What happens when you mash up E.T.’s heart with Alien’s bite? That’s exactly the question Hartbeat Productions is asking with its upcoming film Xeno. The first trailer has dropped, and it promises a family-friendly—but still thrilling—sci-fi ride.
Produced by Kevin Hart alongside Bryan Smiley and Luke Kelly-Clyne for Hartbeat, with Shana Marie and Jesse Jensen for Tabooma, Xeno marks a bold step into science fiction for Hart’s production company. Directed and written by Matthew Loren Oates, the film blends nostalgic Amblin-style wonder with modern blockbuster spectacle.
A Bond Across Worlds
The story follows Renee Rowan (Lulu Wilson), a teenage girl who finds an unlikely friend in an extraterrestrial creature after it crash-lands in the desert. But this isn’t your cuddly E.T.—Xeno is a snarling, razor-jawed alien with an appetite for livestock. Despite its terrifying nature, Renee forms a powerful bond with the creature, even as government agents led by Jonathan Keyes (Omari Hardwick) close in.
As Renee struggles with her own fractured family life—her grieving mother (Wrenn Schmidt), a violent stepfather (Paul Schneider), and her loyal friend Gil (Trae Romano)—she must decide how far she’ll go to protect her new companion.
The Cast
Omari Hardwick (Power, Army of the Dead) stars as Jonathan Keyes, an alien-hunting government agent who sees Xeno as “a biological machine, designed to kill.” Lulu Wilson (The Haunting of Hill House) leads as Renee, with Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind), Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation), and Trae Romano (Stargirl) rounding out the cast.
Additional roles include Josh Cooke as Agent Brown, Mike Wolfe as Huntsman, and Ron Rogge as Lou.
Release Date
Xeno is set to hit theaters on September 19, 2025, distributed by Blue Fox Entertainment.