Alien: Earth Showrunner Reveals Surprising Blade Runner Connections—And Major Differences
The creator of Legion and Fargo, Noah Hawley, is bringing fans back to the Alien universe, but this time, things look a little different. With the new FX series Alien: Earth premiering on August 12, Hawley is moving the action from deep space to our very own planet. And while you might expect a heavy dose of Blade Runner-style rain and gloom, Hawley is making sure his show carves its own path, even as it nods to Ridley Scott’s iconic work.
- What Noah Hawley took—and didn’t take—from Blade Runner for Alien: Earth
- How the show’s synthetic character, Kirsh, compares to previous robots in the Alien franchise
- The new setting and visual style for Alien: Earth
- When and where to watch the new series
What’s New in Alien: Earth?
In 1982, Ridley Scott followed up Alien with a failed attempt to adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune into a film and then the legendary Blade Runner. Blade Runner explored the idea of robots pretending to be human, a theme that’s also part of the Alien universe. Now, Hawley is picking up that thread with Alien: Earth, which is set on Earth in the year 2120—just two years before the events of the original Alien movie.
According to Hawley, “It was Ridley who made Alien and then went to make Blade Runner. He introduced this idea of synthetic beings, and then he went on to explore that in more depth in Blade Runner. What I would say is, by exploring the synthetic beings in Alien, I’m certainly not trying to make Blade Runner, but I understand how the comparisons can be made, certainly aesthetically.”
Meet Kirsh: The New Synthetic
The show’s standout character is Kirsh (played by Timothy Olyphant), a white-haired robot whose job is to look after Wendy, a synthetic/human hybrid played by Sydney Chandler. Kirsh isn’t your typical robot sidekick. Early in the series, he gives a monologue about how humanity’s spot at the top of the food chain is pretty shaky—a classic Alien move that never gets old.
But Kirsh isn’t just another Ash or David. While previous synthetics like Ash (Ian Holm) and David (Michael Fassbender) showed either disdain for humans or a weird devotion to their creators, Kirsh is different. Hawley explained, “We talked a little bit about the programming that goes into a Kirsh, and this idea that maybe, not only is he programmed not to harm his boss in any way, but disagreeing with the boss is also discouraged. Getting angry at the boss is verboten. If you don’t seem to see eye-to-eye, maybe just give him a little smile and tell him ‘Fuck you’ with your eyes.”
Not Your Typical Blade Runner World
Now, just because Kirsh has the bleached look and mysterious vibe, don’t expect Alien: Earth to be a Blade Runner copycat. Hawley made sure the series stands apart visually. Instead of the constant rain and darkness of Blade Runner’s Los Angeles, this Earth is bright and sunny—at least until the xenomorphs show up. Hawley told his team, “If you find yourself making Blade Runner, you’re making the wrong Ridley Scott movie.”
When and Where to Watch
The first season of Alien: Earth will have eight episodes, with a two-episode premiere on FX on August 12. After that, new episodes drop every Saturday through September 23. So, get ready for a fresh take on the Alien universe—this time, right here on Earth.
