Two television series were announced back in 2015 to become part of the X-Men universe. Recently, plans have seemed to struggle when the team at FOX behind Hellfire left the show for 24: Legacy. The series, based around the Hellfire Club, is still in the works at FOX but is unlikely to premiere this year after all.
FX Networks CEO John Landgraf addressed the Television Critics Association regarded the other X-Men-based series, called Legion. Casting announcements have already been hitting the web. Landgraf stated that, in their current state of production, they have a writers room working out scripts and sets are already being built. Landgraf is expecting the show to make its debut in 2016, saying “I’m pretty optimistic about Legion. The scripts are extraordinary.” However, he wouldn’t make any concrete promises.
With X-Men: Apocalypse out in theaters May 27, 2016, excited fans may be disappointed to learn that Legion will actually take place in a separate universe. As well, all your favorite characters from the films may not be able to make appearances in the new TV series. Landgraf described the show as taking “place in a parallel universe,” and explained that “the US government is in the early days of being aware of mutants, but not the public. I don’t foresee any characters moving back and forth (between the movies and the series).”
Legion will be helmed by Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley and will involve Professor Xavier’s son, David. “Since he was a teenager, David has struggled with mental illness. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he’s confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real.” Also coming over from Fargo is Rachel Keller, cast in an unnamed lead role.
I think it will be good to see how the show stands on it own with new characters before overlapping with the X-Men films in later seasons. Does yet another comic book TV series interest you, or do you think this is overkill?
