Fear takes a terrifying new form in Alien: Earth. Created by showrunner Noah Hawley, the new series joining the iconic franchise imagines the planet’s bleak future (year 2120), where evil corporations continue to be the biggest threat to the human race’s survival. In the first episode, USCSS Maginot, a suspicious space vessel, crashes on a dystopian Earth inhabited by cyborgs and synthetics, along with humans. Added to the mix is a new type of hybrid. Not only is the first batch of fresh hybrids up and running, but they’re also about to clash with dangerous extraterrestrial life forms. Xenomorph isn’t the only big bad creeping and crawling around the universe anymore. In an exclusive chat with Lifestyle Asia, Essie Davis, who plays Dame Silvia and Erana James, who plays Curly, opened up about the immersive world of the show and how Adarsh Gourav, who makes his exciting debut in the Alien-verse, left them impressed.
Was there a surreal moment on the Alien: Earth sets where you went, “Oh, I’m in the Alien universe now?”
Essie: Yeah, I would say the first time I walked onto the Maginot set. It was with half of the cast that they walked us through the Maginot set while we were doing camera tests. For me, it was like being a kid in a toy shop – just looking at all the lights, seats, coffee carafes and ashtrays. It was all this beautiful 1970s analogue. It was so cool, pretty special. We were all going, “Oh!”
Erana: There were so many times in the downtime between setups that we would be sort of sitting, waiting to return to set, just in that mess hall area around that table. I was like, “This is crazy that I’m just here having my lunch in the Maginot set.” So yeah, that was quite surreal.
What was the filming experience like with all the practical effects around you?
Erana: Yeah, I think there was a level of claustrophobia to it, actually. There were moments when, as you say, all these practical effects are going on around you, you’re in these amazing sets, and there’s obviously all the lights, all this action happening, it’s super immersive. There was something really immersive about the way those parts were shot.
Essie: Sometimes the director would have music playing with all the smoke, jets dripping and then flash. So yeah, it was quite an experience. You just had to get in there and react to your spaces, and your given circumstances, really. That helps so much.
Erana, you play a new hybrid with the Lost Boys – they’re essentially children in synthetic bodies. How did you approach the unique challenge?
Erana: That’s a good question. It was so fun building these characters with the other Lost Boys. I think we all went on this journey of finding the child in each of us. Also, understanding the mechanics of our makeup was really interesting, especially for my character. She was in a wheelchair, and she now has this super synthetic body. I think finding the balance between child versus synthetic, what’s on the outside, what’s on your insides, it was a journey for all of us. Where we all landed was kind of the most human, how human can we be? What’s the closest human experience? Because the synthetic of it all gets made up by the environment. The audience fills in the blanks there. Trying to access that child was so fun.
Alien: Earth features our own Adarsh Gourav. What was your experience of working with him?
Essie: Adarsh is fantastic. He is the best. He’s such a beautiful man, and the character he plays is my favourite character. His journey is the most heart-wrenching, I think, in this story. He gets caught in this crazy conundrum, and it’s gut-wrenching to watch that. Watching him and Jonathan together, they become best friends, and it’s beautiful watching these two boys love each other and guide each other through this really strange and dangerous world of adult manipulation. It’s powerful.
Erana: He’s wonderful, such an incredible performer. I got to work quite a lot with Adarsh, and he has a unique way of approaching the work as well. It’s a joy to see. His process is incredible.
The Alien franchise has always been a commentary on corporate greed and AI. This show feels timelier than ever…
Essie: I think it is a complete reflection of reality on Earth as it is, and how close we are to flipping into this almost fantasy of what is really happening. Billionaires are ruling the world at the cost of the planet and humanity, in pursuit of corporate greed.
Erana: Yeah, it gets very, very real. It’s a good reflection that feels imminent.
Hero and featured image courtesy: FX Studios