When Noah Hawley began filming what would eventually become "Alien: Earth," was acutely conscious of how it was essential to convey the astonishment and terror that viewers initially experienced upon viewing Ridley Scott's 1979 masterpiece. Given that the "Alien" franchise has ruined all of the Xenomorph's surprises over the course of seven films and two crossovers, that is a difficult task.
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| Sydney Chandler as Wendy in “Alien: Earth” (Photo Credit: Patrick Brown/FX) |
"Somehow, I've been able to carve out a place for myself by turning old films into TV series. Understanding the way that the original film affected me is one of my skills, Hawley said in May to a gathering of media that included TheWrap. "I felt I had to introduce new creatures because, seven films later, there is no mystery or discovery in the life cycle of this creature, so I am unable to provide the audience with that feeling."
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According to David W. Zucker, executive producer and chief creative officer for Scott Free's "Alien: Earth," "Ridley, honestly, his biggest concern for Noah and this series was the ambition to build out these other creatures — the necessity of that but also just how steep that challenge is to pull off in a way that is impactful but also that really taps into your imagination."
Similar to its predecessor, "Alien: Earth" doesn't describe the goals, diet, or methods of reproduction of these new creepy crawlies. They're the last thing you want to crash land on Earth, that's all the show conveys. That's the least of the issues with this sci-fi thriller, though.
The FX series centers on Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a young girl who has become the first hybrid in history—people whose consciousnesses have been transferred to a synthetic body—and is set two years prior to the events of "Alien." Wendy and her motley crew of hybrids arrive on the scene to help rescue the day when a spacecraft carrying multiple alien specimens crashes on Earth. They must deal with a patchwork of conglomerates that could be just as dangerous as anything that emerges from a mystery egg, in addition to the biggest threat humanity has ever encountered.
The fact that "Alien" is more than just a monster movie is one of the reasons I found it so intriguing to adapt. It's when Ash's identity as an Android is exposed [in the first film], Hawley remarked. "You understand that both the AI future and this parasitic primordial past are attempting to eradicate humanity."
When it came to creating the enigmatic ruling companies in his show, Hawley, who began development on what would eventually become "Alien: Earth" in 2018, drew inspiration from the 19th century. He cited the conflict between George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla over electricity.
"It appears that we are competing for a worldwide monopoly. A few players are left to compete as the final step, according to Hawley. "I asked myself, 'What if we create the technological moment of humanity's next step?'"
The hybrids in this show were the result of that concept as well as his wish to examine this cosmos from a child's perspective. Despite having the appearance of someone in her late 20s or early 30s, Chandler's Wendy is only 12 years old emotionally and mentally. The dilemma of whether humanity is even worth saving has always played a significant role in the "Alien" saga.
"Let the kids explore the understanding of these animals and then, on a certain level, what it means to be an adult," Hawley said.
The renowned filmmaker approved the series, but Hawley has not yet had the opportunity to meet the 87-year-old Scott in person. According to Hawley and Zucker, Scott, the show's executive producer, provided input on both daily and episode cuts. According to Zucker, Scott was particularly pleased with the show's direction and how well his original sets—like the mess hall and communications room—were recreated.
"He said, 'Well, f–k me,' when I emailed him some pictures when he was in Hungary filming a production. Zucker remarked, "I built that, and it's still there all these years later." "The fact that some of the original designers who assembled that ship set are acknowledged in the credits is one of the many things for which I know Noah is thankful."
New episodes of "Alien: Earth" premiere on FX and Hulu every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
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