creatures used humans as hosts, ultimately bursting out of their chests after a gestation period.

In upcoming films, similar to the sequel “Aliens,” the storyline delves into the consequences if alien creatures invade a settlement. Ripley confronts a xenomorph queen and other lethal species in this scenario. Throughout the series, both Ripley and other characters are threatened not only by the xenomorphs and their mutations but also by the Weyland-Yutani corporation and certain androids. The company’s insatiable hunger for power leads them to attempt controlling the characteristics of these creatures for their own advancement, putting innocent people at risk across the franchise.

In the initial movie, as the creature pursued the remaining Nostromo crew members, it was unveiled that the ship’s science officer, Ash, was an android dispatched by Weyland-Yutani Corporation. His objective was covertly to capture the creature, no matter the cost to the crew – human lives were disposable. This pattern of ruthless behavior was echoed in other androids, such as David in the prequel series “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant”. The portrayal of corporate greed suggests that Weyland-Yutani and their androids are equally threatening as the extraterrestrial beings.

As a gamer, one thing that always intrigues me about the xenomorphs is their mysterious origins. The prequel series hinted at the Engineers, an advanced alien race who crafted humans and apparently used these creatures as weapons against their adversaries. Over time, both the Engineers and the android David tinkered with and mutated their DNA, producing various forms. However, the true xenomorphs were thought to have existed long before the Engineers stumbled upon them. They’ve got acidic blood, a tough armor-like shell, razor-sharp tails, and inner jaws capable of cracking through bone and metal. These attributes make them not only fearsome predators but also a valuable resource for humans seeking to exploit their power.

Alien: Earth Taps Into Viewers’ Greatest Fear

Alien: Earth Isn't Breaking A Franchise Rule, It's Exploring Its Greatest Fear

Although details about the show’s narrative are scarce, some aspects have been confirmed. The series will focus on a young woman and an eclectic band of soldiers who discover a spaceship that has crash-landed on Earth. Additionally, it will incorporate elements related to the Weyland-Yutani corporation, with one such element being a synth character portrayed by Timothy Olyphant who serves as a mentor to the main character. The storyline occurs just prior to the events depicted in the prequel film “Prometheus”.

The unique aspect of “Alien: Earth” lies in its familiar setting – our own planet. This is the most profound fear one could harbor, as it bridges the gap between the terrifying events portrayed in films, comics, novels, and games such as “Alien: Isolation”, and the audience. Historically, these creatures have been otherworldly, providing a sense of separation due to their space-faring origins. However, introducing these creatures on Earth in the near future amplifies our deepest fears by blurring the line between fantasy and reality. Pondering how the world would react to an xenomorph outbreak is truly chilling. Would they arrive accidentally or intentionally through means like the Engineers?

2025 marks the anticipated debut of “Alien: Earth,” leaving fans on edge with anticipation for more information. Similar to its predecessors, the raw brutality and shock these extraterrestrial beings bring, along with the pulse-pounding dread they evoke, promises to enrich the franchise even further. By introducing these terrifying creatures into our everyday lives and invading our homes, it will explore new dimensions of fear and untapped potential for the “Alien” series. Fans can only bide their time until the premiere of “Alien: Earth” to witness its unique contribution to the established legacy of the “Alien” franchise.

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2024-09-14 21:05