FX’s Justified starring Timothy Olyphant was critically acclaimed by critics. A TV series that followed the neo-Western crime genre for half a decade, spanning over six seasons, the last episode of Michael Dinner’s show aired in 2015. While the crime drama seems to be overlooked by the mass audience, it has a strong hold over its loyal fanbase. Owing to the success, a sequel, Justified: City Primeval returned with a bang this year!
Based on the Elmore Leonard novel Fire in the Hole, the next installment recently premiered on July 18, 2023. The applause for Olyphant had only softened when news broke out that the 55-year-old actor would be signing another leading role with the Alien franchise. Honestly, the American actor’s got a lot going on.
Timothy Olyphant’s career is on fleek
Only months after his iconic comeback as Kentucky’s cowboy marshal, Timothy Olyphant is set to star in another FX series. Originally launched by Ridley Scott, the prequel TV series to the Alien franchise will be led by director Noah Hawley and executive-produced by Scott, per Deadline. Olyphant has previously worked with Hawley in the Season 4 of Fargo. Expected to lead alongside Sydney Chandler, not much was revealed about Olyphant’s character.
Reportedly, the actor will be playing a synth, a mentor and trainer for Wendy played by Chandler. Details about the latter stated that she shall be a hybrid humanoid, with an adult’s body but with a brain of a child’s. Sounds interesting. In addition, Old Boys actor Alex Lawther will be donning the role of a soldier, CJ, Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, Essie Davis as Dame Silvia, Adarsh Gaurav as Slightly, and Kit Young as Tootles.
However, the prequel filming was affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes since Chandler and other cast personnel were members. Yet, productions began in Thailand earlier this July, with cast only from the Equity British trade union while SAG-AFTRA members did not participate in the filming.
What will the Alien prequel be about?
The Alien prequel shall be set in an era way before the protagonist Ellen Ripley existed. The role was famously played by Sigourney Weaver which earned her worldwide recognition. The prequel will precede the entire timeline of the Alien franchise that unravels on Earth. The filming shall proceed early next year since all the scripting was concluded before the commencement of the WGA strike in May.
The bits and pieces of production that were done before everything came to a halt have kept Hawley excited. He told Deadline,
“I got some footage. Some of the first hour was shot before we had to shutdown. It’s stuff to play with and edit. I’m excited to get back in there.”
Olyphant’s association with the sci-fi franchise further adds to the fans’ excitement. The Alien movies are among the most influential franchises and have bested even the Predator franchise in terms of gross collections. As per ScreenRant, the commercial success of the first feature, Alien encouraged the sequels to as latest as 2017’s Alien: Covenant.
