| Alien Nation | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
| Original work | Alien Nation |
| Owner | 20th Century Studios |
| Print publications | |
| Novel(s) | Alien Nation (1993–1995) |
| Comics | Alien Nation (1990–1992) |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | Alien Nation (1988) |
| Television series | Alien Nation (1989–1990) |
| Television film(s) |
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Alien Nation is an Americanscience fictionmedia franchise created byRockne S. O'Bannon (later known forFarscape), comprising film, television, and other media productions about alien refugees living on Earth. The series began with the 1988 filmAlien Nation, which was adapted into aFox Network television seriesof the same name in 1989. Fox cancelled the series abruptly after one season but continued the story in fiveTV movies. The series also produced other media and merchandisingtie-ins, including novels and comics. Aside from the sci-fi angle, the franchise fits into many different genres includingdrama,police procedural andbuddy cop.
The franchise is set in the near future in the United States. In 1991 aflying saucer crashes in theMojave Desert containing a race ofextraterrestrials, the Tenctonese (called Newcomers by humanity) escaping from slavery under a cruel Overseer race. They resemble humans but have various anatomical differences (their erogenous zones are located on their backs and the male sex gives birth to babies) and have been bred to have greater physical strength and intelligence. The Newcomers are accepted as the latest immigrants to America, and the franchise explores issues around their integration into the multicultural society of the US.
The franchise originated with theAlien Nation feature film, released by20th Century Fox in 1988. It portrays alien Tenctonese refugees, called Newcomers by humanity, integrating into human society in theLos Angeles area. The Newcomers, former slaves and overseers whose ship ran aground on Earth, attempt to make new lives for themselves on Earth. Combining elements ofscience fiction andpolice drama elements, the film starsMandy Patinkin as Sam "George" Francisco, a new Newcomer detective in theLos Angeles Police Department, andJames Caan as Matthew Sykes, George's initially reluctant human partner.
In 1989, Fox adapted the film into a new television series, also calledAlien Nation, for its burgeoningFox Network. As with the film, the series follows the Newcomers, an alien race bred as slaves on a distant planet whose ship crashes on Earth. With their ship found to be irreparable, the authorities on Earth decide to settle the refugees in Los Angeles. Retaining the film's police drama format, the series starsEric Pierpoint as George Francisco andGary Graham as Matthew Sikes. Episodes explore themes of racism and the treatment of minority ethnic groups.[1]
The series ran for one season of 21 episodes and a feature-length pilot episode, ending in 1990. Fox abruptly cancelled the series after the season.[1] Beginning in 1994, the network continued the story in fiveTV movies, which brought back the entire cast. The installments includeDark Horizon (1994),Body and Soul (1995),Millennium (1996),The Enemy Within (1996), andThe Udara Legacy (1997), the last two made back-to-back.[2]
Pocket Books, a division ofSimon & Schuster, began publishing a novel series in connection with the franchise starting in 1993. The writing team ofJudith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, known for their work inStar Trek, committed to a novel entitledDay of Descent.[3] Some of the novels were pretexts for the movie sequels, such as the novelCross of Blood authored by K.W. Jeter, which became a tie-in to the Dark Horizon film,[4] or the novelBody and Soul authored byPeter David, which became one of the sequels of the same name.[5] Subject matter such as racism and discrimination with extraterrestrial themes were regularly encountered within the books. AuthorsK. W. Jeter andBarry B. Longyear were regular contributors to the series with novels like,The Change[6] andSlag Like Me.[7]
From 1990 to 1992,Malibu Comics began printing several comics from an adaptation of theAlien Nation storyline. Among first released titles were,The Spartans created with the help of author Bill Spangler and illustrator James Tucker,[8] andA Breed Apart, authored by Steve Jones.[9] Other titles includedPublic Enemy, authored bySandy Carruthers and illustrated byLowell Cunningham,[10] and acrossover series with thePlanet of the Apes franchise titledApe Nation. TheApe Nation series included four different adventures calledPlans,Pasts,Pawns andPains along with a collector's edition.[11] Other contributors to the series included illustrators Terry Pallott andLeonard Kirk to titles like,The Skin Trade.[12]
On March 25, 2015, Fox announced a remake withArt Marcum and Matt Holloway writing.[13] On September 9, 2016,Deadline reported thatJeff Nichols will write and direct the film.[14]
On January 25, 2021, it was announced thatJeff Nichols, director of filmsTake Shelter (2011),Mud (2012), andLoving (2016), will remake the film as a ten-part television series.[15][16]
On June 21, 2024, it was reported Nichols was developing an original sci-fi feature film for Paramount instead of an Alien Nation project.[17]
| Media | |
|---|---|
| Television films | |
