While FX has ordered a series based on ‘X-Men’ character Legion, FOX is developing another new series based on Marvel Comics’ mutant universe.  ‘Hellfire’ would focus on the Hellfire Club, an enigmatic and elite gathering of the wealthiest and most cunning mutants in the business world.  The group previously appeared in live action in 2011’s ‘X-Men: First Class’ with Kevin Bacon playing The Black King/Sebastian Shaw and January Jones as The White Queen/Emma Frost.  (Both were killed off, Shaw onscreen and Emma offscreen as mentioned in ‘Days of Future Past’.)

The new show would be set in the late 60s, the same time frame as ‘First Class’, so presumably before the deaths of Shaw and Frost.

Here is the description of the show:

“[‘Hellfire’] follows 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.”

Though the show will not be branded as an ‘X-Men’ show, it is said to take place in the same continuity as the films.  But being set in the past, there may not be much overlap.

‘Hellfire’ will be created by Evan Katz (24: Live Another Day), Manny Coto (24), Patrick McKay (Star Trek Beyond) and JD Payne (Star Trek Beyond), who all collaborated on the plot for the pilot, with Katz and McKay penning the final script.  Katz and Coto will act as showrunners and executive producers along with film director Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg and Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory.

FOX Entertainment president David Madden expressed:

“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. ”

Word first surfaced of an ‘X-Men’ TV series about a year ago.  Then, this past winter, came word that FOX was developing a show based on the film franchise.  Last month, we compiled a list of possible suggestions for X-related TV series and our #2 pick was… the Hellfire Club!  (You can read the whole list here.)

A show or shows based on a successful movie franchise has worked for ABC and its ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ and ‘Agent Carter’.  Could the same thing take place for FOX and the X-Men?

Are you intrigued by the idea of a ‘Hellfire’ TV series?  Would you like to see January Jones or even Kevin Bacon return?  Or would you recast their parts?

Source: Deadline