By Cassandra Pinkney
Picture this: The year is 2120. A deep space exploration ship called the USCSS Maginot has crash landed into Prodigy City on Earth. The contents of the ship are of high importance, and many interested parties are working to be the first to recover the precious cargo.
FX’s Alien: Earth follows the aftermath of the crash and the serious repercussions of trying to uncover what’s hidden amidst the wreckage. Before the series premieres on August 12, learn more about the world of Alien: Earth by meeting the cast and characters of the newest story in the Alien universe.
“The Lost Boys”
Meet Wendy, the Prodigy Corporation’s newest innovation in the race for immortality. Wendy is a first-of-her-kind “hybrid,” a humanoid robot infused with human consciousness. She’s different from the other inventions of the Corporate Era. As Wendy grows to understand her strengths, she finds herself torn between the family she used to know and her newfound duty to her friends and teammates on their mission to investigate the wreckage of the USCSS Maginot. Wendy is played by Sydney Chandler, who appeared in the FX limited series Pistols (about the legendary punk band Sex Pistols) as The Pretenders’ singer-songwriter, Chrissie Hynde.
When the Weyland-Yutani Corporation’s ship crash lands on Earth, Wendy isn’t the only one going to investigate the scene. She’s joined by “The Lost Boys,” the other hybrids created by the Prodigy Corporation. Slightly (Adarsh Gourav) comes from a loving family and acts righteously in the face of the many moral dilemmas he faces. Smee (Jonathan Ajayi) carries himself with a childlike whimsy, whereas Curly (Erana James) is governed by her gratitude to the Prodigy Corporation for her new abilities and a second chance at life. She walks through life with a chip on her shoulder, always wanting to prove herself worthy of her newfound abilities and opportunities. Her teammate, Nibs (Lily Newmark), was incredibly sick as a human and is having a difficult time adjusting to her new abilities. And aloof and separate from the rest of “The Lost Boys” is Tootles (Kit Young); he’s the oldest member of the group in human age, making him the unofficial big brother to the others. FX’s Alien: Earth is the first foray into the worlds of Disney for Gourav, Ajayi, James, Newmark, and Young.
Prodigy Corporation
In the year 2120, the Earth has entered the “Corporate Era” and is ruled by five corporations: Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, Threshold, and Prodigy, the last headed by Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin). He operates with the caustic carelessness of a person who has never had to face the consequences of his actions—because he hasn’t. Kavalier’s cunningness and ability to scheme his way in and out of dicey situations means that by the time others catch on to his plans, he’s already 20 steps ahead. Kavalier is played by Samuel Blenkin, who also guest starred as Wiley on season 3 of FX’s Atlanta, streaming now on Hulu.
The Prodigy Corporation would be nothing without all the people under Kavalier’s heel, especially his right-hand man, Atom Eins (Adrian Edmondson). Eins is Kavalier’s most trusted advisor—an intimidating man who always wears a suit to assert his authority to those around him. Kavalier and Eins are the head of Prodigy, but Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl) truly believes in its stated mission. He has devoted himself to turning the company’s vision into a reality as the lead technician of the hybrid program, but his beliefs are shaken when he comes face-to-face with the reality of his creations. Dame Sylvia, played by multi-award-winning actress Essie Davis, is the company’s heart. (Well, as much of a heart as Prodigy can claim to have.) Dame Sylvia is a warm, caring woman who looks after the emotional wellbeing of “The Lost Boys,” making sure they don’t…well, lose themselves in their mission. Edmondson, Rhysdahl, and Davis are making their Disney debuts in FX’s Alien: Earth.
Kirsh is one of Prodigy’s exacting and meticulous scientists. He trained the first hybrids, a momentous step forward in Prodigy’s quest to corner the market on immortality. Kirsh is played by Timothy Olyphant, a name which likely rings a bell for many Disney fans. The Emmy®-nominated actor is stepping into FX’s Alien: Earth as a seasoned member of the Disney family, appearing in FX series like The League (2009-2015), Justified (2010-2015), Fargo (2014-2024) and Justified: City Primeval (2023). He has also made a name for himself amongst Star Wars fans as Mos Pelgo marshal Cobb Vanth in The Mandalorian (2019-2023) and The Book of Boba Fett (2021), both streaming now on Disney+.
And on the front lines of the Prodigy Corporation’s mission are the innumerable tactical soldiers it employs, all of whom have different motivations for their work. Siberian (Diêm Camille) is methodical, self-assured, and wary, whereas as Rashidi (Moe Bar-El) simply wants to do his job and go home. Hermit (Alex Lawther) is motivated by his family, namely, his sister, Wendy. After the siblings were unexpectedly reunited, Hermit decides that he is willing to do anything and everything to protect his sister from harm. Star Wars fans will remember Lawther as Karis Nemik in Andor (2022-2025) and Disney Animation lovers may recognize him as the voice of Philip in The Owl House (2020-2023). Camille and Bar-El are making their Disney debut in the new series.
Weyland-Yutani Corporation and USCSS Maginot Crew
Fighting for power against Prodigy in the Corporate Era is Weyland-Yutani Corporation, led by Yutani, played by Sandra Yi Sencindiver. Yutani holds herself with the kind of self-assuredness you would expect from a woman who owns one-fifth of the planet (and plenty more in space). Her grandmother sent the USCSS Maginot on its mission, meaning Yutani considered the crashed ship more than just her property—it’s her birthright. This is Sencindiver’s first role in the worlds of Disney. Aboard the Maginot is Chief Security Officer Morrow (Babou Ceesay). Morrow has become stone cold ever since the loss of his daughter and has made his work his life’s mission. He is the sole survivor of the USCSS Maginot crash and has been tasked with retrieving the ship’s cargo by any means necessary. FX’s Alien: Earth is Ceesay’s second trip to outer space within the worlds of Disney, after his role as Lieutenant Sefla in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
Watch FX’s Alien: Earth, premiering August 12 on FX and Hulu.