Timothy Olyphant’s upcoming role inAlien: Earthcould finally fulfill a big tease about one of his other most famous sci-fi characters three years after the fact. Timothy Olyphant joined thecast ofAlien: Earthrelatively early in its production, and we finally have some information about who he’s playing. Olyphant will portray Kirsh, a synthetic who is tasked with protecting and mentoringAlien: Earth’s new human-synthetic hybrids, like Wendy (Sydney Chandler). Thetrailer forAlien: Eartheven highlighted Kirsh shooting a futuristic revolver, which indicates he’ll have some awesome moments in the upcoming show.
WhileAlien: Earthis Timothy Olyphant’s most recent time joining an iconic sci-fi franchise, it’s not his first. Olyphant has previously joined the likes ofStar WarsinThe Mandalorian,Terminatoras the antagonist ofTerminator Zero, and even theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise. While none of those previous sci-fi shows directly connect to theAlienfranchise,Alien: Earthstill has a chance to make good on a tease from one of Olyphant’s previous roles. Since Olyphant is playing a synthetic inEarth, it may be the closest we get to seeing Cobb Vanth again.
Timothy Olyphant Finally Gets To Play A Robotic Character In Alien: Earth After Star Wars' Cobb Vanth Twist
Olyphant’s Character In The Book Of Boba Fett, Cobb Vanth, Became A Cyborg At The End Of The Show
At theend ofThe Book of Boba Fett, Timothy Olyphant’s character, Cobb Vanth, was shot by Cad Bane. A post-credits scene, however, revealed that Vanth survived and was recuperating in Boba Fett’s bacta tank. That scene also showed that the Modifier helped heal Vanth, presumably with the droid parts he used to cybernetically augment the other Mods in the show. Essentially,The Book of Boba Fettwas setting up the return of Olyphant’s Cobb Vanth, only as theStar Warsequivalent of a cyborg going forward. Vanth was shot in the shoulder, so he may have even had an entirely droid arm.
Now, three years afterThe Book of Boba Fettturned Timothy Olyphant’s character into a cyborg, he’s playing an android inAlien: Earth. Olyphant has played a robot before, as he voiced the Terminator inTerminator Zero, but that was an animated show. So,Olyphant’s role inAlien: Earthwill be the cyborg-adjacent character he never got to truly play as Cobb Vanth inStar Wars. Olyphant’s character, Kirsh, should be a great chance for him to sink his acting teeth into the nuances of a character who is part flesh and part machine.
Why Timothy Olyphant Hasn’t Returned In Star Wars Since The Book Of Boba Fett’s Twist Reveal
The Book Of Boba Fett Was Harshly Criticized & Star Wars Has Mostly Avoided Continuing It
Even though Cobb Vanth’s future was set up rather explicitly, Olyphant hasn’t reprised hisStar Warsrole to date. That’s primarily becauseThe Book of Boba Fettseason 2was effectively canceled, as the show received a lot of backlash and criticism from fans and critics alike.SinceThe Book of Boba Fettseason 2 never materialized, Cobb Vanth never returned. Boba Fett hasn’t even appeared since, and he’s a much more popular and important character. Vanth could have shown up inThe Mandalorianseason 3, but Din Djarin only briefly went to Tatooine, and he didn’t have a chance to make an appearance.
There is still a chance that Cobb Vanth could have a role in the future ofStar Wars, however.ThenextStar Warsmovieto be released in theaters,The Mandalorian & Grogu, could easily pull in various characters from the extended “Mandoverse,” like Cobb Vanth. Timothy Olyphant would also add a lot of star power to the film, which may make it even more likely that he’ll appear. There’s also the ever-present possibility that Cobb Vanth will return without Timothy Olyphant.Star Warsfamously has a robust comic and book publishing enterprise, and a future story could involve Vanth without needing Olyphant to play him.
Alien: Earth Can Give Timothy Olyphant A Bigger Sci-Fi Franchise Future Than Star Wars
Cobb Vanth Is A Minor Character In Star Wars, But Kirsh Could Be Very Important To The Future Of Alien
Even if Timothy Olyphant never returns to the galaxy far, far away, he may have something better inAlien: Earth. Cobb Vanth, while a memorable fan-favorite, was a fairly unimportant side character in the larger narrative ofStar Wars. IfThe Book of Boba Fetthad been better received, he may have become a recurring character, but his future wasn’t exactly overflowing with opportunities.Kirsh inAlien: Earth, however, could end up being a long-standing role for Timothy Olyphant. He already seems to be a main character inEarth, as he’s acting as a mentor to Wendy and the other human-synthetic hybrids.
Release Date (Tuesdays @ 8 p.m. ET)
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Alien: Earthmay not even be the only way Olyphant can be a major part of theAlienfranchise.Previous actors who portrayed synthetics - like Michael Fassbender and Lance Henriksen - have already portrayed multiple synthetics in different projects, and Olyphant may have the same opportunity. We also know thatEarthtakes place very early intheAlientimeline, meaning a new synthetic played by Olyphant - or even Kirsh himself - could appear in basically any of theupcomingAlienmovies. If all goes well,Alien: Earthcould be the long-running sci-fi franchise Timothy Olyphant lost out on withThe Book of Boba Fett.
The Book of Boba Fett
Cast
The Book of Boba Fett follows the legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett, alongside mercenary Fennec Shand, as they journey to Tatooine to assert their dominance over the territory formerly controlled by Jabba the Hutt’s crime syndicate while navigating the galaxy’s underworld.
