Alien: Earth Is Set in 2120 — The FX Prequel That Leads Directly Into Ridley Scott’s Alien
Alien: Earth is set in the year 2120, which places it exactly two years before the original Alien film (set in 2122). Therefore, it is a direct prequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 movie, and it lines up with the year the star freighter USCSS Nostromo leaves Earth — so the Nostromo’s launch could appear in the series. The show premieres on FX.
- Quick summary: where Alien: Earth sits, the wider franchise timeline, and the major films and their years.
Where Alien: Earth fits in the Alien timeline
Alien: Earth takes place in 2120. In concrete terms, that makes it a direct lead-in to Alien (set in 2122). In addition, the USCSS Nostromo departs Earth in 2120, so the series overlaps with the same moment the original film is about to begin.
The broader Alien timeline, by era
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
The two Alien vs. Predator films — Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) — are set in 2004. These movies are generally not treated as canon within the main Alien movie continuity, although opinions vary across fandoms and franchises. For discussion and fan debate, see the Reddit thread depending on who you ask.
Prometheus and Alien: Covenant (2089–2104)
Prometheus begins in 2089 and explores the origins of humankind and the precursors to the Xenomorphs. Its follow-up, Alien: Covenant, is set in 2104 and continues the story of the Synthetic named David. Together, these films serve as prequels that push the franchise’s timeline into the late 21st and early 22nd centuries.
Alien: Earth and Alien (2120–2122)
As noted above, Alien: Earth is set in 2120. The original Alien takes place in 2122. Because of that proximity, Alien: Earth functions as a direct prequel to the film that started the franchise.
Alien: Romulus (2142)
Alien: Romulus is set in 2142. The film largely takes place on a space station and introduces a new set of characters and plotlines that occupy the gap between Alien and Aliens. The movie also has follow-up plans; see the report on the upcoming sequel.
Aliens and Alien 3 (2179)
Aliens (1986) and Alien 3 (1992) are both set in the year 2179. In Aliens, Ellen Ripley is rescued from cryosleep and becomes involved with a human colony facing Xenomorphs. Alien 3 follows soon after and continues Ripley’s story on a different world.
Alien: Resurrection (2381)
Alien: Resurrection takes place in 2381, several centuries after the earlier films. The movie features a cloned version of Ellen Ripley and plot elements involving Xenomorph DNA and advanced scientific manipulation.
