Nearly a decade ago, Noah Hawley created a five-page pitch for FX about revitalizing the Alien franchise, originally brought to life by Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking 1979 film. Now, on August 12, FX and Hulu will release Alien: Earth, the very first television adaptation of this science fiction saga, marking a bold move for the network.
Daniel D’Addario, Variety’s chief correspondent, shared insights in the Daily Variety podcast about his cover story featuring the series’ production journey. According to D’Addario, much of Hawley’s original outline from eight years ago is faithfully reflected in the final product, demonstrating the strength of the writer-producer’s vision for the project in today’s TV landscape.
Noah Hawley’s Unique Vision Shapes Alien: Earth
D’Addario describes Hawley as a prolific creative force trusted by FX leadership, which is critical given the series’ high stakes. With a budget surpassing FX’s previous most expensive shows, Alien: Earth represents an ambitious investment for the network.
“He’s a novelist. He’s written and directed feature films, and he just has the ability to work through this IP world without having it feel like a crass brand extension. It’s ‘Alien,’ but it is fundamentally a Noah Hawley show as well,”
D’Addario says.
Marvel’s Recent Struggles and Comic Con Outlook
The podcast also included a discussion with Adam B. Vary, Variety’s senior entertainment writer, who previewed what to expect from the upcoming San Diego Comic Con starting July 24. Vary reflected on his recent interview with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who openly discussed the challenges Marvel has faced as it expanded rapidly to deliver both series and films, particularly for Disney+.
Feige pointed out that from 2008 through 2019, Marvel produced about 50 hours of content, but in the last six years alone, the studio has generated over 120 hours. This steep increase in output, Feige acknowledged, contributed to a dilution of the brand’s quality.
“That massive increase in volume really diluted the brand, diluted their quality. At one point he said, for the first time, quantity trumped quality.’ And, that’s a pretty blunt assessment for what went wrong,”
Vary explains.
A Quieter Comic Con Anticipated This Year
Looking ahead to Comic Con, Vary anticipates a more low-key event compared to previous years. Marvel will not hold its usual flagship presentation, and DC Studios is also scaling back its presence. This shift suggests a change in how major studios approach the convention, as Marvel focuses on rebuilding its reputation and recalibrating its release strategy.
“It’s generally going to be a little bit of a quieter Comic Con,”
Vary observes.
Significance and Future Expectations
Kevin Feige’s honest reflection on Marvel’s recent overextension signals a turning point for the studio as it seeks to balance quantity with quality moving forward. Meanwhile, FX’s venture into the Alien universe with Noah Hawley’s creative leadership highlights the increasing ambition of TV productions adapting established film franchises. As Comic Con approaches, fans and industry observers will be watching closely to see how both Marvel’s recalibration and FX’s new offerings resonate with audiences in a swiftly evolving entertainment landscape.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Kevin Feige is not going anywhere from Marvel Kevin Feige has confirmed that he is not leaving Marvel Studios, despite his contract ending in two years. “Do I want to be making big movies for big audiences in ten or 15 years from now? Yes, that’s all I want to do.
A. Is Kevin Feige planning to leave Marvel?
