You may recall a while back that we brought you news on Fox and Marvel Television co-producing two TV series based on, but not set in, the X-Men universe. Legion would see Dan Stevens as David Halsey (who comic books would know is actually Charles Xavier’s son), a mutant with multiple personality disorder, but with each of his crazy personalities displaying mutant abilities of their own. Then there was Hellfire, which was assumed would have something to with the mutant elitist Hellfire Club from the comics. I say “assumed”, because while we’ve seen and heard a bunch about Legion, it’s been all quiet on the Hellfire front. And that’s because Hellfire is no longer happening, with Fox/Marvel instead now developing a brand new X-Men-based TV series.
Variety broke the news explaining that Hellfire has now been completely scrapped in a favour of a new still untitled series developed by Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, and produced by X-Men movie franchise director Bryan Singer, writer/producer Simon Kinberg and producer Laura Shuler Donner, alongside Marvel’s Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory.
The show is set to follow “two ordinary parents who discover their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.” Nix will be penning the pilot episode himself and thereafter act as showrunner/exec producer.
Fox has traditionally only dabbled in comic book TV series based on DC Comics titles like Gotham and Lucifer, and as they revealed in a statement they are excited to finally tackle some Marvel Comics properties.
“Developing a Marvel property has been a top priority for the network — and we are so pleased with how Matt Nix has led us into this thrilling universe. There’s comic book adventure, emotional and complicated relationships and a rich, existing mythology from which to draw. With the brilliant production crew behind this project, it has all the makings of a big, fun and exciting new series.”
“Working with Marvel on a television series for Fox has been a professional dream for our head of development, Michael Thorn, and all of us at the studio. Matt, Lauren, Bryan, Simon, Jeph and Jim are a powerhouse team of creative artists, and we can’t wait to get started on what will easily be one of this development season’s most exciting new projects.”
Jeph Loeb added that “Marvel Television is thrilled to be co-producing with 20th Century Fox Television on our first project”
“Matt’s a huge fan of ‘X-Men’ and his take on ‘X-Men,’ with its rich characters and high-stakes adventure, is exactly the show we want on Fox. It’s a great team of creative producers who will be making something entirely unique.”
That “his take on the X-Men” bit would appear to strongly imply that just like Legion, this new series will not actually exist in the movie franchise’s existing timeline, which could actually be a very good thing considering that IT MAKES NO DAMN SENSE!
Last Updated: July 13, 2016
