Everything to Know About FX's Alien: Earth TV Series

First released in 1979, the landmark science-fiction horror film Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver as a warrant officer on a derelict spacecraft taking on an extraterrestrial that killed off her crew, became an instant classic, delivering multiple sequels and spin-offs. Now, the beloved Alien franchise is being reimagined for FX as a television series — titled Alien: Earth. What's more, it's written and directed by Fargo's Noah Hawley and counts Justified's Timothy Olyphant among its stars.

The series premiere of Alien: Earth is coming, so we'll try to answer your questions, like when Alien: Earth premieres, who is in the show's first season, and where to watch Alien: Earth. 

Alien: Earth Season 1 release date

Alien: Earth premieres Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 8/7c on FX and Hulu, followed by a new episode each Tuesday at 8/7c. Each episode will air on FX and be available to stream on Hulu starting at that time. Internationally, Alien: Earth will stream on Disney+. Season 1 will consist of eight episodes.

In February 2024, Deadline confirmed that Alien: Earth isn't planned to be a limited series and could go on for multiple seasons. "It's designed to be an ongoing series," FX boss John Landgraf said. "Then as far as Fargo goes, it's a matter of timing because I'm hoping [creator] Noah [Hawley]'s going to be working subsequent seasons of Alien and really try to turn that around fast."

Alien: Earth trailers and teasers

A new trailer, released on July 17, teases the potential for disaster after a spacecraft crashes with five new life forms on board, which have been collected from distant planets. "We don't lock them down, it will be too late," Timothy Olyphant's Kirsh warns.

In an earlier trailer for Alien: Earth, Sydney Chandler's synthetic-human hybrid Wendy volunteers to investigate that mysteriously downed spacecraft. "It's like a zoo, but the animals got out," remarks one member of the crew. It takes the characters some time to realize just how much danger they're in, though Alex Lawther's Hermit seems to understand by the end of the trailer.

Before releasing the trailer, FX released a handful of vibey, enigmatic teasers for the new series, which set the tone for all the horror coming our way.

What will Alien: Earth be about?

FX's logline is as follows: "When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat in FX's Alien: Earth.

"In the year 2120, the Earth is governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans with both biological and artificial parts) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans. But the game is changed when the wunderkind Founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unlocks a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness). The first hybrid prototype, named Wendy, marks a new dawn in the race for immortality. After Weyland-Yutani's spaceship collides into Prodigy City, Wendy and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined."

Speaking at a press screening in May 2025, creator Noah Hawley discussed the decision to center the series on Wendy's character, whose synthetic body houses the mind of a young girl. "An Alien movie is about, basically, will one human survive?" Hawley said. "But this show is about, will humanity survive, and who's more human than a child?" 

Like the original Alien film, the series will raise the question of whether humanity is worth saving, Hawley said. "And to that end, I thought, let the children navigate the discovery both of what these creatures are, and then also what it means to be a grown-up."

Read more of Hawley's previews from the press screening here.

Will Ripley be in Alien: Earth?

Currently there are no plans for Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver in the Alien movies, to be in the series. 

Who will be in Alien: Earth?

Alien: Earth main cast:

• Sydney Chandler as Wendy, a hybrid meta-human who has the brain of a child but the body of an adult
• Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh, a synth who mentors Wendy
• Alex Lawther as Hermit
• Babou Ceesay as Morrow
• Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia
• David Rysdahl Arthur Sylvia
• Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, a CEO
• Adarsh Gourav as Slightly
• Kit Young as Tootles
• Jonathan Ajayi as Smee
• Erana James as Curly
• Lily Newmark as Nibs
• Diêm Camille as Siberian
• Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins

Alien: Earth production

We got our first visual proof that filming was underway in Thailand back in March 2024, and we got that confirmation in one of the coolest ways possible: a Justified reunion between Walton Goggins, who was there to film the third season of The White Lotus, and Timothy Olyphant, who was there to film Alien: Earth. 

Deadline reported in February 2024 that filming had resumed after pausing during the writers and actors strikes in 2023. Filming of Alien: Earth initially began in July 2023 in Bangkok but shut down that August. "I got some footage," Noah Hawley told Deadline in November 2023. "Some of the first hour was shot before we had to shut down. It's stuff to play with and edit."

Alien: Earth poster

The new key art for Alien: Earth, which was released when FX announced the premiere date, gives us a good look at the Xenomorph.

Where can I watch Alien: Earth and the original Alien movie?

Alien: Earth will air on FX and stream on Hulu. The original Alien movie is available on streaming.