'Star Trek: Picard' Star Leads 'E.T.' Meets 'Alien' Sci-Fi Thriller in First 'Xeno' Trailer [Exclusive]

What if E.T. was less cute and cuddly, and instead resembled a razor-jawed H.R. Giger creature from Alien? And what if that alien's appetites tended more towards living flesh than delicious Reese's Pieces? Those questions are asked and answered in the new Collider-exclusive trailer for Xeno, a new science fiction adventure film starring Lulu Wilson. It's a heartfelt story of a girl and her gruesome alien pal like no other. Xeno will hit theaters on September 19.

In the new trailer, Wilson is Renee Rowan, a teenage girl who has an affinity for unlovable creatures, as evidenced by the snake living in her terrarium. But that affinity is going to be put to the test when she meets Xeno, a snarling quadropedal alien beast with a taste for livestock. Nevertheless, the two form a bond, which becomes a big problem when an alien-hunting government task force led by Jonathan Keyes (Omari Hardwick) comes to town; according to him, Xeno is a "biological machine, designed to kill." Can Renee and Xeno's interspecies friendship overcome it all? You'll have to find out when Xeno hits theaters in September.

Who Stars In 'Xeno'?

Lulu Wilson has made a name for herself at a young age as a mainstay of horror maestro Mike Flanagan's projects, with notable roles in Ouija: Origin of Evil, The Haunting of Hill House, and The Fall of the House of Usher. She also appeared in a memorable episode of Star Trek: Picard as the daughter of Will Riker and Deanna Troi. Omari Hardwick is best known for starring as James "Ghost" St. Patrick in Starz's crime drama Power, and recently appeared in Star Trek: Section 31. For All Mankind's Wrenn Schmidt, who had her own encounter with a desert-dwelling alien in Nope, will play Renee's mother, Linda, while Stargirl's Trae Romano will play Renee's friend Gil. Paul Schneider, of Parks and Recreation and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, will also star in the film. Meanwhile, Xeno himself is a creation of the legendary Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop.

Xeno was directed by Matthew Loren Oates, in his directorial debut; he also wrote the script and supervised the special effects. The film was produced by Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, and Luke Kelly-Clyne for Hartbeat, and Shana Marie and Jesse Jensen for Tabooma. The film is distributed by Blue Fox Entertainment.

Xeno will premiere in theaters on September 19, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.