Alien: Earth Unveils Release Date, Episode Numbers, and Fresh Plot Details

Get ready for an exhilarating addition to the iconic Alien universe as "Alien: Earth" premieres its first two episodes on August 12. You can catch them on Hulu at 8pm ET, and internationally on FX and Disney+ at 8pm PT / ET. Mark your calendars because new episodes of this gripping eight-episode season will debut each following Tuesday.

Set in the year 2120, "Alien: Earth" takes place just two years before the events of the original "Alien" film and well after the timeline of "Prometheus." In this thrilling series crafted by Noah Hawley, the deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth. This catastrophic event leads a young woman named Wendy (played by Sydney Chandler) and a group of tactical soldiers to make a discovery that brings them face-to-face with the planet's most formidable threat.

To provide some context, the recently released "Alien: Romulus" is an interquel set between the events of "Alien" and "Aliens." At this juncture in the Alien timeline, Earth is under the governance of five powerful corporations: Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. This era sees cyborgs and synthetics living alongside humans. The plot thickens when the CEO of Prodigy introduces a groundbreaking invention: hybrids—humanoid robots with human consciousness. Wendy is the pioneering hybrid prototype, embodying the ongoing quest for immortality that runs through the Alien franchise.

An intriguing detail is that after Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship crashes into Prodigy City, Wendy and other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms that are described as "more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined." This hints at the possibility of new monsters in the series, possibly including more varieties of Xenomorphs. Reports suggest there will be five such terrifying entities.

Here's the official synopsis:

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.

The cast of "Alien: Earth" includes:

• Sydney Chandler as Wendy
• Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh
• Alex Lawther as Hermit
• Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier
• Babou Ceesay as Morrow
• Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins
• David Rysdahl as Arthur Sylvia
• Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia
• Lily Newmark as Nibs
• Erana James as Curly
• Adarsh Gourav as Slightly
• Jonathan Ajayi as Smee
• Kit Young as Tootles
• Diêm Camille as Siberian
• Moe Bar-El as Rashidi
• Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani

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Last January, showrunner Noah Hawley shared his vision for "Alien: Earth," explaining his decision to not use the backstory from "Prometheus." Hawley, who discussed "many, many elements" of the Alien series with Ridley Scott, opted for the "retro-futurism" of the original films, moving away from the bioweapon backstory to focus on the lore that captivated fans initially.

The Alien franchise is experiencing a resurgence with "Alien: Romulus 2" in development and the exciting crossover with the Predator franchise in "Predator: Badlands." Fans of the series have much to look forward to as the universe continues to expand.