Alien: Earth Timeline Reveals if It Is a Prequel

Earth,” produced by Noah Hawley, addresses a common query that fans have when a new Alien project debuts – its position within the extensive Alien franchise timeline. The series not only clarifies where it fits but also strengthens its ties to Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, helping us understand if it is indeed a prequel or not.

What is Alien: Earth’s timeline and is it a prequel to past movies?

In the year 2120, we find ourselves in the timeline of Alien: Earth. This story unfolds two years prior to the events depicted in the original Alien movie, which occurred in 2122. Essentially, this places Alien: Earth as a precursor or predecessor to the first film, similar to how Rogue One fits into the Star Wars saga, preceding A New Hope.

In the year 2120, the spacecraft USCSS Nostromo, famous for its appearance in the film Alien, could potentially take off from Earth as depicted in the upcoming series. This could offer viewers an exciting opportunity to witness a pivotal moment connecting the series and the original movie that initiated it all.

Earth shares a connection with the original Alien series, its timeline extends over several centuries. Excluding the non-canon Alien vs. Predator movies, the story starts from Prometheus (2089) and Alien: Covenant (2104). These films delve into humanity’s first encounters with the Engineers, the beings responsible for creating the Xenomorphs.

Following the films Alien: Earth and Alien (set in 2120-2122), the narrative shifts to Alien: Romulus (released in 2024), which falls between the original Alien and its sequel, Aliens. In this film, scientists conduct experiments on Xenomorphs aboard a space station, introducing a fresh new storyline while maintaining consistency with established lore.

In the years that followed, both Aliens and Alien 3 unfold in the year 2179, as Ripley continues her heroic struggle against another alien threat to humanity. The narrative then jumps significantly ahead to Alien: Resurrection in 2381, where the introduction of cloning and genetic manipulation brings a peculiar turn of events to Ripley’s saga.

By setting Alien: Earth prior to the events depicted in the initial film, FX and Hawley are broadening the universe’s lore and building anticipation for one of cinema’s most renowned sci-fi horror productions. Its close association with Alien enables it to delve into the escalating aspirations of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to examine the development of characters like Timothy Olyphant’s Kirsh, and subtly hint at the Nostromo mission before calamity ensues.

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2025-08-12 07:46