The practical and digital creatures of 'Alien: Earth'

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Issue #56 of befores & afters magazine covers the visual effects of Alien: Earth.

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FX’s Alien: Earth is set prior to the events of the original Alien film and shifts the focus of the franchise to Earth. The series, which was created by Noah Hawley, follows a group of civilians and corporate operatives who encounter a Xenomorph outbreak after a mysterious spacecraft crash- lands on the planet. As containment efforts fail, the situation escalates from an isolated incident to a broader threat, exposing the role of powerful corporations and their interest in weaponizing the organism.

From a production standpoint, the series relied on a hybrid approach to creature work and environments. Practical effects, including animatronic and puppeted Xenomorphs and other creatures, provided on-set interaction and lighting reference. These were extended and augmented, where necessary, by digital visual effects, which handled several creatures, alongside vast environments, vehicles, and elements of the central ship crash.

Production visual effects supervisor Jonathan Rothbart oversaw the effort to bring the world of Alien: Earth to life. Key effects studio contributors included Wētā Workshop, Second Skin Studio, UPP, Untold Studios, Zoic Studios, Fin VFX, Pixomondo, CosFX and Crafty Apes.