The debut season of FX's Alien: Earth concluded with a cliffhanger that left audiences eagerly anticipating the next installment.
Showrunner and executive producer Noah Hawley spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the finale and how it sets up a potential second season.
Hawley revealed that he intentionally kept all the chess pieces on the board, leaving room for various possibilities in season two.
"This chapter is closed, but Yutani troops are landing. The balance of power has shifted. These children have no idea what’s coming," he said.
The finale's final moment, where the characters declare "Now we rule," may seem triumphant, but Hawley hinted that there's more to come. "Cut to 10 minutes later … what is going to be happening?"
Hawley described the show as a "proof-of-concept experiment" to see if there's enough audience interest to justify a second and third season. "I never hedged my bets," he said.
"I had to plan and execute a story that’s going someplace." Hawley is hoping to get a sign from the network in the next couple of months about whether the show will be renewed.
She also discussed the character development of Boy Kavalier, played by Samuel Blenkin. "Boy Kavalier has real anti-authoritarian issues from his father, and came into this world where there were four major corporations, and, in the span of six-to-eight years, became a rival to these people," he said.
Hawley sees Boy Kavalier as an anarchist who delights in the fact that the children are now in charge.
When asked about the potential number of seasons, Hawley said he doesn't have a destination in mind. "I don’t know how long it will take me to get there," he said.
"As long as they let me tell stories in this tone of voice, I’m going to tell stories in this tone of voice." Hawley is enthusiastic about the show's hybrid style, blending Alien with themes about the future of humanity.