Alien Universe Unveiled: Noah Hawley Offers Insight into Why Prometheus Doesn't Serve as a Useful Foundation for His Upcoming Alien Prequel!

Emmy winner Noah Hawley is providing a glimpse into his much-anticipated FX Alien prequel series.

During an interview on KCRW's The Business with Hollywood Reporter Editor-At-Large Kim Masters, Hawley, the showrunner for Fargo, shared insights about the upcoming Alien series. Set on Earth approximately 70 years in the future and predating the events in the film franchise, Hawley demonstrated his deep understanding of the Alien narrative. He succinctly described Alien as more than just a remarkable monster movie, highlighting its essence as a tale of humanity caught between its primitive parasitic history and its AI-driven future.

ALIEN: COVENANT

According to Hawley, both aspects are poised to pose threats to humanity, posing the overarching question of whether humanity deserves to survive, given its arrogance in assuming it's beyond being prey and its creation of potentially uncontrollable AI beings. The series, therefore, delves into the profound theme of humanity's struggle for survival and its inherent vulnerabilities.

In Ridley Scott's acclaimed 1979 original, Alien, both the iconic primordial monster and sinister AI elements, such as the murderous android Ash and the unhelpful supercomputer Mother, play pivotal roles.

Reflecting on the franchise, Hawley referenced a moment from the second film, 1986's Aliens, where Sigourney Weaver's character contemplates the nature of two alien species, remarking, "I don't know which species is worse — you don't see them screwing each other over for a percentage." Hawley finds the exploration of humanity in all its complexities, virtues, and vices intriguing. He aims to recreate the emotional impact of the first two films for the audience, acknowledging the challenge posed by a franchise that has seen four subsequent films and another, Alien: Romulus, on the horizon. Despite this, Hawley expressed confidence in bringing fresh perspectives, stating, "I think I have some tricks up my sleeve."

When asked by interviewer Eric Deggans about using the backstory from Ridley Scott's more recent Alien prequels, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), Hawley shared insights into his approach. He mentioned conversations with Ridley Scott about various aspects of the show, emphasizing his preference for the original concept presented in the first film, where the alien is described as a "perfect life form" resulting from millions of years of evolution. In contrast, the prequels introduced the idea that the aliens were created as a bioweapon by a mysterious race known as The Engineers.

Hawley expressed his belief that the notion of the alien as a bioweapon created more recently is less compelling. He highlighted the fear factor in the monster's mythology, emphasizing its existence in space for potentially millions of years. Furthermore, he addressed the technology aspect, favoring the retro-futuristic style of the first two films over the advanced technology portrayed in the prequels. According to Hawley, the choice to avoid holograms and modern technology aligns with his preference for the aesthetic of the original movies.

Production of Hawley's Alien series was temporarily halted in August due to the SAG-AFTRA strike but is expected to resume filming soon in Thailand. The ensemble cast features Essie Davis, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Sydney Chandler, Adarsh Gourav, Timothy Olyphant, and David Rysdahl. Meanwhile, Fargo Season five is currently airing weekly on FX and Hulu.