World X-Men Real life Series- (Like Smallville)

[Booznian]

I mean now that Heroes is out it would be kind of stupid, but why not make an actual series like Smallville and base it off like X-Men evolution.

 

[ComicChick]

i always thought an x-men live action series similar to smallville would be great.

my idea was having season 1 be the original 5's first time together in the mansion. it would show them adjusting and learning their powers and stuff, with flashback episodes or something to show origins of their powers and such, and their recruitment. i had the season finale (maybe a 2 hour installment) being the culmination of Issue # 1, their first meeting with Magneto.

then the seasons would continue in a similar style, going by incidents from the books, with the cast growing as new X-Men come into the fray.

 

[ComicChick]

this reminded me of something, so i looked back at some older threads and found this one, where someone else brought up something similar.

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243412

you might wanna check that out and see what you think

 

[GL1]

This so needs to be done. I wouldn't copy the comics exactly word for word, and I'd center a lot more on the characters' relationships and how these things affect their personal lives, and even incorporate some stuff from "X-Men: First Class" but, I think you guys get the basic idea.

Starting with the first five would be an awesome idea, keeping it centered on those guys for the first season, and giving them a sizable amount of human supporting characters/extras seems like the thing to do to emphaize their position in life.

Give it it's own continuity, take the best of everything.

 

[ComicChick]

GL i like your idea on focusing on the characters and giving it its own continuity, a la smallville.

but i would kinda like it to follow the comics to some point. not exactly word for word, but like how certain events happen, meeting certain people, facing foes.

like season 1 i envision xavier and the original 5, season ending with magneto.
throughout the season we'd see how the team grows and gets along, and maybe flashback episodes to show how their powers manifested and how they are growing and improving their powers with training, exercises and whatnot.

i think a nice nod to the comics would be when jean arrives (the first girl), and everyone is fawning for her, and cyke gets her a chair. that should be in there.

then i kinda pictured the beginning of season 2 being the repercussions of magneto's attack, anti-mutant hysteria, foh forming, brotherhood forming. i think some of the less-known villains can be left out. i dont want a Freak of the Week syndrome.

towards the end of the season, alex and lorna join, cuz if im not mistaken, they were the next to join the ranks.

 

[GL1]

Hmmm... what about Banshee?

I feel you on the Magneto as the season ender of Season 1 (meaning that he'd be building to that all season), but the mutant problem lends itself immensely towards the freak of the week thing. There's always a new mutant either coming into his/her powers or being discovered and dealing witht he reprocussions, the X-Men are there to intervene/help. Sometimes the new mutant can be in need of rescue... sometimes they can be the problem, it all depends.

That's my idea, but the key issue is: SOMEthing needs to be happening during season 1. I can definitely understand keeping the 'order of joining' from the comics mostly intact, that's understandable.

I'm not sure about doing too many flashbacks... an episode that focuses on a character could have a flashback that deals with the crisis at hand WHILE showing some historic event, but if the past is that important, then start there instead of spending a lot of time trying to fill it in.

I kinda see the FoH as existing from the very outset, though, Magneto's actions just give them more power. Perhaps having them as a throwaway militia at first, not to be taken seriously, that suddenly becomes deadly in season 2 under new leadership sounds kinda fun.

I'm kind of divided on Havok and Polaris... I think they and Banshee are among the next crop before the BIG influx with Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Colossus (which perhaps should be saved for a later season), but I don't see a TON of stories with Havok and Polaris, especially since they analogue so easily with Cyclops and Jean. Banshee as british intelligence holds plenty of intrigue, but Havok and Polaris seem like they qualify best for a multi-episode arc rather than permanent cast additions.

 

[ComicChick]

I'm not sure about doing too many flashbacks... an episode that focuses on a character could have a flashback that deals with the crisis at hand WHILE showing some historic event, but if the past is that important, then start there instead of spending a lot of time trying to fill it in.

I kinda see the FoH as existing from the very outset, though, Magneto's actions just give them more power. Perhaps having them as a throwaway militia at first, not to be taken seriously, that suddenly becomes deadly in season 2 under new leadership sounds kinda fun.

i like ur points on flashbacks and the foh.

i think the show should follow the comics to some point, such as the order of who joins, but that's not to say that alex and lorna have to stay or that others who came in after them, can't come in at the same time or something. they can take liberties with that.

as for freak of the weeks, i dont mind people coming into their powers, i just don't want it to seem forced kinda like some episodes of the first season or so of smallville was. each episode doesn't have to start and resolve a plot point. personally, i kinda prefer storylines that last a couple episodes, not always wrapped up in one. when they're fleshed out, we can get to know the characters and motives better.

 

[GL1]

Being female is a matter of birth, being a woman is a matter of age, being a lady is a matter of choice

Your sig is hot.

That said, you're right, while it would be easy to do a bunch of mutant-arrival stories, it'd be better quailty wise to stretch a few out over some episodes. I like that.

Dude, this show could be so hot, I don't know why people are so obsessed about X4, when we could have a 7-year TV series, easy...

 

[PhePhe112]

who would you all get to play the x-men??

 

[ComicChick]

Your sig is hot.

That said, you're right, while it would be easy to do a bunch of mutant-arrival stories, it'd be better quailty wise to stretch a few out over some episodes. I like that.

Dude, this show could be so hot, I don't know why people are so obsessed about X4, when we could have a 7-year TV series, easy...

i'd prefer the tv series. you get a weekly fix, instead of waiting months and months

 

[Mike059jig]

who would you all get to play the x-men??

a bunch of nobodies...this show would be cool if its like X-men evolution revolving around their highschool years and early college years....heroes is about as close as they could make the X-men ala smallville......but other than that all its mutant X all over again.....horrible show

 

[ComicChick]

who would you all get to play the x-men??

me personally, i'd try to stay away from big name actors, because then you see them and not the characters.

but that doesn't mean we have to cast complete unknowns either. i like how Heroes was cast; some were unknowns, while some were not super famous, but somewhat known.

 

[Abaddon]

I think I'd prefer a Generation X live action series. I see the original X-Men fitting more into their own animated series, since they've never really had the chance.

 

[masterj]

What you'ev got to remember is that the show's budget would only allow for a few mutants with special effects. They would porbbaly go for mutants wiht eaiser powers to communicate like Jean, Rogue, Shadowcat, Cylops and Wolverine. Mutants like Storm, Nightcralwer and Colossus would probably end up only featuring in flashbacks or one fof episodes as they're powers are too cost effective to show properly or the make up length actors would have to endure would be to long.

I'd like to see a main team of Rogue, Jean, Gambit, Cylclops, Wolverine and Shadowcat. These effects are all very easy to do and the charcaters are interesting as well. Villains could inlclude Magneto, Mystique, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Emma Frost. I wouldn't want a huge cast but then again not too small. Maybe start off with about 4 or 5 main X-Men and end up with about 7 with cameos here and there. I wouldn't want a mutant X quality show.

 

[ComicChick]

What you'ev got to remember is that the show's budget would only allow for a few mutants with special effects. They would porbbaly go for mutants wiht eaiser powers to communicate like Jean, Rogue, Shadowcat, Cylops and Wolverine. Mutants like Storm, Nightcralwer and Colossus would probably end up only featuring in flashbacks or one fof episodes as they're powers are too cost effective to show properly or the make up length actors would have to endure would be to long.

I'd like to see a main team of Rogue, Jean, Gambit, Cylclops, Wolverine and Shadowcat. These effects are all very easy to do and the charcaters are interesting as well. Villains could inlclude Magneto, Mystique, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Emma Frost. I wouldn't want a huge cast but then again not too small. Maybe start off with about 4 or 5 main X-Men and end up with about 7 with cameos here and there. I wouldn't want a mutant X quality show.

budget was another reason i thought it'd be better to not cast a-list celebs. i think it would be worth the company spending a few extra bucks to get good effects.

like on smallville, he doesn't use his powers in every single scene, but when he does it's a treat. and for the most part, the first members of the x-men didn't have physicalities that would require tons of makeup. beast wasn't always blue, iceman would be better done with effects. in shows like buffy and angel, the actors were committed to the roles and would sit in the chairs for hours becoming the monsters and vamps, because it helped the show.

i think dedicated actors would do it. they could start off with the original 5, whose powers wouldn't be too expensive on the budget compared to some. and then if they brought in polaris, the only thing that they'd need to do to her would be change her hair to green which could be dyed or wigs.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I think this would be a great idea, but I wouldn't start off the season with only the first five.

I would have the first five present, but a bit older, early to mid twenties, with a fairly big number of other young mutants at the school. Have it established that the first five were the first members of the shcool, and that it's grown since then. Originaly, I thought it would be cool to start them young, but that poses some problems, namely, Wolverine.

I know people are getting tired of him, but lets face it, a live action X-men tv show just won't work without Wolverine. He's the most popular X-men, and after the big three (Bats, Supes, Spidey) he's probably the next most popular to the general audience. Starting off with the first five being 17 to 18yr olds would pose a problem, because when Wolverine gets introduced, he'd be a guy that looks like he's in his mid 20's to 30's hitting on an 18yr old chick (Jean), and that's just kinda weird.

Starting them off at 20 to 25ish would allow them to introduce Wolverine after the first season instead of 3 or 4.

For the main storylines, we could follow a coupple characters, mabye make some like Rouge, Gambit, and Kitty Pryde some main characters that are younger, 16 to 17yr olds, and then also the lives of the first five. Throughout the first season I'd have the show deal with their lives and the hate they experience, all the while showing Magneto building his support for the finale of the Season. Throughout the season I would also make references to other popular mutants (obviously Wolverine to tell the audience that he will be in it later) and such.

 

[PhePhe112]

yeah i agree about casting no-names. if i come across some ppl i'll post pics of who should be who.

 

[GL1]

I'm immensely sure an X-Men show would work without Wolverine. If we watch a Superman show without a Superman (Smallville), a superhero show without Superheroes (Heroes) and they be widly successful, I'm sure that X-Men can survive without Wolverine, since they do so all the time.

I think we've already seen what happens when we fast forward so we can introduce Wolverine in the movies, I personally, among other, am sick of it. It's doable without Wolverine, so lets leave him out for a few seasons.

That said, when Wolverine is introduced (I'd suggest in season 4, along with Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus coming itermittetly throughout the season), I don't think he should be the saint he was in the movies. Let him be a bad boy, let him hit on the 19 year old chick. I think it takes a lot away from Wolverine if we try to make it so that he doesn't do anything wrong.

So, who's for a three-episode intro about how Xavier starts the school and aquires his first students?

Use FoH and a scheming in the background not-yet-Magneto Eric Lensherr seems like good story-arc fodder. I don't think it should be raw superhero action from the gate, but more and more superheroic elements should be introduced as time goes on.

 

[ComicChick]

So, who's for a three-episode intro about how Xavier starts the school and aquires his first students?

Use FoH and a scheming in the background not-yet-Magneto Eric Lensherr seems like good story-arc fodder. I don't think it should be raw superhero action from the gate, but more and more superheroic elements should be introduced as time goes on.

i think the better part of the first season should revolve around their recruitment and adjusting to life at the mansion.

i'd like to see how they come to terms and start learning their powers, and their training with each other. i'd like to see how they interact with one another, and how they see the world around theme as anti-mutant hysteria rises.

i say i want it to start with the originals because we haven't ever gotten a show with them. tas had the most popular ones at the time. evo had half older, half younger.

and as much as i love rogue (one of my faves of all characters, any books), i want her to start out as a villain. i want to see the struggle she faced on the brotherhood as her powers drive her crazy and i wanna see her turn to xavier for help. i think the reactions of everyone in the house to her, from their dislike and disdain for her, along with her feeling of loneliness would be good tv

 

[Infinity9999x]

I'm immensely sure an X-Men show would work without Wolverine. If we watch a Superman show without a Superman (Smallville), a superhero show without Superheroes (Heroes) and they be widly successful, I'm sure that X-Men can survive without Wolverine, since they do so all the time.

I think we've already seen what happens when we fast forward so we can introduce Wolverine in the movies, I personally, among other, am sick of it. It's doable without Wolverine, so lets leave him out for a few seasons.

That said, when Wolverine is introduced (I'd suggest in season 4, along with Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus coming itermittetly throughout the season), I don't think he should be the saint he was in the movies. Let him be a bad boy, let him hit on the 19 year old chick. I think it takes a lot away from Wolverine if we try to make it so that he doesn't do anything wrong.

So, who's for a three-episode intro about how Xavier starts the school and aquires his first students?

Use FoH and a scheming in the background not-yet-Magneto Eric Lensherr seems like good story-arc fodder. I don't think it should be raw superhero action from the gate, but more and more superheroic elements should be introduced as time goes on.

That might work, but the difference with Smallville is, they still have superman in it, just without costumes. And yes, there really aren't any supervillians in it, but how many really popular villans, among non comic fans, does Superman have besides Lex Luthor? The average joe doesn't know who Metallico or Parasite are, and many don't even know Doomsday. That's why Smallville works. I don't think you could do that with a Spider-man show, because Spider-man has so many known villians.

The only problem I see with waiting four seasons before introducing Wolverine is the simple fact I stated above, he's too popular. I know people are getting extremely sick of it, but what x-men approach has been successfull to the general public without Wolverine? There really hasn't been one. The fox cartoon had Wolverine, and the movies had Wolverine. It would be kind of like starting a Batman tv series and not introducing the Joker for four years. People would get annoyed.

Now, I know people are getting sick of Wolverine, I'm getting sick of Wolverine and he's my favorite x-men. I won't read his comics anymore because he's been elevated to a stupid power level, but that said, I just don't know if you could do four seasons of an X-men show without introducing Wolverine. Maybe 1.5 to 2 seasons in, but not four.

And one reason I aged the x-men in my idea, was Jean really 19 when Wolverine was hitting on her? I thought she was a little older.

So, who's for a three-episode intro about how Xavier starts the school and aquires his first students?

Use FoH and a scheming in the background not-yet-Magneto Eric Lensherr seems like good story-arc fodder. I don't think it should be raw superhero action from the gate, but more and more superheroic elements should be introduced as time goes on.

I really like that idea, especially the scheming Magneto idea, that would build great tension throughout the series.

 

[GL1]

i think the better part of the first season should revolve around their recruitment and adjusting to life at the mansion.

i'd like to see how they come to terms and start learning their powers, and their training with each other. i'd like to see how they interact with one another, and how they see the world around theme as anti-mutant hysteria rises.

I feel you on that, definitely. I'm just trying to figure out what story arc would best fit that situation, there's got to be something going on in the outside world not just random occurances, but as a TV show, it should lead to something... just not quite sure where all that anti-mutant hysteria goes. I think Eric playing politician, feeding anti-mutant hysteria to bring about his war, or push Charles (And his student's) hands, seems interesting.

But yeah, that should all just backdrop the establishing of the school and JUST beginning to learn their powers... like... Cyclops' FIRST ruby quartz, the FIRST time Jean lets herself go (TK wise) and Iceman overcoming snowballs...

I think Angel could get expensive, but perhaps reusing the same wing riggings it could all balance out. I love your idea of Rogue as a villain... FINALLY. I didn't even know she had been in the Brotherhood for years. You couldn't tell watching TAS.

The only problem I see with waiting four seasons before introducing Wolverine is the simple fact I stated above, he's too popular. I know people are getting extremely sick of it, but what x-men approach has been successfull to the general public without Wolverine? There really hasn't been one. The fox cartoon had Wolverine, and the movies had Wolverine. It would be kind of like starting a Batman tv series and not introducing the Joker for four years. People would get annoyed.

Superman's very popular too, but do you see him in Smallville? Nope, all Clark Kent. Lois Lane is very popular as well, was she in season 1? 2? 3? Was she even a regular in Season 4 or just a guest star in a couple episodes? Would people be annoyed with the Begins franchise if it didn't have the Joker in 2? 3? Perhaps that would make them all the more ravenous for him, making his intro that much better.

Basically, I'm not buying that Wolverine is MORE important to X-Men than Lois Lane is to Superman. I'm very sure people would not get annoyed, based on history.

Also, just because Wolvie was there doesn't make him the magic ingredient... examples:

Before Smallville, what Superman approach has been successful without Superman? Without Lois Lane? Without Jimmy Olsen? Perry White? The Planet! When has that ever happened?

Before Begins, what approach to Batman has ever been successful without the Batmobile, without Commissioner Gordon? Without a miraculous gadget belt?

Before Heroes, what show about people with superpowers has ever been successful without costumes, without codenames... without a supervillain?

I know Wolvie's your favorite, but he's not necessary and he prevents us from telling the Origin story that people want to see... that Hasn't been seen before, and thus is more interesting. If we feel that we HAVE to have Wolvie and thus the X-Men HAVE to already be formed, then we put ourselves back at X1, and most consumers would give that a 'been there done that' pass. It's best to make sure the show is notably different from the movies in multiple aspects, including roster. The audience knows all about Wolverine, changing the show to fit him, just like the movies were changed to fit him, creates a stale played out experience. By designing the team around a played out character, you create a played out team.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I feel you on that, definitely. I'm just trying to figure out what story arc would best fit that situation, there's got to be something going on in the outside world not just random occurances, but as a TV show, it should lead to something... just not quite sure where all that anti-mutant hysteria goes. I think Eric playing politician, feeding anti-mutant hysteria to bring about his war, or push Charles (And his student's) hands, seems interesting.

But yeah, that should all just backdrop the establishing of the school and JUST beginning to learn their powers... like... Cyclops' FIRST ruby quartz, the FIRST time Jean lets herself go (TK wise) and Iceman overcoming snowballs...

I think Angel could get expensive, but perhaps reusing the same wing riggings it could all balance out. I love your idea of Rogue as a villain... FINALLY. I didn't even know she had been in the Brotherhood for years. You couldn't tell watching TAS.



Superman's very popular too, but do you see him in Smallville? Nope, all Clark Kent. Lois Lane is very popular as well, was she in season 1? 2? 3? Was she even a regular in Season 4 or just a guest star in a couple episodes? Would people be annoyed with the Begins franchise if it didn't have the Joker in 2? 3? Perhaps that would make them all the more ravenous for him, making his intro that much better.

Superman is in smallville, he just doesn't wear his costume. Clark Kent isn't in Smallville, it's Kal El who's in Smallville. That's Superman's real personality. Now, you do make a very good point, Lois wasn't introduced for a very long time, but to the general population Lois is just Superman's future wife and the girl he always saves. She's not as interesting a character. And yes, people would be very annoyed if they didn't put the Joker in the 2nd Batman movie, and probably ready to kill someone if he wasn't in the 3rd.

Basically, I'm not buying that Wolverine is MORE important to X-Men than Lois Lane is to Superman. I'm very sure people would not get annoyed, based on history.

Also, just because Wolvie was there doesn't make him the magic ingredient... examples:

Before Smallville, what Superman approach has been successful without Superman? Without Lois Lane? Without Jimmy Olsen? Perry White? The Planet! When has that ever happened?

Before Begins, what approach to Batman has ever been successful without the Batmobile, without Commissioner Gordon? Without a miraculous gadget belt?

Before Heroes, what show about people with superpowers has ever been successful without costumes, without codenames... without a supervillain?

Again, this is a very good point, which is why I don't think you're wrong either. I'm just not totally sure. See the thing is, to the general public Wolverine is the X-men, but that's not necessarily a good thing either.

I know Wolvie's your favorite, but he's not necessary and he prevents us from telling the Origin story that people want to see... that Hasn't been seen before, and thus is more interesting. If we feel that we HAVE to have Wolvie and thus the X-Men HAVE to already be formed, then we put ourselves back at X1, and most consumers would give that a 'been there done that' pass. It's best to make sure the show is notably different from the movies in multiple aspects, including roster. The audience knows all about Wolverine, changing the show to fit him, just like the movies were changed to fit him, creates a stale played out experience. By designing the team around a played out character, you create a played out team.

Wolverine is my favorite, but the over exposure has made me weary of him. I love the wolverine from the Claremont/Miller Mini series that could be killed if he was injured too badly, one that wasn't a mindless killing machine...basically a more human Wolverine.

Now, it is a good point you make in saying it could be too much like X1, it very well could be, and that could hurt the show, a good reason not to introduce Wolverine too early. But one thing I would be wary about is, is it really what people want to tell the origin story of the first five X-men? When they were introduced in comics, it tanked. Will the tv series do better?

Now, I'm not saying Wolverine HAS to be in the show after 2 seasons to be good, I'd just be wary of it, but, if the writing's good enough, I do think the show would work fine. Also, delaying the introducting of Wolverine would build up the other characters, and when Wolverine is introduced he wouldn't have to be a major player. You would be able to make him more like he originally was, not the overblown character he's become, which would be nice.

 

[Abaddon]

i think the better part of the first season should revolve around their recruitment and adjusting to life at the mansion.

i'd like to see how they come to terms and start learning their powers, and their training with each other. i'd like to see how they interact with one another, and how they see the world around theme as anti-mutant hysteria rises.

i say i want it to start with the originals because we haven't ever gotten a show with them. tas had the most popular ones at the time. evo had half older, half younger.

and as much as i love rogue (one of my faves of all characters, any books), i want her to start out as a villain. i want to see the struggle she faced on the brotherhood as her powers drive her crazy and i wanna see her turn to xavier for help. i think the reactions of everyone in the house to her, from their dislike and disdain for her, along with her feeling of loneliness would be good tv

Yes, very good points.

They touched on Rogue's past a bit in TAS, but it'd be cool if they'd delve into her history with The Brotherhood more. This is a young woman who was raised by terrorist! She'd been around some of the most dangerous mutants throughout her young adulthood and they were like family. I don't even think they'd need to get into the Ms. Marvel stuff either. Not for a while anyway. It work pretty well in Evolution. Speaking of which, as far as how she displays her powers, I think it'd be cool if her powers were shown as an electrical effect, similar to Evolution.

 

[ComicChick]

i know a lot of people are saying that they'd like to see a show based off of evolution, but how bout taking off from Ultimate X-Men's beginning?

the first arc i thought was great. it respected the old and brought a fresh face to the characters to attract new readers. i wouldn't mind it starting off like that.

 

[Abaddon]

The first arc could play out like a movie.