[dropcap size=small]P[/dropcap]rofessor X and his gifted youngsters could be heading to the small screen.
FOX confirms that they are in talks to adapt the X-Men property into a live-action television series, thus adding yet another iteration of comic book heroes to the TV landscape.
The Hollywood Reporter claims sources tell them that 24 producers Evan Katz and Manny Coto are involved in the X-Men project as showrunners, with the series being penned by Star Trek 3 writing duo Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, who will share a “created by” credit. FOX declined to comment on any of their involvement, and assures that the potential project is still in the very early stages of negotiation.
Those negotiations are what will ultimately lead the mutant-based show to sink or swim. FOX is in talks with their studio counterpart 20th Century Fox, who own the screen rights to Marvel’s X-Men characters, to bring the franchise to television. Still, FOX would need Marvel to sign off on the deal, whose parent company Disney currently has comic book-based shows on the ABC network including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter– not to mention the 5 upcoming straight-to-series titles for Netflix: Daredevil, A.K.A. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Defenders.
Marvel would still need to sign off on the X-Men deal, and with rumors already swirling that Disney is trying to limit 20th Century Fox’s uses for the X-Men characters with a Marvel Comics mutant retcon, they may not be so quick to sign off on the deal.
If the deal does move forward, however, don’t expect to see it in the near future. While the deal is in the works, there is no specific talent attached, and it’s unlikely that a show would be ready before the 2016 – 2017 season. There is no word on whether the television series would tie into the X-Men film universe, or stand on its own.
Would you tune in to an X-Men TV show? Let us know in the comments below!
