7 major plot loopholes that Alien: Earth might leave behind in the sci-fi horror franchise

Alien: Earth is the latest installment in the iconic sci-fi horror franchise and promises to bring terror to a more familiar setting. With Fede Álvarez in the director's chair, the film is set to explore what happens when the xenomorphs arrive on this planet, raising the stakes to a level never before imagined.

But with the utmost anticipation comes just as much apprehension. The Alien series is notorious for leaving behind ambiguous questions and perplexing contradictions that continue to divide the audience even today.

Unfathomable is the origin of xenomorphs, as well as an accurate account of the activities of David's experiments. Here are seven possible loopholes.

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7 major plot loopholes that Alien: Earth might leave behind in the sci-fi horror franchise

1. The true origin of the xenomorphs

One of the longest-standing Alien franchise mysteries is how exactly the xenomorphs originated. Prometheus suggested that engineers were testing deadly bioweapons, while Alien: Covenant presented the idea that David had perfected the monstrous race.

However, an ancient mural in Prometheus demonstrated the existence of a xenomorph-like creature long before the days of David, leaving fans perplexed. With the new movie set partly on Earth, fans are eager to see if this long-standing question finally gets a solid answer.

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2. The fate of David’s experiments

David, the errant android from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, has been at the forefront of the enigma of xenomorph evolution. He conducted horrific experiments on engineers, animals, and even humans, stating they were made by him. But Covenant left us in the dark about what happened to his sick research? And how much of it remains to impact Earth?

Recent Fede Álvarez interviews indicate Alien: Earth will connect with previous movies, but whether David's material directly ties into the monsters Ripley encountered later is still uncertain. This omission could be an open-ended mystery as well, with fans wondering how much credit David should receive.

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3. Ripley timeline contradictions

Ellen Ripley is the franchise's most legendary character, but the prequels muddy her narrative. The first Alien (1979) implied humans were discovering xenomorphs for the first time. Prometheus and Covenant established that Weyland-Yutani knew of alien life decades ago. Alien: Earth's placement between Covenant and Ripley's time means the timeline threatens to contradict Ripley's discovery.

Will the film clarify why Ripley was not aware of previous encounters? Or will it jump into another timeline into chaos? The fans are hoping Álvarez's film provides clarity, but many worry Ripley's history may become further muddled by new information.

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4. The Weyland Yutani agenda

Weyland-Yutani, the mysterious corporation behind the scenes throughout the series, has never been clear in its motivations. Sometimes it's chasing alien technology, sometimes it's seeking live xenomorphs as weapons, and sometimes it appears solely motivated by greed. Alien: Earth will surely visit the company's fascination again, particularly as Earth is finally a part of the terror. But will the film address why Weyland-Yutani continues to risk everything even in the face of apocalyptic failure?

Fans wonder if Álvarez will pull out something greater or simply demonstrate the company repeating its own mistakes. Without answers, the corporation's intentions may be one of the biggest loopholes of the franchise.

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5. The engineers’ disappearance

The Engineers were first introduced in Prometheus as one of the most advanced species, and they might have been the ones to create man. However, by Covenant, their numbers were decimated by David's bioweaponry, with only questions remaining. Why would such a powerful species be so easily annihilated? And if some survived, why haven't they come back to take revenge on humanity? Alien:It may finally reveal if engineers do exist and if they have unresolved business in the world.

Otherwise, the vanishing of the Engineers threatens to be another dropped thread, even if it is one of the most interesting aspects of the current Alien franchise.

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6. Xenomorph biology loopholes

The xenomorph biology rules tend to change from movie to movie. In Alien 3, an organism borrowed characteristics from its canine host, but this is disregarded in other films. Incubation periods, acid blood consequences, and survival traits all vary based on what the story requires. Alien: Earth will introduce xenomorphs to greater numbers of humans, which may reveal new inconsistencies in how they infect and kill.

Fans crave explanations for whether the monsters operate according to rigorous biological laws or are infinitely flexible. If the new movie doesn't provide an answer, the monsters' biology will continue to be a glaring franchise loophole.

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7. Connection between prequels and the original films

Maybe the largest hurdle for Alien: Earth is connecting the prequels to the original franchise. Covenant concluded with David in command of the embryos, but Alien (1979) starts with the eggs discovered on LV-426, seemingly unrelated. How do you transition from David's experiments to Ripley's dream in space? If the new film fails to connect the dots, audiences could be left with yet another infuriating continuity gap.

Álvarez has suggested an appreciation of continuity, but unless the movie bridges the prequels and originals with care, the franchise may end up being two disjunctive timelines rather than an entire saga.

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Alien: Earth probably brings an element of caution to excitement. In theory, it can deal with better-known questions from the xenomorphs, Weyland-Yutani, and the franchise timeline. However, without settling such delusions, the story could get even more fractured.

The fans will surely be following this closely, hoping that Álvarez will not only frighten us but also provide some clarity that will unite the terrifying legacy of the Alien world.

Read also: Is Alien: Earth setting up Boy Kavalier as the franchise’s strongest villain? Details explored