Things appear to be advancing quite well for FX’s ‘Legion’ based on the comic book character David Haller, the illegitimate son of Professor Charles Xavier. A second project was also in the work on sister network FOX entitled ‘Hellfire’ based on the nefarious Hellfire Club from the comics and as depicted in ‘X-Men: First Class’. While FX only has a pilot order in for ‘Legion’, ‘Hellfire’ was expected to go straight to series. But the show has hit a major snag… it just lost everyone working on it!
C0-creators Evan Katz and Manny Coto have dropped ‘Hellfire’ in order to work on another project for FOX which is near and dear to their hearts, ’24: Legacy,’ a reboot of the ’24’ brand, minus Jack Bauer. Katz and Coto worked on the original ’24’ as well as the more recent miniseries, so clearly they are already invested in this project with a familiarity and insight from years of prior work. In addition, a ’24’ reboot already has a built-in audience and is a more likely to be an out-of-the-gate success versus a fledgling concept only loosely based on the ‘X-Men’… a franchise that has certainly had its ups and downs.
In addition, Katz and Coto were working with two more writers, Patrick McKay and John D. Payne. While all four were brainstorming the show, it was McKay and Payne who were ultimately supposed to pen the final script for the pilot. But both of them have also dropped out of ‘Hellfire’ although their reason isn’t known.
What is known of this project is:
“[‘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.”
Of course, if an all new creative team comes on board, things could be scrapped or overhauled. At this point, however, there’s no way that ‘Hellfire’ will be ready for the fall pilot season. If things come together quickly, it may be a contender as a midseason replacement. If that happens, FOX will actually have one drama based on a Marvel Comics property and one based on a DC Comic, ‘Gotham’.
Are you intrigued at the possibility of a ‘Hellfire’ TV series? Do you think these setbacks could spell doom?
Source: Cinema Blend
