THE ALIEN FRANCHISE

I noticed that a series called Alien: Earth was set to premiere on FX tomorrow, 12August2025.  Went to Rotten Tomatoes, and reviewers gave it a 93 rating, and Meta critic indicated "universal acclaim."  I looked into this production and learned that it is a spinoff of the Alien franchise.  So I will record it.  

• There will be eight episodes.
• Director of the first Alien film, Ridley Scott, is one of the executive producers.
• Filmed in Thailand.
• One negative critic said this was a Frankenstein’s monster of existentialism and aliens ripping people apart."^[35]

• 
  Will be a prequel, set in 2120, two years before the events of the original 1979 film, Alien.
• By then, there will be humans, cyborgs (human with some synthetic parts) and hybrids (people who have the human conscious transferred onto a synthetic body).  One of these will be the lead character, Wendy, played by Sydney Chandler.

• 
  How can you tell them apart?  Don't know, so one reason to watch the series.
• Remember the FX series Shogun?  Cost $250 million to make.  Alien: Earth is said to have a much bigger budget.

• 
  By the way, Shogun 2 will return in January of 2026.  There will also be Shogun 3.
• Was supposed to be ready years ago, but the pandemic, then SAG-AFTRA strike, delayed things, so filming only wrapped up last month.
• Be prepared for tomorrow, August 12, because FX will air the first TWO episodes.  The other six will come weekly thereafter.  Watch this extended trailer.

I recall seeing the original Alien film but nothing much else.  Turns out there have been nine films.  I recorded some of them to be shown tomorrow on FX leading up to the series.

• 
  This is an American science fiction horror franchise.
• The first one in 1979, Alien, began with warrant officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) battling with an extraterrestrial lifeform, this alien is referred to as a Xenomorph, which is a fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species .

• 
  The first four (1979, 1986 1992 and 1997) are referred to as the original series, with James Cameron directing the second, Aliens.

• 
  Sigourney Weaver was the primary link, but was not interested in a third Alien.  However, $5 million convinced her to return to the 1992 Alien 3, which was not received well, but over time developed into some kind of cult classic in some quarters.
• The fourth, Alien Resurrection, had to tempt Weaver with an $11 million salary and more creative control.  Of course, she had previously died, so returned via human cloning.  Again did not do well in its 1997 release, but since then has gained fans for its camp style and dark humor.

• 
  There are then two crossovers (2004 and 2007), two prequel (2012, Prometheus, and 2017, Covenant, both directed by Ridley Scott), and a spinoff (2024, Romulus).
• Here is the entire list of Alien products.

Alien story chronology

Alien vs. Predator (2004) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) TED 2023 (2012) Happy Birthday, David (2012) Quiet Eye, Elizabeth Shaw (2012) Project Prometheus: Mission (2012) Weyland Industries Testimonial (2012) Prometheus Transmission (2012) Prometheus (2012) Alien: Covenant — Meet Walter (2017) Alien: Covenant — Prologue: The Crossing (2017) Alien: Covenant — Origins (2017) Alien: Covenant — Phobos (2017) Alien: Covenant — Prologue: Last Supper (2017) Alien: Covenant — Crew Messages (2017) Alien: Covenant — She Won't Go Quietly (2017) Alien: Covenant (2017) Alien: Covenant — Advent (2017) Alien: Covenant — David's Lab: Last Signs of Life (2019) Alien: Earth (2025) Alien (1979) Alien: Isolation (2014) Alien: Romulus (2024) Alien: Out of the Shadows (2014) Aliens (1986) Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013) Alien3 (1992) Aliens: Dark Descent (2023) Aliens: Fireteam Elite (2021) Alien Resurrection (1997) Alien: Uncivil War (2024)

All Alien Movies Ranked (now you which ones to skip)

• #1. Aliens (1986) 94% 
• #2. Alien (1979) 93%  
• #3. Alien: Romulus (2024) 80% 
• #4. Prometheus (2012) 73% 
• #5. Alien: Covenant (2017) 65% 
• #6. Alien Resurrection (1997) 55% 
• #7. Alien 3 (1992) 44% 
• #8. Alien vs. Predator (2004) 21%
• #9  Aliens vs Predator (2007) 12%

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