Step aside, summer blockbusters: next year, one of cinema’s most notorious creatures is bound for your living room. With an eye-watering budget and a pedigree that stretches back to Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, Disney+ is banking on Alien: Earth to deliver the kind of water-cooler moments that once belonged to Game of Thrones and The Last of Us.
The xenomorph arrives on Earth
I’ll admit, I’ve always been a sucker for that first glimpse of the alien egg hatching in a dimly lit corridor. This time, we’re jumping back two years before the events of Alien, as a mysterious spacecraft crashes into Earth’s orbit. A specialised unit of soldiers, led by Wendy—a human mind in a synthetic vessel—touches down to investigate. What they uncover in the wreckage isn’t just a new extraterrestrial species; it’s a threat that could spell disaster for humankind.
Showrunner Noah Hawley (best known for his work on Fargo) spent eight years nurturing this project into reality. In a recent interview with Variety, he emphasised the series’ ambitious scope: “We’ve aimed to capture the franchise’s chilling atmosphere while exploring fresh themes of identity and survival.” Early reactions to the trailer praise its haunting visuals and palpable tension—proof that the xenomorph remains as terrifying as ever.
A blockbuster budget for a pop-culture phenomenon
Disney+ didn’t hold back when green-lighting Alien: Earth. Alongside 26 Keys Productions, Scott Free Productions and FX Productions, they’ve pledged a colossal US $250 million for the eight-episode run. To put that in perspective, it’s on par with big-screen behemoths like Fast & Furious 7 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince—a level of investment that hints at the series’ intended reach.
FX Networks is openly pitching this as the next event television. “We expect Alien: Earth to ignite online fandom the way Game of Thrones did,” said an FX spokesperson. With headliners Sydney Chandler and Timothy Olyphant anchoring the cast, the foundations are certainly in place for something extraordinary. Episodes one and two land on Disney+ on 12 August 2025, with weekly instalments rolling out until 23 September, ensuring plenty of time for analysis, fan theories and GIF-worthy moments.
Whether you’re a die-hard aficionado or a curious newcomer, it’s clear that August 2025 will be a month to remember. Prepare for a strategic release, spine-tingling horror and a cultural splash worthy of those famous thrones.
