Last month, FX’s upcomingX-MenTV seriesLegionadded its first cast member, withFargostarRachel Kellersigning on as thefemale lead, although her character wasn’t identified. Today we have word fromVarietythat three more cast members have been added,Dan Stevens,Aubrey PlazaandJean Smart. The project reunitesJean SmartwithRachel KellerandFargoseries creatorNoah Hawley.
Dan Stevensis portraying the lead character 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. WhileRachel Keller’s exact character has not been revealed, she is said to be, “a scrappy, optimistic woman in her 20s.” This report reveals that David is about to give up when he meets the “woman of his dreams,” who may beRachel Keller’s character.
Aubrey Plazais playing David’s friend Lenny, who is trying to turn her life around despite struggling with addictions to drugs and alcohol. She is described as having “the likeable energy of the impossible optimist,” despite her personal demons.Jean Smartis playing a therapist, described as nurturing yet demanding, who has unconventional methods. It isn’t clear how many other main characters have yet to be cast in the series.
Noah Hawleyis executive producingLegionalongsideLauren 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 Martian),Jeph Loeb(Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,Marvel’s Daredevil), James Chory (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,Marvel’s Daredevil) and John Cameron (Fargo,The Big Lebowski). Fox is also developing its ownX-Menseries dubbedHellfire, which will be created byEvan Katz, Manny Coto,Patrick McKayandJD Payne. Production onLegionis expected to begin in March.
Noah Hawleyrecently revealed that his show is not exactly set in theX-Menmovie universe, but in a “parallel universe,” where the US government is first becoming aware of mutants, although the general public still doesn’t know they exist. The series creator also said that he doesn’t think there will be any crossover between the movies and his show. What do you think aboutDan Stevens,Aubrey PlazaandJean SmartjoiningLegion?
