Support NeoGAF

[TheOddOne]

- THR: 'Legion': TV Review.

It might seem weird to have a Marvel show on FX, or to have it star that upper-crust Brit from Downton Abbey, filtered through the creator of Fargo, but somehow it all works. Three episodes of Legion — in all their cracked visual glory — were enough to want the rest of the season immediately.

- TVLine: Legion Review: An Exhilarating Delight, Even if You Don't Like Comic Books.

Comic-book fans might be eager for Legion to hurry up and get to “the good stuff,” connecting David to the X-Men universe they know and love. But I’m not in any hurry. Speaking as someone with next-to-zero knowledge of comic books, this is the first superhero show I’ll be adding to my DVR’s season-pass list. Legion has created a compelling world that firmly stands on its own… and I look forward to Hawley and the cast dazzling me even more in the weeks to come.

- IGN: Legion: "Chapter 1" Review.

Like Fargo before it, Legion feels like more than a mere TV show. Some comics fans might be disappointed by its avoidance of core X-Men mythology (so far, anyway), but at the same time Legion is very faithful to the character of David Haller. How Hawley and his team can sustain the intrigue and visceral feel of this pilot episode remains to be seen, but I’m anxious to see what they have in store for us.

- More reviews.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

In Hawley We Trust

 

[SpaceWolf]

So is this connected to the film universe?

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

I really want to watch this but don't have the channel that'll be airing it here in the UK

 

[Glass Rebel]

Only 8 episodes?

This just shot from top spot to TOP spot of my most anticipated CB TV series.

 

[jon bones]

Yeah, I'm in - I like FX and this seems disconnected enough from the mess of an X-Universe.

Only 8 episodes?

This just shot from top spot to TOP spot of my most anticipated CB TV series.

Also a big plus.

 

[Silkworm]

So is this connected to the film universe?

Maybe, but we need to go deeper. Let's connect this to Fargo film/TV universe ;-) Lorne Malvo was really a mutie!

 

[Rad-]

This looks really good. I like the cast as well.

 

[Boem]

I don't care at all for the X-Men movies (or superhero stuff in general at this point), but this being done by the guys who did Fargo has my attention. I'll give it a go. Very happy that it's not too long.

 

[Pandora012]

Thought I recognized Kerry, she plays a character in Longmire.

 

[Geist-]

Looking forward to this. X-Men and mutants always seemed like a better concept for TV anyway since it allows them to really dig into the more hardcore themes.

 

[Mix Master]

X-men film universe is beyond fucked up... AGAIN.

 

[TheOddOne]

So is this connected to the film universe?

- Variety: ‘Legion’ Has to Prove Itself Before Potential X-Men Crossovers, Says Creator Noah Hawley.

FX’s “Legion” is the first television series based on Marvel’s X-Men characters, who’ve been depicted on the big screen in nine feature films from Fox. Creator and executive producer Noah Hawley has downplayed the potential for a crossover — but he’s not ruling it out.

While

Spoiler

Xavier

and his cohorts may appear in “Legion” at some point, says Hawley, no such meeting is planned for season one. “It’s sort of a non-starter to say

Spoiler

James McAvoy’s going to be in my show

,” Hawley says. “I’m not saying never, but certainly not in the first year of it. You’d have to pay those guys so much money to begin with. You’d have to pay them movie money in a different medium.”

Neither will Hawley be lifting storylines from the comic books and adapting them for the show. As an example of how such efforts can go wrong, he points to the way that fan-favorite comic-book arc “The Dark Phoenix Saga” was handled in director Brett Ratner’s “X-Men: The Last Stand.”

 

[Khaz]

I thought Marvel Television was limited to the MCU? Why do they even need them if it's tied to X-Men?

 

[jon bones]

I thought Marvel Television was limited to the MCU? Why do they even need them if it's tied to X-Men?

Marvel traded some characters for TV X-Men rights. I don't think we know all the details.

 

[Discotheque]

Sounds like the best comic show already

Fox killing it in 2017 with this and Logan

 

[Mix Master]

Marvel traded some characters for TV X-Men rights. I don't think we know all the details.

Hopefully the Fantastic Four rights were traded.

 

[TheOddOne]

I thought Marvel Television was limited to the MCU? Why do they even need them if it's tied to X-Men?

- Variety: ‘Legion’: Creator Noah Hawley on Taking FX Series Beyond X-Men.

“The X-Men universe is not a universe that they control,” says Landgraf. That authority lies with FX parent 21st Century Fox, which is developing a pilot for another “X-Men” series at Fox Broadcasting.

The relationship between Fox and Marvel on the feature-film side has long been contentious. (No détente, as was struck when Marvel and Sony brokered a deal to collaborate on future “Spider-Man” films, is in the offing: The Avengers and X-Men will not be teaming up any time soon.) But with former “Heroes” executive producer Loeb leading Marvel Television, and Peter Rice, who developed the first “X-Men” movie back when he was a film executive, heading Fox Networks Group, the two companies have struck a more collaborative tone on series projects.

“Frankly, they’ve been pretty bold,” Landgraf says in praise of Marvel’s TV efforts. And he notes that Marvel executives have been outspoken on “Legion” when they’ve had concerns about how the character was being handled. But not too outspoken.

 

[jmizzal]

Cant wait for this, should be a good one

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

Very excited for this. Hard to believe that Legion is getting his own show but I'm in for Noah Hawley.

 

[The Driver]

- Variety: ‘Legion’ Has to Prove Itself Before Potential X-Men Crossovers, Says Creator Noah Hawley.

Sounds less like an issue of "we can't pay Hugh Jackman to come through" and more of them wanting to distance themselves from having to connect to a universe that's all over the place when it comes to quality and continuity.

It helps the main character has reality warping powers though so they have a built-in excuse to weave that universe in or out at will.

Excited as hell for this. Connection to the X Men universe or not I've been waiting for something to come along that can use the comic book thing and not just do a villain/monster of the week format with it.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

To be honest this looks way more compelling than the comic character ever was.

 

[Cornballer]

Thanks for the thread. I've been looking forward to this because of Hawley and the cast - hope it turns out well.


- NY Mag feature: Noah Hawley Is Hearing Voices - Can the Fargo auteur bring superheroes to prestige cable with Legion?

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

From the trailers alone it puts all other superhero shows to shame, tbh. It looks like a legit great show instead of great for a superhero show.

 

[Strike]

Been keeping an eye on this since it was announced. Hope it's good.

 

[Toki767]

When does this start? Tomorrow?

 

[Cornballer]

When does this start? Tomorrow?

February 8th. TheOddOne can be a little early with his OTs. *coughs*

 

[Prompto]

Looking forward to this. Hope this is as great as it looks.

 

[squidyj]

Jemaine Clement is in this?

 

[Mix Master]

Legion is professor X's son right?

 

[Himynameischris]

I thought this started back in January and thought I was way behind, good to know I'm not! I'm really excited for this.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

Legion is professor X's son right?

He is in the comics. Don't know if they'll actually bother to keep it canon for this show, though.

 

[StoopKid]

- Variety: ‘Legion’: Creator Noah Hawley on Taking FX Series Beyond X-Men.

The xmen tv rights are so confusing.

I think fox owns them but has to have marvel sign off for them to start production.

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

Legion is professor X's son right?

Yeah he is in the comics but I don't know if they'll directly reference Xavier in the show. They haven't mentioned him at all in the promo material I think so this is probably a stand-alone show.

 

[Discotheque]

He is in the comics. Don't know if they'll actually bother to keep it canon for this show, though.

Hopefully not. It would undercut xaviers character and the dynamic he has with wolverine in the films

 

[Glix]

Whoa those reviews are glowing.

May have to check this out, Muir Island Saga were the first comics I ever bought when I was 6th grade

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

Yeah he is in the comics but I don't know if they'll directly reference Xavier in the show. They haven't mentioned him at all in the promo material I think so this is probably a stand-alone show.

Could be that they want it to be a big twist for the uninitiated viewers.

 

[Slayven]

Legion is professor X's son right?

yes, but they were going to have him go back in time and rape his mother to father himself. But everyone ignores that

 

[Grizzlyjin]

I'll take a good show over shoehorned cameos and shared universe connections. I have a feeling more discussion online will revolve around lack of the latter two.

Glad to see the reviews are solid. I'm not particularly eager to watch another comic show, but this looks just different enough for me to give it a chance. Plus the small episode number is nice to hear

 

[Mr. Poolman]

Legion is awesome on comic books, so I'm willing to give this show a chance.

Don't blow it Fox.

 

[Slayven]

Calling my shot now

Spoiler

Legion's friends will actually be his "friends" aka his personalities

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

Could be that they want it to be a big twist for the uninitiated viewers.

Possibly. But I bet they'll just ignore Xavier and create their own mythology barely tied to the X-Men stuff. That's pure speculation on my part but I would imagine that Hawley wants to have as much freedom as possible.

I just hope they don't go the Supergirl season 1 route where they keep referencing him without ever saying his name.

 

[Slayven]

I hope season two they have him go up against Mad Jim or Proteus

 

[midramble]

Am I the only one excited for Aubrey Plaza?

Weird Legion getting a solo thing. AoE is really the only thing I think of when it comes to him. Kinda messed that whole thing up...

 

[Strike]

Am I the only one excited for Aubrey Plaza?

Nope. Love her.

 

[Jocund]

Am I the only one excited for Aubrey Plaza?

Not by a longshot, bucko.

 

[Dabanton]

Dan Stevens = insta watch for me, looks like a very solid show.

 

[jon_i634]

I'm super excited for this show! I couldn't care less about the comic book aspects, but with Noah Hawley and Dan Stevens, I will 100% watch this. Hawley hasn't disappointed yet; Seasons 1 & 2 of Fargo are some of the best stuff out there.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Who the hell is Jemaine Clement supposed to be playing?

Sebastian Shaw? Harry Leland?

Gotta be someone from the Hellfire Club, right?

 

[enzo_gt]

Hopefully this is good/Singer didn't dip his hands too deep into this.