EARTH Finally Introduces Ms. Yutani, CEO of Weyland-Yutani

The infamous corporation Weyland-Yutani has been the real villain of the Alien franchise ever since Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic. In that first film, they were simply called “the Company.” However, we see the name Weyland-Yutani on monitors. It was under this company’s direct orders that the Nostromo diverted to planet LV-426 to retrieve the Xenomorph for their weapons division. And they were ordered to do so as a “priority one” directive. We met the Weyland of Weyland-Yutani, Peter Weyland, in the film Prometheus, and he was played by Guy Pearce. But who is Yutani? Well, we finally meet Ms. Yutani in the flesh in Alien: Earth, played by actress Sandra Yi Sencindiver.

In Alien: Earth, creator Noah Hawley introduces us to the face of Weyland-Yutani in the early part of the 22nd century. So far, she doesn’t have a first name (at least not yet). Her official profile says “She has the surety and poise of a woman who owns one-fifth of the entire planet and much more in space. Her grandmother sent the USCSS Maginot on its mission. Therefore, Yutani considers what’s on the ship not just her property, but her birthright.” In this era, Weyland-Yutani is one of the five corporations that rule the Earth. They create/control almost everything, including synthetic beings. The Five function in place of actual governments in this time. One of its biggest rivals is Prodigy, a multi-trillion-dollar company run by the genius Boy Kavalier.

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In 2120, when Alien: Earth takes place, Weyland-Yutani is a relatively recent power in the world. It formed when the Weyland Corp took over Yutani Corporation in the year 2099 after a fierce bidding war. In her few scenes in Alien: Earth, we see Yutani in a glittering high-rise, taking a call from her cyborg employee Morrow (Babou Ceesay), the sole survivor of the Maginot. When he talks to her, he doesn’t recognize her as the Yutani that he remembers. She reminds him that the Yutani he knew was her grandmother, as his mission left for space 65 years earlier. However, she informs him that he is still under contract to Yutani, and therefore she is still his boss. And she wants him to retrieve the lost alien specimens by any means necessary.

Given that the original Alien takes place a mere two years after Alien: Earth, it stands to reason that the Yutani played by Sandra Yi Sencindiver is the same one who is giving orders to the android Ash (Ian Holm) via MU-TH-UR, the Nostromo’s computer system. So this new series is the first time we see the head of the company. The same company that deemed Ripley, Parker, and Captain Dallas as “expendable.” If and when Alien: Earth connects directly to Alien, we have a strong feeling it will be through the character of Yutani. However, we’ve seen little of her so far in Alien: Earth, so we are looking forward to learning more about this ruthless (but very glamorous) CEO. Clearly, a woman who will stop at nothing to get her hands on the deadly alien Xenomorph.

Alien: Earth releases new episodes every Tuesday on FX and FX on Hulu.