James Cameron Reveals His Surprising Favorite Alien Franchise Sequel
James Cameron shares his admiration for Alien: Earth, the Disney+ series that reimagines the iconic sci-fi saga, praising its inventive approach and unique blend of old and new elements.
When Ridley Scott introduced audiences to Alien back in 1979, he delivered a slow-burning, nerve-wracking thriller that felt more like a horror flick than a typical sci-fi adventure. Fast forward seven years, and James Cameron took the reins, amping up the action and firepower. That’s how Aliens came to life. While the sequel traded some of the original’s suspense for adrenaline, fans embraced the shift, and the franchise was off to the races.
Since then, the series has grown to include seven main installments, not counting the infamous Predator crossovers. The films have ranged from David Fincher’s dark and gritty debut to Fede Álvarez’s bold reboot, and even the enigmatic Prometheus. The franchise has explored all kinds of directions, and not every turn has been Cameron’s cup of tea.
Alien: Earth Breaks New Ground
Surprisingly, Cameron’s top pick from the series isn’t a movie at all. In 2025, Disney+ launched Alien: Earth, marking the franchise’s first official episodic TV show. The series quickly earned rave reviews, including high praise from Cameron himself during an interview with Dark Horizons.
“I think they took a lot of the DNA from my movie,”
he noted.
“A couple of things from some of the later movies, they’ve got a little bit of that crazy POV thing racing down the corridors from Fincher‘s film. I think it’s good. It’s great creative recombinance in action, but with its own swerve, which is basically what I did. You gotta celebrate the new with the old.”
Created by Noah Hawley, known for Fargo and Legion, Alien: Earth is set two years before the original film but follows an alternate timeline. The notorious Weyland-Yutani corporation is up to its usual mischief, gathering alien life forms from across the galaxy. When a ship carrying these dangerous specimens crashes on Earth, chaos erupts as a Xenomorph escapes and wreaks havoc on the planet.
A Fresh Take That Resonates
Despite the familiar setup, the show’s impact has been undeniable. Both critics and longtime fans have hailed Hawley’s vision as not just a standout in recent years, but one of the franchise’s best entries ever. Many have compared it to Andor from the Star Wars universe, noting how it uses the established world to tell a deeper, more politically charged story.
Cameron pointed out that the series draws inspiration from every corner of the franchise’s history: the relentless menace of the original, the struggles of synthetics from Romulus, and the philosophical undertones of Prometheus. There’s even room for some high-octane action reminiscent of Aliens. Alien: Earth is part of a growing trend where TV shows expand and elevate the stories started by blockbuster films. With another season already greenlit, it looks like Cameron will be tuning in for more.