FX Networks has ordered the pilot for Legion, the story of a troubled young man who may be more than human, it was announced today by Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, Presidents of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions.
The pilot introduces the story of David Haller: Since he was a teenager, David has struggled with mental illness. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he’s confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real.
Noah Hawley (Fargo, Bones) will write the pilot and serve as an Executive Producer along with Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Wolverine), Bryan Singer (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Superman Returns), Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Martain), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s Daredevil), Jim Chory (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s Daredevil) and John Cameron (Fargo, The Big Lebowski).
The pilot for Legion will be produced by FX Productions and Marvel Television, with FXP handling the physical production.
“Legion is just the sort of ambitious story that Noah excels at,” Grad said. “His adaption of Fargo for television was one of the most acclaimed television events in recent memory. It’s also an honor to partner with Marvel on Legion and to enlist such an accomplished team of Executive Producers to create this pilot.”
Legion is the latest project from Hawley and Cameron, two of the Executive Producers of the Emmy® and Golden Globe® -winning FX limited series Fargo.
FX's 'X-Men' Take 'Legion' Taps 'Fargo' Favorite to Star
FX has cast the female lead in its X-Men drama take Legion.
Fargo favorite Rachel Keller has been tapped to star in the drama, reuniting with showrunner Noah Hawley, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The Legion pilot introduces the story of David Haller, a man who may be more than human and who has has struggled with mental illness since his teenage years. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he is confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real. In the comics, David is the son of X-Men founder Charles Xavier (aka Professor X) and Israeli Holocaust survivor Gabrielle Haller. The character first appeared in New Mutants #25 in March 1985.
Keller will play the female lead, described as a scrappy and optimistic woman in her 20s. As with most Marvel fare, more specific details about her character are being kept under wraps, including her potential powers, though it's rumored she may be an incarnation of Rogue and Spyke.
The casting comes after Keller's breakout turn as Simon Gerhardt in season two of FX's Fargo. The role was the actress's first leading gig and helped her become a fan favorite.
The network has tapped Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens, Parks and Recreation grad Aubrey Plaza and Fargo alum Jean Smart to star in the pilot from Noah Hawley, Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The Legion pilot introduces the story of David Haller, a man who may be more than human and who has has struggled with mental illness since his teenage years. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he is confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real. In the comics, David is the son of X-Men founder Charles Xavier (aka Professor X) and Israeli Holocaust survivor Gabrielle Haller. The character first appeared in New Mutants #25 in March 1985.
Stevens will play David. Diagnosed as schizophrenic at a young age, trying to find his way back to sanity, but he's getting tired and is about to give up when he meets the girl of his dreams.
For Stevens, the role marks his TV follow-up to Downton Abbey, where he played Matthew Crawley for three years (and 25 episodes). He most recently starred as the Beast in the live-action Beauty and the Beast movie. He's repped by WME, Julian Belfrage Associates and Peikofff Mahan.
Parks breakout Plaza will play Lenny, David's friend, who despite a life of drugs and alcohol abuse, knows that any day now her life is going to turn around — which gives Lenny the likeable energy of the impossible optimist despite her rough demeanor.
Since wrapping NBC's Parks, Plaza, who has received multiple offers this pilot season, has focused on film with features Dirty Grandpa, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Joshy. She next has Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. She's repped by CAA, MGMT Entertainment and Schreck Rose.
Smart, who reunites with Hawley after her role in season two of FX's Fargo, is set as Melanie, a nurturing, demanding therapist with a sharp mind and unconventional methods. The actress' role in Fargo earned her a Critics Choice Award for supporting actress in a limited series. The three-time Emmy winner next stars in The Accountant. She's repped by WME and Untitled Entertainment.
Stevens and Plaza join the previously cast Rachel Keller, a Fargo season two breakout who will also reunite with Hawley on Legion. Keller will play the female lead, Syd, a self-sufficient and street smart woman who uses her sharp and prickly demeanor to protect her soft core because even though it makes her a sucker and puts her at risk, she still believes in happily ever after.
Legion hails from FX Productions and Marvel Television, with FXP overseeing production. Hawley, who has an overall with FXP, will write the pilot and serve as an executive producer alongside Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men: Days of Future Past,Wolverine), Bryan Singer (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Superman Returns), Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Martian) and Marvel Television topper Jeph Loeb (Agents of SHIELD, Daredevil) and Jim Chory (Daredevil). John Cameron is also on board as a producer, via his overall deal with FXP, marking his and Hawley's latest collaboration after Golden Globe-winning anthology Fargo. Production on Legion will begin in March.
Think Colin Bucksey might direct the pilot. Dude did win an Emmy for Fargo, so that's a point in his favor.
Or Adam Bernstein (as Bucksey's a producing director on Showtime's Ray Donovan, & maybe tied up). He helmed the Pilot of Fargo (for which he earned an Emmy nod), and is presently a producer-director on WGN's recently debuted Appalachian drama, Outsiders. They're probably finished with production of their first season, so he may have time on his hands.
