Noah Hawley’s highly anticipated FX series, Alien, is set to resume production in Bangkok, Thailand, after a delay caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike. The creator of the hit show Fargo shared the exciting news with Deadline at the season 5 premiere in Los Angeles. The production had started in July at The Studio Park in Bangkok but was halted in late August due to the strike. Despite the setback, sets continued to be constructed during the downtime.
Hawley expressed his eagerness to get back to filming as quickly as possible, with a targeted start date in January or February. He also revealed that some footage had already been shot before the shutdown, offering him material to work with and edit. The series, executive produced by Ridley Scott, is set in a time period predating Sigourney Weaver’s iconic character, Ripley. It marks the first installment in the franchise to take place on Earth, around 70 years into the future.
The cast of Alien is led by Sydney Chandler, along with Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Essie Davis, and Adarsh Gourav in supporting roles. Kit Young also joins the ensemble, portraying a character named Tootles. Interestingly, Chandler, being a SAG-AFTRA member, was unable to participate in the filming until the strike is resolved. Nevertheless, the rest of the cast, consisting of Equity members affiliated with the British trade union, continued shooting for over a month.
While fans eagerly await the return of Alien, another exciting development looms on the horizon. Disney/20th Century Studios is preparing a new feature film within the same franchise, directed by Fede Alvarez. Slated for release on August 16, 2024, the movie stars Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, David Jonsson, Aileen Wu, and Spike Fearn. It follows a group of young individuals from a distant world who encounter the most terrifying life form in the universe.
In addition to the Alien updates, Hawley also revealed plans for future seasons of Fargo. After the current fifth season, exploring the 1950s, the popular limited series will delve into the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s, opening up new chapters based on the Coen Brothers’ film.
With production set to resume in Bangkok, fans of the Alien series are eagerly awaiting the upcoming installment. The show’s unique spin on the franchise, coupled with Noah Hawley’s creative vision, promises an exciting and fresh take on the beloved sci-fi universe. Stay tuned for more updates as the production progresses towards its early next year release.
