Yesterday, Fox issued a pilot order for an untitledX-Men TV seriesthat will be created and executive produced byBurn NoticeandAPBcreatorMatt Nix. Among the other executive producers areBryan Singer,Lauren Shuler DonnerandSimon Kinberg, who produce theX-Menmovies for 20th Century Fox, along with Marvel TV’sJeph LoebandJim Chory. While it’s still unclear what the series will be called, today it has been confirmed thatBryan Singerhas finalized his deal to direct the pilot episode.
Deadlinereports thatBryan Singerwas always expected to direct the pilot episode, since he is already on board as an executive producer, but it just took some extra time for his directing deal to close. The story will focus on two ordinary parents who discover their children possessmutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive. Our report from yesterday revealed that the pilot has been said to mirror the plight of minorities in today’s society.
Bryan Singeralso serves as an executive producer on FX’sLegion, which doesn’t take place within theX-Menmovie universe, although this new series will be set in the same universe, according toMatt Nix. The creator/executive producer teased during a TCA Winter Tour interview that the show doesn’t necessarily fit into any of the continuity established by theX-Menmovies, especially since, as he said, “they don’t all line up perfectly.” So, while the story may not have any specific ties to the movies, it will still be set in the same universe.
Our report from yesterday also revealed that “exploratory casting” is already under way, although it isn’t clear when production will begin on the pilot. Fox has not issued a series order for the show yet, but the network did issue a “put pilot commitment,” which, in most cases, almost guarantees that the show will be picked up. A put pilot commitment means that, if the pilot episode does not air on Fox, the network will be forced to pay a penalty to the producers. While it wasn’t a put pilot order, Fox ordered a pilot for anotherX-Menshow calledHellfire, a series set in the late 1960s, although it was dropped before the pilot went into production.
While best known for his work on the big screen,Bryan Singeris no stranger to television. He currently serves as an executive producer onLegion, FX’sX-Men TV seriesthat debuts on February 8 at 10 PM ET. He also directed the pilot episode of Fox’s hit seriesHouse, and served as an executive producer throughout the show’s eight-season run. He also served as an executive producer onDirty Sexy Money, the web seriesH+,Black Boxand the short-livedBattle Creek. There have been rumors that he is also directing anotherX-Menmovie in Montreal, but that has yet to be confirmed at this time and could even be in reference to this pilot. Hopefully we’ll have more on thisFox Marvel X-Men TV Show
