James Cameron has directed some of the best sequels of all time. At or near the top of this list is “Aliens.” A follow-up to director Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror classic, “Alien,” Cameron helped expand the scope of the franchise and what it could be with his bigger, wilder sequel. Naturally, fans are curious to know what Cameron thinks about the continued direction of the series, including Noah Hawley’s live-action TV show “Alien: Earth.” In short, he’s a fan.
The series picks up after a mysterious spaceship crashes on Earth, leaving a ragtag group of tactical troopers to make a major discovery that brings them face-to-face with dangerous beings not of this world.
“Alien: Earth” recently wrapped its first season, paving the way for season 2. During a recent chat with Empire Magazine for the January 2026 issue, Cameron was asked about his thoughts on the series. The “Avatar” director praised it for doing something different than what had been done before, while still drawing inspiration from previous entries. Here’s what he had to say about it:
“I like that. I think they took a lot of the DNA from my movie, from Ridley’s movie. And some elements from some of the later movies – they have a little bit of that crazy POV thing running down the halls of [David] Fincher’s film. I think it’s good. It’s a wonderful creative recombination in action, but with its own twist, which is essentially what I did. You have to celebrate the new with the old.”
While Cameron will likely never return to the “Alien” franchise himself, since he’ll likely be busy making “Avatar” movies in the years to come, getting his seal of approval is no small feat.
Alien: Earth forges its own path in the famous franchise
Ridley Scott was an executive producer on “Alien: Earth,” although he only seemed to be tangentially involved. Scott has indicated that he will not direct another “Alien” film, having directed the original as well as the prequels “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant.” But for Hawley and everyone involved, having Scott’s name attached and Cameron’s kind words is surely comforting. After all, this was the first time in the franchise’s history that it ventured into the world of live-action television rather than the world of cinema. Not to mention its installation on Earth. It was a big swing.
Fortunately, his swing paid off, as the series did very well in terms of viewership and has already been renewed for season 2 by FX and Hulu. Although this franchise is quickly approaching its 50th anniversary, it seems like there are still plenty of “Alien” stories to tell.
On that note, this series isn’t the only thing Xenomorphs fans have to look forward to. A sequel to last year’s “Alien: Romulus” is also currently in the works on the film side. Additionally, “Predator: Badlands” recently provided connective tissue to the “Alien” universe, which could open the door for future major crossovers. Not to mention comics, video games, and other ongoing material. This is only part of the ever-expanding scope of the universe.
“Alien: Earth” is now streaming on Hulu.
