This winter came word that Fox was looking to exploit its cinematic license for Marvel Comics’ ‘X-Men’ characters to craft a live-action TV series.  (Here was our list of Ten Suggestions.)  Well, now the studio is bringing plans to fruition (and it’s not one we saw coming).  FX has ordered a pilot based on ‘Legion’, David Haller, the teenage schizophrenic mutant who happens to be the illegitimate son of Charles Xavier, played in the movies by Patrick Stewart and now James McAvoy.  In the comics, Haller, introduced in 1985’s ‘New Mutants’ #25, has several multiple personalities each with their own mutant powers.  He can also absorb the psyches of others around him.

This is the description of the character, as he will appear on the show:

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.

‘Legion’ will be executive produced by the film franchise’s Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg along with Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory.  Also executive producing and writing the pilot will be Noah Hawley, the creator of FX’s established hit, the critically-acclaimed ‘Fargo’.

The show will not be branded as an ‘X-Men’ show, but will be set within the same universe as the films.

FX’s Nick Grad stated:

“’Legion’ is just the sort of ambitious story that Noah excels at.  His adaption of ‘Fargo’ for television was one of the most acclaimed television events in recent memory. It’s also an honor to partner with Marvel on ‘Legion’ and to enlist such an accomplished team of Executive Producers to create this pilot.”

In the comics, Legion may be best known as the catalyst for one of the most popular X-Men storylines, ‘Age of Apocalypse’.  Considering that Apocalypse is the villain of the next X-Men movie, which is directed by Singer and produced by Donner and Kinberg, may we see something in the movie that hints toward the show?  Well… probably not.

Do you think Legion could make an interesting protagonist for a TV series?  Comment below!

Source: Deadline