Back in October, we reported that FX has issued a pilot order for a newX-MenTV series entitledLegion.FargocreatorNoah Hawleyis set to write the pilot script forLegion, with the writer confirming shortly after the show was announced that it will stand alone from the massiveX-Menmovie universe. Today,Deadlinereports that the first cast member has signed on, withFargoactressRachel Kellerset to play the female lead.
Rachel Kelleris best known for playing Simone Gerhardt inSeason 2ofFargo. She impressedNoah Hawleyand FX executives so much in that show that they gave the actress her first leading role inLegion. The actress has previously appeared in the 2014 indie feature Hollidaysburg, along with guest starring spots onThe MentalistandSupernaturallast year.
TheLegionpilot episode will introduce 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.Rachel Keller’s character is said to be, “a scrappy, optimistic woman in her 20s.”
There are rumors that thefemale lead’s powers may be associated with human touch, which could be similar toX-Menmutants such asRogueor Spyke. It isn’t known if this unspecified character has also been diagnosed as a schizophrenic like David Haller, or how she comes into contact with him. It isn’t known when production may begin, or when FX may be eyeing to air this 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. What do you think about the first casting addition forLegion?
