Comic-book fans are probably freaking the hell out right now because Marvel just broke 2 MAJOR “X-Men” news in a day.
According to Marvel, a total of 2 “X-Men” TV series are currently in development. This is after an earlier report about a live-action “X-Men” TV series being in development.
Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, Presidents of Original Programming, for FX Networks and FX Productions, announced today that they’ve ordered the pilot for “Legion”, a series that will centre on the story of David Haller, a troubled young man who may be more than human.
In Marvel’s comic books, David is the mutant son of Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the X-Men, and Gabrielle Haller.
For the series, however, Haller is described to be a teenager who has been “diagnosed as schizophrenic” and “struggled with mental illness”. Being in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years, Haller’s life changes “after a strange encounter with a fellow patient”. The show will show him confronting with “the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real”.
“Fargo” creator Noah Hawley will write the pilot that will be produced by FX Productions and Marvel Television.
He will executive produce alongside “X-Men: Apocalypse” director Bryan Singer, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg, Marvel Head of Television Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s “Daredevil” executive producer Jim Chory, and John Cameron.
Regarding the series, Grad said in a statement, “Legion is just the sort of ambitious story that Noah excels at.”
He added:
His adaption of “Fargo” for television was one of the most acclaimed television events in recent memory. It’s also an honoUr to partner with Marvel on Legion and to enlist such an accomplished team of Executive Producers to create this pilot.
Another “X-Men” spin-off TV series that is currently in development is tentatively titled “Hellfire”, a co-production of 20th Century Fox Television and Marvel Television.
Announced today by David Madden, President of Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), Marvel will team up with FOX for the action-adventure series that is set in the late 1960s.
The story will follow “a young Special Agent who learns that a power-hungry woman with extraordinary abilities is working with a clandestine society of millionaires – known as “The Hellfire Club” – to take over the world”.
Madden said in a statement:
We are thrilled to partner with Marvel to bring this world to television and build upon the vibrant mythology that has captivated fans for years.
“These powerful and dynamic characters are complicated and larger-than-life, the pace and visual imagination are unrelenting, and the story takes place during one of the most explosive eras in recent history. We are so looking forward to working with this incredibly talented team,” he added.
Jonathan Davis, President of Creative Affairs for 20th Century Fox Television, also said:
“Hellfire” is a unique opportunity to be able to go deeper with some of these extraordinary characters, but to also dramatize new characters and give TV viewers a chance to experience this expanded world in an explosive way that everyone will be talking about.
He added, “The action at the center of Hellfire will be dynamic and will satisfy the rabid fans, but that said, newcomers will surely be addicted too!”
“24” executive producers Evan Katz and Manny Coto are co-creating the series with “Star Trek 3” scribes Patrick McKay and JD Payne. McKay and Payne will write the pilot script, based on a story by Katz, Coto, McKay and Payne. Donner, Singer, Kinberg, Loeb, and Chory will executive-produce the pilot alongside Katz and Coto.
Meanwhile, 20the Century Fox’s “X-Men: Apocalypse” is slated for release on 27th May 2016. It will be released in Malaysia on 19th May 2016.
What do you think of the “X-Men” spin-off TV series? Will you watch them? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
