Alex Lawther, known for his psychologically gripping roles in projects like Black Mirror, is stepping into a new kind of challenge with the upcoming high-concept sci-fi series Alien: Earth. We sat down with him to discuss what it’s like to move from intimate indie films to a physically and emotionally demanding sci-fi world, and what fans can expect from this ambitious series.
Stamina and Survival on Set
Lawther explains that working on Alien: Earth required a different kind of endurance compared to smaller productions. “It felt a lot about stamina, actually,” he says. “Being in Alien was really about how to keep sane over six months of being in a studio… it was really a question of preserving your energy in different ways.” With the series now approaching release, he reflects on the intensity of the work: “It was a lot of story-based stuff, physically demanding sequences… sometimes you’d shoot a page of script over a week or two because it was so complicated technically. It was just about damage control.”
Despite the action-heavy nature of the role, Lawther reveals an emotional core to his character. “I thought I was going to be this G.I. Joe-style hero,” he admits, “but actually, he’s a medic and a caregiver. A lot of the story is about figuring out who his sister really is through a synthetic person called Wendy, who essentially has all the memories and humor of his sister. There’s a lot of action, but there’s also a real sibling love story.”
Building a World with Noah Hawley
Lawther credits showrunner Noah Hawley for the creative ambition behind the series. “I was really attracted to the idea of Alien because of that first film, but Noah is unabashed about taking pre-existing material and making it his own. He really trusts the audience and goes confidently in surprising directions,” Lawther explains.
He praises the cast and the diversity of the ensemble: “It’s a fresh cast, a mix from Bollywood, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., even someone splitting time between Gambia and the UK. We found ourselves all in Thailand, which was beautiful for that reason as well.”
Dread, AI, and Alien Encounters
Fans of Lawther’s previous work will recognize his fascination with technology and existential dread. When asked whether surviving in the digital world of Black Mirror or facing an alien in Alien: Earth would be harder, he jokes, “The alien, right? At least from the outset, they are killing machines. But there’s equally as much dread in something like Charlie Brooker’s work—all those questions about technology and AI that we don’t know the answers to. That feeling of dread exists in Alien: Earth too.”
A Long-Form Approach to Sci-Fi
What excites Lawther most about the series is the ability to explore complex questions over a long format. “In the movies, they only have 90 minutes to two hours, so they can’t go very far with philosophical questions. Here, we get to spend more time sitting with tricky questions—what it means to be human, distinctions between humans, aliens, and artificial beings. That’s what I’m really excited for audiences to see.”
Geek Moment Denied
Despite the large-scale production, Lawther confesses he didn’t sneak anything home from set. “They make you sign so many NDAs… I left empty-handed,” he laughs. But the thrill of being part of the Alien universe clearly left a mark.
With the release of Alien: Earth just around the corner, Lawther’s combination of physical endurance, emotional depth, and enthusiasm for thought-provoking sci-fi promises a performance that will resonate with fans old and new. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be successful,” he says with quiet confidence.