YIBADA

Fox green lights ‘X-Men’ drama with Bryan Singer as director; Show connected with ‘X-Men’ movies, completely different with ‘Legion’

| Jan 30, 2017 01:56 PM EST

"Legion" is part of the "X-Men" cinematic universe, but at the same time the series is said to exist entirely on its own.

More "X-Men" titles are making their way on TV. With "Legion" heading to FX in a matter of days, Fox has confirmed that it is developing a still-untitled "X-Men" series to be directed by Bryan Singer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox has tapped Singer to direct the pilot of the upcoming "X-Men" drama written by Matt Nix. Singer and Nix are also attached as executive producers together with "X-Men" franchise execs Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg and Marvel's Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory.

The untitled "X-Men" show will tell the story of two ordinary parents who discover that their kids have developed mutant powers. The family is forced to go into hiding as the hostile government hunts down mutants. They later met an underground network of mutants and together they must fight to survive.

Alienation and persecution are prevalent themes in the "X-Men" series, both on screen and in print, and offers an outlet to reflect on social and political issues that are currently emerging in Donald Trump's America.

If ever the pilot gets a premiere date this year, it would be the second "X-Men" story to hit the small screen. This February, FX will premiere "Legion," which stars Dan Stevens as the schizophrenic son of Professor Charles Xavier.

Unlike "Legion," which focuses solely on David Haller's struggles with his mutant powers and mental health issues, Fox's "X-Men" drama will be connected in a general way to the "X-Men" movie universe built by 20th Century Fox.

Nix confirmed with Forbes that the Fox's "X-Men" show is going to be connected to the silver screen world of "X-Men." This has been made possible by the less restrictive timeline and events in the "X-Men" movies.

"I'm not slavishly fitting them into a particular slot," Nix explains. "But at the same time, if you like the world of the movies, there are definite nods to the movies. It exists in the same general universe."

Singer's involvement in the show also ups chances of strengthening its connection with the movie franchise, especially as Singer has been working on "X-Men" since the first movie came out in 2001.

No release date for Fox's "X-Men" drama has been revealed as of yet.

Related News

Most Popular

EDITOR'S PICK