It’s not much of a surprise, considering how aggressively the series was negotiated for, but X-Men spin-off series, Legion has been ordered to series at FX. The show’s first season is now confirmed to span eight episodes, and will make its debut on Fox Corporation’s premium cable network in early 2017. Originally, the series was targeting a premiere this year, though the show seems to have suffered a slight delay after its series order.
Addressing the show’s pick-up, Marvel Television head, Jeph Loeb made a statement, praising the vision behind the show, described as the, “Breaking Bad of superhero shows”, and expressing excitement that Marvel Entertainment’s first partnership with FX seems to be going very smoothly. Legion is a collaboration between Marvel Entertainment and the Fox Entertainment Group, after the latter pursued Marvel for the rights to make an X-Men television series, on account of 20th Century Fox’s highly successful library of self-contained X-Men movies that have been releasing since 2000. The deal actually bore the license for a second X-Men-themed series, Hellfire, revolving around the villainous Hellfire Club that was glimpsed in 2011 movie, X-Men: First Class, which is set up at FOX. Hellfire is currently stalled however, on account of losing its writers and producers to 24: Legacy, which was ordered to series for an early 2017 debut shortly before this year’s Upfronts.
Along with news of the pick-up, FX has also released the first official still from Legion, showcasing lead character, David Haller, played by Dan Stevens, which you can check out below:
Legion is being headed up by showrunner, Noah Hawley, who also runs FX’s widely beloved Fargo series. The show will revolve around David Haller, a schizophrenic that moves between mental institutions on account of his violent visions and hearing of voices. Soon, however, he will discover that he is perhaps something more than human. The series will also star Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Rachel Keller, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder, Katie Aselton, and Bill Irwin. No actors from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men movies are currently scheduled to appear in Legion, likely on account of showrunner, Hawley claiming that Legion doesn’t take place in Fox’s X-Men movie universe, but instead unfolds in a parallel universe to Fox’s X-Men movies. It’s worth noting however that, in Marvel Comics lore, David Haller is the estranged son of Professor Xavier, the leader of the X-Men, and derives his mutant power of alternate personalities from Xavier’s genetics.
Keep listening for Eggplante for all major news and updates on Legion, and other big developments with Marvel’s television projects.