Alien: Earth season 2 gets the go-ahead on Hulu and Disney+ – but it could be a while before the sci-fi horror show bursts back onto our screens

• Alien: Earth season 2 is officially in development
• The sci-fi horror show's next entry is set to begin filming sometime in 2026
• No release date has been announced for its return on Hulu and Disney+

Scream your joy from the rooftops, sci-fi horror fans, because Alien: Earth season 2 has officially been announced.

The sci-fi horror show, the debut season of which was the talk of the town in August and September, will return for another blood-curling outing on Hulu and Disney+. Confirmation came via the former's various social media channels, as well as outlets including The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

Per THR, principal photography is expected to start in London sometime next year. The vast majority of Alien: Earth's primary cast are expected to return, too, but no new cast announcements have been revealed yet.

The Alien franchise's inaugural TV show's renewal comes alongside the news that series creator Noah Hawley has inked a new deal with FX Networks – the studio behind Alien: Earth's production – and Disney Entertainment Television. The partnership will reportedly see Hawley net a nine-figure sum in exchange for developing more projects that'll air on ABC and Hulu in the US, and Disney+ internationally.

In a statement accompanying the above, Hawley said: "I’m thrilled that this expanded deal opens the door to new opportunities across all of Disney Entertainment Television.

"FX has always supported bold, character-driven storytelling. From the very beginning with Fargo, they’ve encouraged me to take creative risks and follow the story wherever it leads.

"I’m grateful to continue exploring the world of Alien: Earth alongside our partners, cast, and crew as we begin the next chapter."

What is the release date for Alien: Earth season 2?

Predictably, an official release date hasn't been set for Alien: Earth's return yet. We don't even know when filming will commence on its sophomore chapter, so it's near-impossible to pinpoint when it'll emerge from its ovomorph to terrify, engross, and occasionally confuse us – hey, parts of season 1 were perplexing, alright? – once more.

Considering the cameras won't start rolling until next year, though, it's highly unlikely that Alien: Earth season 2 will launch on two of the world's best streaming services until late 2027. That's a best-case scenario, too, and will only be achievable if it enters full production in early 2026.

With so much pre-production work to be done before principal photography can begin, though, I suspect it'll be mid-to-late 2026 before there's any major movement on season 2. Add in the lengthy post-production phase that'll follow once filming wraps, and a 2028 launch is a far more likely proposition.

While we wait for the multi-genre series' return, remind yourself what happened in its most recent episode by reading my Alien: Earth season 1 ending explained piece. Then, get the lowdown on what we know so far about Alien: Earth season 2.

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