The newest trailer for the Alien timeline in 2012 with his prequel film Prometheus. It was an ambitious film, but it proved extremely divisive among fans, and Scott had to mostly abandon his plans to tell the origin story of the Xenomorphs after Alien: Covenant. He hasn't returned to his classic sci-fi franchise since, but Alien hasn't forgotten about Prometheus.

The newest Alien: Earth's new species, such as an octopus-like alien that seems to gouge out its victims' eyes and control their brains through the sockets. It already looks like Alien: Earth is going to be a big change for the Alien franchise, but it could also have a secret connection to Prometheus. In fact, Alien: Earth could finally fulfill a dream Ridley Scott never got to fully realize with Prometheus.

Ridley Scott Wanted To Branch Out From The Xenomorphs In Prometheus, & Alien: Earth Is Finally Doing It

Ridley Scott Wanted To Focus More On Engineers Than Xenomorphs In Prometheus & Alien: Earth Is Introducing New Species

Prometheus was one of the most divisive Alien movies ever made when it came out. A big reason for Prometheus' divisiveness was Ridley Scott's goal of expanding Alien to focus on more species than just Xenomorphs. There isn't actually a proper Xenomorph in Prometheus until its ending scene, which featured the Deacon for a matter of seconds. The rest of the film is dedicated to other alien species, like the Hammerpede, the Trilobyte, and the Engineers. Many Alien fans went into Prometheus expecting more of the Xenomorphs, which are the main attraction of the entire franchise, and they were disappointed by the Engineers.

Though Prometheus was the origin story of the Xenomorphs, it's clear that Ridley Scott wanted to expand Alien beyond the Xenomorphs. Unfortunately, Prometheus was so divisive that he had to return to the classic Xenomorph formula in Alien: Covenant, and then his prequel trilogy was never finished. Now, however, Alien: Earth is finally bringing new alien species to the Alien franchise, 13 years after Prometheus failed to. Earth's promise of "five different lifeforms" hints that the show will make alternatives to the Xenomorph that are viable and popular parts of the franchise and effectively expand the Alien universe.

Alien: Earth’s New Species Have One Major Advantage Over Prometheus’ Engineers

Alien: Earth Is Introducing New Species While Also Featuring Classic Xenomorphs

A squid-like alien in the trailer for Alien: Earth

Introducing new species in Alien: Earth inherently runs the risk of repeating Prometheus' mistakes, however. The Engineers and other lifeforms in Prometheus were a big factor in its divisiveness, after all, and there's still a shot that Earth could be similarly controversial. Alien: Earth, however, has one distinct advantage over Prometheus: its new species will be introduced alongside the classic Xenomorph. Viewers who want to see the Xenomorph in Alien: Earth are still going to get plenty of action from them, but there's going to be more added on top.

Morrow (Babou Ceesay) sweating with tubes attached to his head in the trailer for Alien: Earth

Alien: Earth's "Five Different Lifeforms" Set Up A Horrifying Franchise First After 46 Years

For the first time in 46 years, Alien: Earth will depict other kinds of hostile aliens separate from the Xenomorphs, and it should be terrifying.

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One of the biggest problems with the Engineers in Prometheus is that no one was really expecting them. Prometheus was an Alien movie that didn't feature the actual aliens the franchise is named after, the Xenomorphs, for more than a few seconds. It probably would have been better received if the Engineers were introduced alongside classic Xenomorphs. Alien: Earth isn't repeating that mistake, and the decision to introduce new species alongside the return of the Xenomorphs should make the new aliens more palatable to audiences. Earth doesn't have to rely on one of its new species alone to entertain viewers like Prometheus had to rely on the Engineers.

Alien: Earth May Even Give Ridley Scott A Chance To Revisit The Engineers

If Alien: Earth's New Species Are Well Received, Audiences May Be More Open To Scott Continuing The Engineers' Story

Alien: Earth is fulfilling Ridley Scott's dream that he started with Prometheus, but it could also give him another chance to see it through himself. If Alien: Earth and its new hostile aliens turn out to be a hit, then audiences may be more open to the idea of returning to the story of David (Michael Fassbender) and the Engineers. The idea of an Alien project focusing on something other than Xenomorphs at least wouldn't be as controversial anymore. Scott may even get a chance to finish out his prequel trilogy over a decade after it started.

If it's a success, Alien: Earth may be enough to entice Ridley Scott to finish out his prequel trilogy.

Ridley Scott could even tie a follow-up to Alien: Covenant into Alien: Earth. This is all speculation, of course, but maybe Prometheus' black goo, the substance the Engineers used to create life, could explain where Earth's new species came from. If Scott gets another shot at the franchise, he could tie everything from Prometheus to Alien: Earth together in one fell swoop and make the Alien franchise more cohesive than it has ever been before. Alien: Romulus already revisited the black goo, and Earth may be exactly what we need to finish out Ridley Scott's vision.

Alien: Earth Release Schedule
Episode #	Release Date (Tuesdays @ 8 p.m. ET)
1	August 12
2	August 12
3	August 19
4	August 26
5	September 2
6	September 9
7	September 16
8	September 23

Unfortunately, there are also some roadblocks to that happening. Scott would develop a new Alien movie following the success of Romulus. It's not really clear where Ridley Scott stands with regard to Alien, but Earth may be able to change things. If it's a success, Alien: Earth may be enough to entice Ridley Scott to finish out his prequel trilogy.