The "X-Men" universe will get its very own live-action television show with Noah Hawley's "Legion." The upcoming TV series, which stars Dan Stevens as the confused mutant David Haller, is set in the "X-Men" universe but it certainly stands alone from the blockbuster movie franchise that centers on the likes of Professor Charles Xavier, Magneto and Wolverine.
In Marvel Comics, David Haller is the son of Professor X and like his father, he is a mutant with mental superpowers such as pyrokinesis, telepathy, telekinesis and the ability to absorb other people's consciousness. David believes that he is mentally ill, though.
Despite David's obvious ties to Professor X, Hawley decided to completely separate the "Legion" lead character from the "X-Men" franchise. Marvel and X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner, who also helped develop "Legion," told IGN that the "driving mystery" behind David is not just about who he is and where he came from.
"Legion" viewers will ask if David is schizophrenic or whether or not he really has powers. Donner stressed that the "X-Men" TV series doesn't want to "get into the Xavier world, because that's not what this show is about."
However, that doesn't mean that Professor X's world will be entirely avoided by "Legion." Donner promised that they will "touch on it" at some point, though it will not be with Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy's Professor X versions that fans are more familiar with.
According to Donner, "Legion" is "separate" from the larger "X-Men" cinematic universe and it will be "new and different." The movie franchise won't have to worry about the world established by the TV show because they're "not going to get in each other's way."
"They will just continue in the way that they have been continuing, and there is some great stuff that we are developing," Donner further told IGN.
During this month's Television Critics Association winter press tour, Hawley revealed that "Legion" will begin with "this epic love story" between David and Rachel Keller's Syd, a mental patient. Afterwards, the show will be thrust right back into genre and soon enough, will feature David's trademark high hairdo seen in the comics, TVLine reported.
Executive producer Jeph Loeb believes that "Legion" stands apart from other Marvel TV shows because it "redefines the genre in a new way." Loeb added that Marvel has "never made" TV programs like it.
"Legion" also stars Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Jemaine Clement and Bill Irwin. It will premiere on FX on February 8.
