FX Networks has put its support behind the upcoming X-Men spinoff series Legion with a full-season order that will have the show begin filming later this year. The vote of confidence in the project was accompanied by the first, official photo from the show.
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The photo features series star Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as David Haller, a man who’s spent most of his life in psychiatric hospitals, only to learn that the voices in his head and the visions he’s having might not be schizophrenic delusions.
Executive produced by Fargo television series creator Noah Hawley, Legion isn’t expected to connect with the X-Men movie universe despite the comic-book roots of Stevens’ character, the title of the show, and certain elements of its premise. In the Marvel Comics universe, Haller was the son of telepathic X-Men team leader Charles Xavier, and was plagued by a dissociative identity disorder that gave each of his various personas control of one of his mutant abilities.
“Marvel Television is thrilled to not only have our first partnership with FX go to series, but working with the enormously talented Noah Hawley makes it even better,” said Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, in a statement accompanying the announcement. “From the first time we heard Noah’s vision to his exceptional script and cast through the extraordinary filming of the pilot, we knew the series would be incredible.”
Along with Stevens, the series’ cast includes The League actress Katie Aselton as Haller’s older sister, Parks and Recreation actress Aubrey Plaza as an optimistic friend of Haller, Designing Women actress Jean Smart as Haller’s therapist, Fargo actress Rachel Keller as a character named “Syd,” and Jeremie Harris (A Walk Among the Tombstones) and Amber Midthunder (Sunshine Cleaning) in unidentified roles.
Legion is expected to begin filming this summer in Vancouver and to premiere on FX in early 2017.
