Live action X-Men TV series?

[RetroNaz]

I could see a teens in school thing working.

Sort of like a One Tree Hill/OC thing, but with Mutants!

 

[Heretic]

The way to go would be with X-Men: First Class, instead of wasting precious movie cash on it, use it as a series to fill in the holes between the movies.

If they go with a First Class movie, then it wuld make little sense to do a very simlar New Mutants tv show.

And others have said, an issues filled teen drama would be the main thrust, with powers and other expensive stuff used wisely.

 

[Primal Slayer]

An X-men show would be totally doable on a tv budget, they would just have to be more creative on when to use the power, which charecters use their powers in which episode. Jeans powers are easy, same with Cyclops. The most challenging would probably be Iceman and Storms depending on if you want Iceman to actually ice up and how far you would go with Storms weather capabilties. If you kept the cast to like 5-6 charecters, it would be totally fine.

And if anything, flying is probably the most expensive depending on how they do it since then they have to actually get insurance on the actor and all the computer work to get rid of the wires. Charmed did plenty of powers just fine as does Heroes.

 

[Jordacar]

I would start with a pilot movie that would basically be the First Class (Cyclops, Jean, Beast, Angel, and Iceman) in action, and from there start bringing in the other iconic members like Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler. And though the network would probably never go for it, I'd like to hold off on Wolverine till about halfway thru season 1, really build up to a point where things have gotten more dangerous for the X-Men that bringing a trained killer into the group suddenly makes sense.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I think characters like Beast/Nightcrawler/Angel would only show every now and then since it would be to time consuming and expensive to have them in every episode.

 

[Maximus One]

Lol ever seen Farscape?? Not too big a stretch makeup wise

 

[Primal Slayer]

Lol ever seen Farscape?? Not too big a stretch makeup wise

Nope. Heard of it but never seen it. Do they have big blue furry creatures in their show on a constance basis?

 

[Jordacar]

Nope. Heard of it but never seen it. Do they have big blue furry creatures in their show on a constance basis?

In a word? Yes.

 

[Majik1387]

You know I been thinking, for a tv show, you can totally make the Sentinel's guys on stilts so that they are closer to their original design, and if the show ever was a hit, later down the episodes/seasons, the can be upgraded to tv CGI.

 

[Kii]

The makeup team on Farscape was amazing.

 

[Ultra Lantern]

Don't forget all the Star Treks had at least one alien on the ship.

example: Star Trek the Next Generation had Worf.

 

[Jordacar]

They'd have to plan it out like 5 seasons in advance, like Babylon 5. It wouldn't be the kind of show where they could just make it up as they went along and do it any kind of justice.

 

[Obsidian Idea]

I had an idea for a TV X-Series:

Back Story
Prof. X has been presumed dead after going on a mysterious, secret mission without the knowledge of the X-men. The grief stricken team (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Beast, Gambit, and Kitty) decide to go their separate ways with a few choosing to remain at the Xavier Institute. His death results in the Institute being left to Scott and Jean.

Eventually, philosophical and personal matters cause Jean to leave the institute and divorce Scott. With anti-mutant propaganda rising, government sanction programs being passed, and enemies waiting in the wings, Scott decides to become proactive. He chooses five of the Institutes most capable students, and begins to groom them as the future of the X-men.

The series would take the approach similar to X-men: Evolution with the young X-men in training at the center of the series and the adult X-men as supporting cast, depending on episodes and the story.

Cyclops, Beast (human form), and Kitty along with featured guests characters would act as teachers and staff.

For the X-men-in-training, I combined Young X-men, Generation X, New X-men and New Mutant characters to touch on all the groups that have represented the future of the X-men. I thought of a team consisting of: Hellion, Anole, Dani Moonstar, Sunspot, M and Jubilee. There were other formations, but basically, I would like to see all the young teams represented as the x-men-in-training.

Emma Frost would join the X-men in the beginning as the new team telepath for the adult X-team and the Institute in general. Her history as a Hellfire Club member and enemy of the X-men would all be intact, but she's "reformed." I'd kind of play her character like Wolverine and X-men did but there are some twist and turns behind her actions.

Jean would have started her own institute, similar to what Emma Frost did with Generation X. Her staff would consist of Iceman, Banshee, Havok and Multiple man and their squad is known as X-Factor. Her school is sanctioned by the government as well as the team. The school is also openly known for being a school for mutants and ordinary humans. Because Jean and her school are sanctioned, X-Factor can respond to threats more openly than the covert, X-men. Jean would later in the series be given the uncomfortable task of bringing the X-men to the authorities.

Storm, Rogue and Gambit would eventually return to the cast as guest characters now and then. Wolverine would return with news about what happened to Xavier later on in the show.

The first season, the X-men would deal with the vigilante militia, Friends of Humanity, The Morlocks, a new Brotherhood of Mutants and the season would end with a Sentinel attack. All the while, the mystery of what happened to Charles Xavier would be a running subplot until the end of the second season.

I tried to par my ideas down so as not to have a super long thread. That's my idea in a nutshell.

 

[DawnWarrior]

I've been thinking a lot lately about the possibilities of seeing our super-heroes on TV. It's starting to look (at least to me) like the next great frontier to conquer. Right now there's a general sense that TV is a bit impenetrable, like super-powers have to be kept to a minimum because of budget, flashy costumes aren't allowed, etc, but I wonder if that could change. Sure we have stuff like Smallville, but super-hero shows that adapt the comics directly and faithfully really don't exist right now. 10 years ago, there were only a few big-budget super-hero movies, and now we get 4 or 5 every year. So I wonder if the time will come soon when the super-heroes start invading prime time. TV certainly has advantages that movies don't, mainly in the series format. You can make 3 Spider-Man movies in 7 years, but you can make 132 hours of television in that same amount of time, which would cover a lot more story.

I'm not sure if X-Men would need a big 5-year plan. Maybe a 1 year plan. I mean, super FX action is great, but I've read a LOT of issues over the years where they barely use their powers (although when they do use them, they can use them a LOT, so I really don't know). X-Men really is about the characters, and there's a lot of great characters, which would make it a great fit for TV, assuming it's even feasible.

I like the idea of starting with the original class (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, Iceman, Professor X), but not for the entire first season. I also like the idea of holding off on introducing Wolverine onto the team until like episode 9. I suspect though that the network might insist on having Logan in there from the beginning, so there might be a way to split the difference: focus the first part of the show on the First Class, but also have, like, Wolverine side-stories that would serve as the b-stories for those episodes, showing Logan roaming the countryside like The Man With No Name, getting into fights and righting wrongs while searching for clues to his past, until he meets up with the team. It may not be in every episode, but it might work to fit this kind of Wolverine Prequel Series right in the first part of the show proper.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I would have liked if they had made First Class into a TV series instead of a movie. The whole drama of Prof. X and Magneto and the formation of the X-men could last for a couple of seasons.

 

[Jordacar]

If Marvel can get the rights back from Fox (unlikely I know), I think they should strongly consider a move to prime time. We've had the animated shows (all of them good), and the film franchise was pretty much run into the ground by the studio.

But like DW was saying, TV makes a lot of sense for a sprawling ensemble series like X-Men.

 

[jaymes_e06]

I think characters like Beast/Nightcrawler/Angel would only show every now and then since it would be to time consuming and expensive to have them in every episode.

Star Trek anyone!!?
Really this isn't an issue at all.

 

[jaymes_e06]

Anyway here is an exert from my X-men series I was making a while ago. It's basically like what people have said here Gossip Girl meets the X-Men.

Spoiler

(Time Lapse: All the X-Men are in the War Room, a room of which they discuss strategy)
Cyclops: Professor, easy… now can you explain to us everything calmly?
Prof. X: I’m not sure if that is possible Scott.
Jean Grey: Don’t worry, I got it Professor. (Jean turns to her compatriots) So I guess he knew this guy, a mutant guy, and he totally pulled a Darth Vader and turned on him. He was in the slammer but broke free. Am I getting this right so far Prof? (Prof. X who can’t help but looking bemused nods his head in reassurance. She goes on) Now P. X. thinks that he’s tryin tah make this big “ka-bam” (waves her hands ferociously) at the Power Plant.
Beast: In English that would mean?
Storm: (trying to elaborate what Jean meant) He is trying to destroy the power plant…(all look at her serious)
Cyclops Cont.: (realization)…and with it half of New York City.
Beast: (jokingly) Thanks Ororo.
Storm: (quips) What can I say? I’m the Jean translation expert.
Beast: (to Prof. X) (confused) But how do you know it is truly him, you said his helmet prevents him from being targeted by psoinic attack, or found psychically, if you don’t mind me asking, of course Professor?
Prof. X: Trust me Hank; I know it‘s him. (he investigates the room) Where is Logan?
(Logan walks in looking oddly suspicious)
Logan: (as if he heard Prof. X’s beckoning) Y-Yeah.

Prof. X: You will be in over-all command (Scott looks extremely uncomfortable and glares at Logan behind his large ruby quartz sunglasses, which are the only thing keeping him from staring directly at Logan eviscerating him completely with raw energy. He silently wishes he could release his force blast from his eyes and hit Logan with all he had. All unbeknownst to Logan at the other side of the room)
Jean Grey: This should be cool. (She says starring at Logan fawningly)
Logan: I don’t know professor… this isn’t what I signed up for. Besides I’m not much of a leader.
Jean Grey: Cummon it’ll be fun? (His scowl turns to bemusement)
Prof. X: Don’t be modest Logan. You come with great credentials of leading in combat from the Canadian Army. Now, all of you, suite up. (he says dismissing his self doubt as if he wouldn’t hear another word of it and leaves, with Cyclops on his tail )
(Enter scene in the hallway with Prof. X and Cyclops speaking)
Cyclops: What do you even know about this guy? I don’t understand… Why didn‘t you choose me to lead the team?
Prof. X: Oh Scott, Your not ready.
Cyclops: Your wrong. (He hit’s the wall on his left side with his right fist) Your wrong!
Prof. X: Scott… (he examines him quickly then squints his eyes in concentration) This isn’t just about leadership over the team. Your jealous of him aren‘t you?
Cyclops: I’m NOT---(Prof. X raises an eyebrow as if to say “Your not fooling anyone“) I hate when you do that.(he says in reference to him using his powers to scan threw his mind and emotions)
Prof. X: Well that is the consequence when have a conversation with a telepath. (They share a grin then Cyclops begins to walk away)
Cyclops: (serious) I just don’t trust him is all.. (Then he walks to the Locker Room where the rest of the X-Men are suiting up)
(Time Lapse: Men’s Changing Room: Cyclops, Beast, and Wolverine)
Cyclops: You know it’s only cause your old?
Wolverine: What?
Cyclops: That he let you lead the team. It’s because your old.
Wolverine: (correcting) Older. Wiser, is how I like to think of it.
Cyclops: Whatever.
Wolverine: You been ridden me since I got here. You have some kind of problem with me bub?
Cyclops: And if I do? (Beast steps in between both men who are obviously very heated)
Beast: We do not have time for this my compadres. (They ignore Beast and ready to fight)
Cyclops: Are you even a mutant? The only power you’ve showed so far is the ability to be a pain in my ass. (Just as he ends his sentence Logan balls his fist and raises it to Scotts eye level and suddenly three claws retract. Both Beast and Cyclops look at him in disbelief as within his other hand arise three more matching pair)
Beast: Oh dear.
(Logan flinches at Scott who slightly winces)
Wolverine: (Logan stops himself from impaling Scott as if a light bulb went off) Aw you’re not worth it. (he then walks away extremely angry)
Cyclops: That’s right walk away, you coward!
(Time Lapse: X-Jet hanger: all the X-Men)
Wolverine: So who’s supposed to be flyin this thing because I---
Cyclops: (sarcastically) Don’t worry “captain oh captain” I’ve been certified pilot since I was 12 years old.
Wolverine: (quips) So that was when? Last week?
Cyclops: How dare you-
Storm: My Goddess, shut up! You guys bicker like children…. (she begins walking up the stepladder to the Jet)
Storm Cont: And I’m driving! (They both follow her egregiously)
(Enter Shot of the X-Jet cutting threw the air)
(Enter Shot of the X-Jet descending form the heavens and landing in a field not far from a privacy chain linked fence that secures a building called “Worthington Power”)
(Enter scene of The X-Men running threw the power plant and stop. Magneto is there.)
Magneto: Hello my brothers. Now is the time to rise up from our human oppressors.
Cyclops: Yeah I don’t feel so oppressed. How bout you guys? (he says to his teammates as they shrug in as if to say “no not really”)
Cyclops: By the way Erick, Charles sends his regards.
Magneto: Really. Well I see he has children do his dirty work as of late.
Cyclops: (sarcastically) Well he’s crazy that way but then again yeah well he’s not the one trying to destroy millions of people. (to himself) Where the hell is Logan? (Logan jumps out from behind Magneto about to strike. Magneto, not even looking back, whips his hand out and put Logan in a form of suspended animation. Then throws him seemingly incapacitating him)
Magneto: hmm…
Cyclops: Flank him now!
Storm: Right.(fight scene each x-men fights Mags and is over powered. Cyclops is the only one who is having any luck shooting him several times with optic blasts, though it barley fazes him. Then suddenly he is knocked on the head by small generator that seemed to from nowhere have come loose. The broken generator creates sparks that become flames that are gaining intensity)
(Cut to Jean looking down seeing the flames are heading towards a nuclear reactor. She focuses then suddenly crystal -like energy surrounds the flames. The flames intensify and she focuses harder until it is to much for her. She reaches out to Storm’s and Beast’s minds, who are knocked out. They awake readying for battle.)
(Cut to Storms eyes turning milky white. Suddenly a dark gray, almost black, cloud hovers over the entire industrious plant.)
Beast: (to Storm) ( yelling) NO! It’s a chemical fire. It wont work.
Storm: You got a better idea?
Beast: Jean let down your force field.
Jean: (confused) What? No!
Beast: Trust me.
(Jean lets down her force field reluctantly, to say the least. Flames begin to violently dance through the chemical plant. Beast jumps to an enormous feat up over the flames and lands down near a fall-out shower, made in case of chemical fire. He then yanks off the nozzle and repositions it as s make-shift hose. It takes out the most of the flame except for the few putters of smoke and fire that where unreachable to him.)
Beast: My compatriots, I believe it is time for us to go.
Jean: Not without Scott.
(enter scene with Cyclops passed out next to a smiling Magneto hovering over him. Scott has his butt in the air as he sleeps. Mags looks disgusted then, using his power, throws a small metal ball at his head with low force. Cyclops begins to come to.)
Magneto: Scott…. Scott…
Cyclops: (wakes up and jumps into battle stance watching Magneto beckon for him) How do you know my name?
Magneto: You are always in control of your life, aren’t you? It is not surprising really, why you always have to be in control. Your childhood lacked so much of it, you know with your parents and brother all dieing the same day orphaning you at such a young age. You had no one.
Cyclops: Doctor Phil, thanks for the psycho analysis but I think we should just fight--
Magneto: (interrupting) What if I told you your brother wasn’t dead?
Cyclops: I’d say you’ve been hitting the Holliday nog a bit to much.
Magneto: He is alive Scott, and he is with me. You want to be with your brother? (Cyclops looks at him unable to hold back his glee, if his brother where truly alive) Then join me?
Cyclops: (considering) Even if I did believe you ,which I don’t. (he says as if to convince himself) Why help me?
Magneto: I see something in you. A drive to be a leader that Charles does not. ( He begins to levitate upward) Think about it my son. ( Then he burst a hole through the ceiling and is out of cameras sight)

(Just then Wolverine Jumps into the air just before Magneto is completely out of sight as if he is trying to grapple him with his claws. He falls down to be greeted by the rest of the X-Men.)
Wolverine: Must have scared him off. (Jean looks at him as if in a state of hero worship)
(enter scene: Next morning: Back at the mansion: Jean and Scott in the cafeteria Scott looks extremely distant.)
Jean Grey: (concerned) You alright? You’ve been more monosyllabic than usual.
Cyclops: (dismissively) I’m fine. (walks out leaving Jean with her words)
(enter scene with Professor in his study. Storm enters)
Prof. X: (Not turning away from the window he’s starring out of) Storm.
Storm: I hate it when you do that. (looks at him concerned) You alright?
Prof. X: I just can’t believe… I failed you all as a leader. If Logan hadn’t been there I- I…
Storm: You can’t win them all Professor. (She says putting her hand on his shoulder in consolation)
(enter scene with Magneto and Mystique talking at his secret headquarters)
Mystique: I don’t understand Erick, why didn’t you just kill them? You could have so easily.
Magneto: Because my dear…. It’s more fun this way.
(enter scene with Logan on a phone looking suspicious)
Wolverine: Everything is going to plan sir.
Voice on the other line: Splendid.
Wolverine: (looking down the hall at Jean and Storm talking to one another) I think “Red‘s” my way in.
(cut to black. End episode)

 

[mr. peasant]

I agree that a Gossip Girl type of setting would gel well with X-Men; staying true to the 'school for gifted youngsters' concept of the original comic. Also, I think such a show should aim for a sort of middle ground between Misfits and Heroes; with the teen mutants trying to be normal and keep their powers secret but with some arc elements thrown in for good measure.

Question though is, which characters? While old favourites like Cyclops and Wolverine would be obvious choices, I think the younger crop would be a better fit and be less jarring to see altered. As for getting around the need for Wolverine, the show could have him be a recurring mentor as well as go with X-23 - who is literally a hot, teen, female version of Wolverine. Also, I can't help but imagine Hellion as some sort of Chuck Bass type bastard.

 

[Jordacar]

I like the idea of starting with the original class (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, Iceman, Professor X), but not for the entire first season. I also like the idea of holding off on introducing Wolverine onto the team until like episode 9. I suspect though that the network might insist on having Logan in there from the beginning, so there might be a way to split the difference: focus the first part of the show on the First Class, but also have, like, Wolverine side-stories that would serve as the b-stories for those episodes, showing Logan roaming the countryside like The Man With No Name, getting into fights and righting wrongs while searching for clues to his past, until he meets up with the team. It may not be in every episode, but it might work to fit this kind of Wolverine Prequel Series right in the first part of the show proper.

They kinda did something similar with Magneto in First Class, started with him off solo with his own agenda until his plotline collides with the main one. Actually, the harbor sequence is one of my favorite scenes in the movie, where all the story threads converge. It'd be fun to see that kind of thing every few episodes, especially if it's built up a lot like the Wolverine thing you suggested.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Can't say I'm a fan of X-Men Evolution meets Gossip Girl.

I do think you can have a reasonably adult show, with sophisticated writing. A lifelong struggle between two ideologues with the fate of the world in the balance. But also some decent action, and big conflicts. But not every episode has to involve Sentinels, armies and the X-Jet. You can do a whole story arc in the Savage Land. Or focus on individual X-Men story arcs.

 

[Jordacar]

In a word? Yes.

I was wondering, how did this show cost only around $2 million per episode while "Terra Nova" (which also filmed in Australia) cost around $4-5 million?

 

[Mogwai]

I'd like to see a series with Prof X and the original 5.

 

[Thundercrack85]

If done right it could be great. What's the worst thing that could happen? Mutant X.

It would have to be more character focused than the movies, obviously. Making Professor X a protagonist like First Class, rather than a supporting character would help a lot.

But you'd need a lot of planning out.

 

[mr. peasant]

Here's an idea:
Instead of setting it in a high school, make it a university. Same, relatively young characters (no difference casting-wise, really) except easier to get away with bigger stakes, more independence from parental figures and no creepy subtext of an older man in a position of authority luring and spending huge chunks of time alone 'mentoring' a group of minors (yes, I just compared Prof X to a paedophile).

Way it works is Prof Xavier is a (Political Science?) lecturer in a university while the X-Men are 'gifted students' on scholarship. Their tutelage under Prof Xavier can either be a secret or under a guise of a mentorship programme. The setting could either have the existence of mutants a secret or the university having a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in place.

Other characters can fit right in too; with Erik Lensherr/Magneto as one of Xavier's fellow lecturers (perhaps a History lecturer?), the Brotherhood as either a frat house or secret society, the Hellfire Club likewise (a descendent of the original one by Lord Dashwood?) and Senator Robert Kelly being either a dean or a member of the board of directors.