FX in partnership with Marvel and Fargo creator Noah Hawley is bringing "Legion" to the TV screen. A spin-off of the X-Men franchise that centers on David Haller (Dan Stevens) son of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Gabrielle Haller.
Various sources reported, Hawley will write and produce the pilot episode alongside Marvel's Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory. X-Men producers Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner will act as executive producers.
In an IGN interview, Hawley referenced using Fargo as a template for his approach to "Legion" and that he would employ the British-inspired visual style of the 1960's. The series is set in an alternate X-Men universe where people generally do not know of mutant existence.
"Legion" tackles the story of David (Stevens) who from an early age is a diagnosed schizophrenic with dissociative identity disorder (DID). He has been in and out of psychiatric institutions during one of which he had a chance encounter with another patient.
The encounter made David realize that the visions he sees and the voices he hears might be real. Since that encounter, he is torn between believing he has mutant powers or that he may simply be mentally ill.
It is exciting to note that in the comics as described by Comic Vine, "Legion" is considered an Omega-level mutant in the Marvel Universe. His multiple personas take advantage of using his many mutant abilities, each one controlling an aspect of his many mutant powers.
It would be interesting to see if Hawley can duplicate his success in "Legion" as that of his success in the reimagining of Fargo by using the same template he says he will employ. Let us hope he can bring a new perspective to "Legion" without straying too much from the canon we are already familiar with.
"Legion" Season 1 is currently in production for the 8-episode 1st Season. The show is slated to air in early 2017 on FX.
