The success of FX’s Alien: Earth reignited a familiar debate among sci-fi fans: Will the Alien and Predator universes collide again?
Showrunner Noah Hawley, known for his cerebral storytelling in Fargo and Legion, was recently asked about this very possibility on the SmartLess podcast. His answer may not be what fans wanted to hear, but it gives insight into how he’s approaching the Alien mythos differently from his predecessors.
“No, not onto the show, I don’t think,” Hawley said when asked whether a Predator (Yautja) could appear in Alien: Earth. “I think Dan Trachtenberg, who made Prey and Badlands — you know, I loved Prey. I think he’s doing a great job with that franchise. He clearly has a plan there. We’ve met once, but we’re not coordinating any of that stuff.”
In short, while the Alien and Predator universes may be connected again in canon, Alien: Earth will remain focused on its own storyline for now.
Alien: Earth — Expanding the Franchise Through Human Horror
Overview Table – Key Facts About Alien: Earth
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Alien: Earth |
| Creator/Showrunner | Noah Hawley |
| Network | FX / Hulu |
| Premiere Date | August 2024 |
| Main Cast | Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay |
| Setting | Near-future Earth, under the influence of Prodigy Corporation |
| Critical Score (Rotten Tomatoes) | 94% “Certified Fresh” |
| Audience Score | 65% (Popcornmeter) |
| Renewal Status | Renewed for Season 2 |
Unlike Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which expanded the series into philosophical territory, Alien: Earth takes a grounded approach rooting its horror not in outer space but here on Earth.
The show follows Wendy (Sydney Chandler), the first successful case of human consciousness transferred into a synthetic body by the Prodigy Corporation. When a Weyland-Yutani spacecraft, carrying Xenomorph specimens, crashes into a Prodigy facility, Wendy and her group, known as the “Lost Boys”, investigate and uncover an escalating biological and corporate nightmare.
Hawley’s storytelling focuses on corporate greed, transhumanism, and synthetic consciousness, offering a chilling and intelligent reimagining of what the Alien mythos means in a world already consumed by technological obsession.
Film critic Dr. Elena Ruiz described it best:
“Alien: Earth turns the xenomorph into a mirror. The monster isn’t just alien—it’s human ambition unchecked.”
The Crossover Question: Alien vs. Predator, Redux
Ever since the Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) films, fans have debated when (or if) the two legendary species would clash again. After years of silence, Predator: Badlands reopened that door, confirming that both franchises still share a single, unified universe.
Hawley’s restraint in keeping Alien: Earth independent from Predator isn’t a dismissal, but a creative choice.
“Dan Trachtenberg has his own world,” Hawley emphasized. “He’s doing something incredible with that mythology. My story is different—it’s about human monsters more than alien ones.”
This separation allows both creators to develop their own visions without forcing crossovers for fan service.
Predator: Badlands Rekindles the Shared Universe
Overview Table – Predator: Badlands at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Dan Trachtenberg (Prey) |
| Lead Cast | Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning |
| Premiere Year | 2025 |
| Critical Score | 86% “Certified Fresh” |
| Audience Score | 95% |
| Setting | The Badlands – A desolate alien landscape |
| Connection to Alien | Features Weyland-Yutani synth characters |
In Predator: Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg continues the grounded and character-driven approach he mastered in Prey. The film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek, an exiled young Predator struggling for survival, and Elle Fanning as Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic companion who becomes his unlikely ally.
By introducing Weyland-Yutani synthetics into the Predator narrative, Badlands quietly confirmed that both franchises, long assumed to be separate, still coexist in the same universe.
Entertainment journalist Marcus Keane noted:
“Badlands did what Alien vs. Predator tried and failed to do: connect the two mythologies organically.”
That subtle connection set off a wave of speculation that Hawley’s Alien: Earth might build on this crossover. But for now, both creators are keeping their sandboxes distinct.
Why a Crossover Isn’t Happening Yet?
There’s a long-standing tension between creative integrity and fan expectation in shared cinematic universes. For Alien: Earth, Hawley’s main goal is to deepen the mythology rather than broaden it.
His storytelling thrives on intellectual terror, psychological complexity, and moral ambiguity themes that don’t easily blend with the primal hunt-driven nature of Predator.
Media scholar Dr. Cameron Leong observes:
“A crossover now would be like merging Blade Runner and Mad Max. They occupy the same thematic spectrum but speak very different cinematic languages.”
Still, it’s hard to ignore that Badlands and Alien: Earth share overlapping DNA synthetics, corporate interference, and survival against impossible odds. Hawley’s refusal doesn’t shut the door permanently; it merely postpones it until the universe feels ready for a convergence that serves both stories.
Alien: Earth Season 2 — What to Expect?
Though no crossover is planned, Alien: Earth’s second season promises to expand its own universe dramatically.
Hawley hinted that Season 2 will explore the ethical and emotional aftermath of Wendy’s transformation, diving deeper into her conflict with Prodigy and Weyland-Yutani.
“Season 1 was about what it means to become more than human,” he said. “Season 2 is about what it means to lose what makes you human in the first place.”
Fans can also expect more exploration of synthetic consciousness, genetic experimentation, and the merging of AI and biological life. With its mix of horror and philosophical inquiry, Alien: Earth continues to evolve the franchise in unexpected directions.
The Legacy of the Alien–Predator Connection
The Alien and Predator franchises have intersected across multiple media films, comics, and video games.
Major Alien–Predator Crossovers Through the Years
| Year | Title | Medium | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Aliens vs. Predator | Comic Series (Dark Horse) | Established shared universe |
| 2004 | Alien vs. Predator | Feature Film | First cinematic crossover |
| 2007 | AVP: Requiem | Film Sequel | Concluded crossover storyline |
| 2025 | Predator: Badlands | Film | Reconnected both universes via Weyland-Yutani synthetics |
The 2000s crossover films may have received mixed reviews, but their influence endures. Both series explore survival against apex predators, corporate exploitation, and the ethics of creation, all of which remain central to Alien: Earth and Badlands.
Sci-fi historian Tessa Hill summed it up:
“Alien asks what happens when humans play God. Predator asks what happens when gods play with humans. Together, they define modern sci-fi horror.”
Could a Future Crossover Still Happen?
Even though Hawley has dismissed the idea “for now,” the groundwork for a future crossover is already in place.
With Disney now owning both Alien and Predator through its acquisition of 20th Century Studios, a shared continuity is easier than ever to coordinate. The studios could allow Badlands 2 or Alien: Earth Season 3 to intersect through a Weyland-Yutani experiment gone wrong or a Yautja hunt on Earth.
Film analyst Ryan Blake predicts:
“Once Alien: Earth completes its thematic arc, the temptation to merge both universes in a high-concept event is inevitable.”
Given both properties’ renewed popularity, a cautious, well-executed crossover could redefine modern science fiction the same way Aliens did in 1986.
Why the Two Franchises Still Matter?
Despite decades of ups and downs, Alien and Predator remain cornerstones of sci-fi horror because they explore universal fears evolution, extinction, and survival.
Where Alien is gothic and cerebral, Predator is primal and instinctive. Together, they create a full spectrum of terror: from the fear of creation to the fear of the hunt.
As Alien: Earth and Predator: Badlands thrive under visionary filmmakers, the future of both franchises looks stronger than ever even if their paths haven’t crossed just yet.
FAQs
No. He clarified that there are no plans for a crossover, though he praised Prey and Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg’s work.
Yes. Predator: Badlands reestablished the shared universe through Weyland-Yutani connections.
Yes. Early reports suggest expanded species variations and new synthetic designs.
Sydney Chandler leads the cast as Wendy, with Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, and Samuel Blenkin in key roles.
Where can I watch Alien: Earth?
It’s available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in select regions.
