Back in November of last year, a casting call for Noah Hawley's upcoming Alien TV series for FX was discovered and revealed the names of two characters from the show, Hermit and Wendy. Since then, new details of these characters and the plot for the series in general have been leaked! Be aware, the following information does contain spoilers.
Coming from the same site that originally reported on the character details, The Illuminerdi have since dug up even more information!
To summarize, the Alien series will introduce a new corporate entity which goes by the name of the Prodigy Corporation, a competitor to the infamous Weyland-Yutani Corporation which we're all familiar with. Unlike Weyland-Yutani's fully-robotic Synthetics which operate by an Artificial Intelligence algorithm, the Prodigy Corporation's focus is rather on assimilating Human consciousness into Synthetic bodies. Both companies competing for the next best breakthrough technology - much like the renewable energy race we're witnessing today between Electric and Hydrogen powered vehicles.
The character of Wendy will be this new form of transhuman technology - a Synthetic / Human hybrid of sorts. The report describes this new Synthetic variant as being "close to perfection" - notably an obvious nod and likely a parallel reference to the "Perfect Organism" concept which drives David to create in Alien Covenant.
Here is an excerpt from the latest report:
It looks like Alien is looking to cast a man in between 20 and 30 for the role of J.D. Hermit. J.D. Hermit, known as Hermit, is a human Medic for Prodigy Tactical Response, the private military of Prodigy Corporation. Hermit is described as a young man with an anxious temperament, but a good heart. Hermit is struggling to find his way believing himself to be curse as he mourns the loss of his family.
Hermit was particularly close with his 10 year old sister Marcy, who he was told died of cancer. Hermit is driven to help others, but he feels untethered and isolated in his grief. However, in the face of great danger Hermit proves that people have severely underestimated him and that he in fact has the heart of a hero.
Alien is also looking to cast a woman in her mid 20s to mid 30s to play Wendy. Wendy is described as tall, athletic, and androgynous. Wendy is not a human instead she is a “Hybrid”, a superhuman who is essentially perfect. However, all is not as it appears with Wendy as she in fact has the mind of Hermit’s 10 year old sister Marcy. She learns how to live and control this new body under the tutelage of “Synth” scientist Kirsh and human scientist Dame Sylvia.
Wendy eventually becomes a leader to the hybrids and creates the path for a new era of enhanced beings. Wendy, once she reaches full development, will have super strength, speed, and agility combined with the limitless courage of a young mind. Wendy is not only a new being, but a tool of monumental value to the world.
It sounds like the series will touch on Humanity's obsessive pursuit of perfection - an attempt to align us with God and play creator once again. This being the basis for much of Ridley Scott's prequel vision lends some hope to the series not being devoid of that vision. It also sounds like it may warn or foreshadow our attempts of symbiotic attachments to our own technology - a metaphorical reference to what will eventually become the Giger-inspired Biomechanical monstrosities from which the Alien series was birthed from.
It would seem the common theme throughout the Alien prequels and this series will be the intimate connection between creator and created and the blending of both roles into what some might consider perfection... but at what cost? Let us know what you think of this direction in the comments below!
If you're a fan of Alien / Prometheus and would like to discuss Alien: Covenant and its upcoming sequel with other like-minded fans, be sure to join in our Alien: Covenant forum! Ranked the #1 Prometheus forum back in 2012 and reigning as the web's top Alien: Covenant fan site, it's a great place to discuss the upcoming Prometheus sequels, dissect details from every trailer and engage with other fans just like you.
The future of Alien
The Alien franchise is taking a dramatic turn at 20th Century Studios, now owned by Disney. Currently there are two major Alien projects in development - a new Alien TV series by Noah Hawley and a new, stand-alone Alien movie being directed by Fede Alvarez. Both of which will be taking the franchise in a new direction - moving away from the Alien prequel direction Ridley Scott set out to pursue back in 2012.
Treat yourself to some Alien Merchandise!
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