‘Alien: Earth’ Creator Discusses the Bold Stand-Alone Episode
[This story contains spoilers from Alien: Earth‘s fifth episode, “In Space, No One…”]
‘Alien: Earth’ Creator Discusses the Bold Stand-Alone Episode
[This story contains spoilers from Alien: Earth‘s fifth episode, “In Space, No One…”]
Unexpected Treat for Franchise Fans
Alien: Earth surprised its fans with the fifth episode, featuring a mini-Alien movie that reimagines Ridley Scott‘s 1979 original film into a unique one-hour story. Titled “In Space, No One…”—a nod to the original film’s iconic tagline—the episode reveals the events aboard the ill-fated USCSS Maginot, leading to the escape of dangerous creatures and the ship’s crash on Earth.
A Unique Take on Classic Elements
With interior sets closely resembling those of the Nostromo from the original film, the episode plays out like an alternate universe version of the classic. It contains a twist that challenges audience expectations, inspired by the actions of a certain tech billionaire.
“This allowed me to innovate what the Alien franchise could be as a series while also honoring classic elements,” Hawley stated. “Adding new elements and placing the creatures in a thematic context makes it engaging. By the time the xenomorph appears, the audience is already deep into the narrative with other tragic creatures.”
Thrilling Escalation of Events
Hawley highlighted the thrill of the last moments of James Cameron‘s Aliens, aiming to replicate that intensity by combining various elements, including sabotage and the introduction of the xenomorph. “You leave the predictable Alien world and are left wondering what will happen next,” he remarked.
A Controversial Twist
A pivotal moment reveals that Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) orchestrated the sabotage of the Maginot to crash it into his territory to steal the creatures. Hawley acknowledges that this reckless plan might seem foolish, but it serves a purpose in the narrative.
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“I don’t view our tech billionaires as masterminds,” he explained. “They often act impulsively, and our fiction tends to impose logic that doesn’t reflect reality. This character embodies that hubris.”
Commentary on Modern Billionaires
Hawley suggested that the characterization reflects the hubris of figures like Elon Musk, without naming him directly. “It’s a commentary on the audacity of individuals who attempt to revolutionize multiple industries simultaneously, often without success,” he noted.
Character Interpretations
Throughout the episode, viewers are left questioning the intentions of crew member Teng, portrayed by Andy Yu. Hawley remarked, “It’s always open to interpretation—who is human and who isn’t? For me, he’s just a creepy dude.”
Creative Choices and Casting
Hawley’s experience from Fargo influenced the casting choices for this episode. “When I decided to direct the flashback episode, I wanted to ensure it was memorable. I reached out to various actors from Fargo to create a strong ensemble,” he shared.
Alien: Earth releases new episodes every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu.
