Alien: Earth gives Hulu a victory lap worthy of the Xenomorph

*As Hulu prepares to fold into Disney+ in 2026, FX’s new* ***Alien: Earth*** *arrives like a clarion scream—slick, scary, and the perfect sendoff for Hulu’s standalone era.*

The short version

What it is: A prestige prequel series from Fargo’s Noah Hawley set in 2120—two years before Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic. It centers on Wendy (Sydney Chandler), a human consciousness in a synthetic body, as Earth’s mega‑corporations confront a crash‑landed threat.
Where to watch: FX (linear) and Hulu in the U.S., with Disney+ internationally. The season runs eight episodes, premiering with two on Aug 12 and dropping weekly on Tuesdays through Sept 23.
Early buzz: Critics love it—Alien: Earth launched in the 90s on Rotten Tomatoes, and as of today it’s sitting at 87% with strong audience scores to match. (Forbes, Rotten Tomatoes)

Why Rule Mobile is hyped

Alien: Earth plays like a love letter to the franchise’s DNA—industrial dread, corporate hubris, and biology gone wrong—while pushing the mythology somewhere fresh. Hawley’s near‑future corporate hellscape feels uncomfortably plausible, and Wendy’s hybrid identity gives the show a human heartbeat amid the horror. (WIRED)

The cast is stacked: Sydney Chandler leads, with Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, and Babou Ceesay rounding out a tense, lived‑in ensemble. (ABC News)

And for longtime fans: the production leans on practical Xenomorph effects more than you’d expect from 2025 TV—an inspired nod to the original film that amps up the realism. (Cinemablend)

Scoreboard: the numbers that matter

Rotten Tomatoes (current): 87% Tomatometer (critics). That’s “Certified Fresh” territory and a great sign this isn’t just fan service. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Launch peak: Early reactions had it hovering in the ~92% range—no small feat for a franchise prequel. (Forbes)

GQ is already calling it the best Alien installment since the originals, praising its blend of philosophical bite, nerve‑jangling suspense, and cinematic scale. We agree: it feels big. It feels important. (GQ)

When and where to watch (U.S.)

Premiere: Aug 12 on FX and Hulu (two episodes)
New episodes: Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ET through Sept 23
International: Streams on Disney+
Pro tip: Hulu also has the Alien film catalog if you want a full‑franchise binge before each week’s drop.

Final word

If this is Hulu’s victory lap before full Disney+ integration, Alien: Earth is the perfect anchor: bold world‑building, scary as hell, and character‑driven enough to hook newcomers and die‑hards alike. Queue it, dim the lights, and let the dread unfurl.

Quick facts

Creator/EP: Noah Hawley (Fargo), with Ridley Scott as EP
Setting: 2120, Earth ruled by competing mega‑corps
Lead: Sydney Chandler as Wendy, the franchise’s first human/synthetic hybrid protagonist
Season length: 8 episodes (weekly Tuesdays after a two‑episode premiere)

Alien: Earth