X-Men the live action TV series, or Xavier's Institute

[Artistsean]

I had this idea a while ago, a live action X-Men TV series. If they can make a live action show out of Buffy, Angel, Smallville, Heroes, and shows like that, X-Men should be doable.

So I will post my ideas about the show here. I hope my writing is coherent enough.

Plot: This shows the formation of the X-Men at the very beginning. This is long before “Mutant” is a household term. Not even Charles Xavier uses it, even though he might know it. (But if he knew it he would use it. Maybe it’s a word that is just starting to be used.) We start out with five young people living separate lives and keeping a secret from everyone. They feel alone, like they are the only one on Earth like this. Charles Xavier, a man who is also “gifted” decides to open a school for the Gifted. He creates the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, a school for “Gifted” students, and a safe haven for them. There he plans to not only give these students a proper education, but to also help his students learn to master their new and amazing powers, and teach them to use these powers to better man kind. (Fighting and combat never enter into the equation for Charles. However, when his school is continuously dragged into battle, where they are the only people who can stand against the threat or when they have to defend themselves or defend someone else, it does become an issue.)
Premise: It’s a show like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Smallville,” or “Heroes.” These are real people living in their real world, but in their world there are mutants. But we also want things, at least in the first season or two, to have an air or strangeness and unsettling like Heroes has. At first it seems like these are the only people with powers, almost no one else on Earth has “Mutant powers.” Wolverine is really the only member, in season two, with any sort of uniform and it’s barely a uniform. It’s left over from his days as a Canadian Secret agent or something. Magneto dresses in a dictator like uniform that also has metal in it so that he can fly and so forth.
Like with Smallville, there should be no costumes. But I think another rule should be added, No Aliens and not too much time travelling. As far as costumes go, Not even uniforms like in the movies. However the Xavier Institute does have school uniforms, yellow and blue clothing with X symbols. Not sure why he would do this, but it might be to give the students a sense of unity. Help them feel they are not alone. The primary focus of the Xavier Institute is to be a school and a safe house for mutants and to teach them to use their powers, but Xavier also teaches how to deal with the hatred and fear they will face. He dreams of a future where “Gifted” Humans and Average Humans live together in harmony. But still the primary focus is the school, at least for the first few seasons (like with Buffy).
When the show first starts the cast ranges from 16 to 19. Imagine the first episode of Buffy, how small the cast was and how young they seemed. In season two the newer ranges from 17 to 20 something with Logan being the only exception. Eventually, as the cast ages and newer members join the cast, the age range will be around 20 to 29. Of course, like Buffy and those shows, the actual age of the actors can be different as long as they look their characters age. The cast would be somewhat revolving and be an ensemble cast. Not one person is the star, and if one cast members leaves its OK.
[FONT=&quot](No matter how long the show lasts, 5 seasons at the least hopefully, the characters should always grow. The stories should always serve to shape the characters world and the characters themselves.)[/FONT]

 

[Artistsean]

The Cast of Characters

It all begins with
Professor Charles Xavier: Professor Charles Xavier is a 30-35, possibly 38, year old man. Charles is about average height for a man his age, and he is bald. He is in good health other than being paralyzed from the waist down. He is a highly educated man, and a very noble, kind, honest, and good man. Like his students he has a special gift, one he has had since he was a very small boy. Charles, like a few of his students, came from a traumatic childhood. Charles was born in Scotland. His father died when he was very young, if not for his special powers he might not remember him. Charles remembers him being extremely kind hearted and gracious, someone worthy of looking up to. To make sure her son had a father and that they had enough money she married right away, this time to an abusive drunk. Along with the new father Charles got a half brother. (Wait, if Cane is his half brother doesn’t that mean that his father is his real father? That means his abusive father is his real father and he doesn’t have another father. Either he has a different mother or a different father. He has the same family ties as he does in the comics. Anyway&#8230 On top of the abusive from his father Charles was abused by his step brother, or half brother, his half brother Cane was much bigger than him. That is when his “Gifts” started to emerge.
Charles has the mutant ability to read minds, talk to others through thought, follow or find others psychically, and control others. He might even have some slight telekinesis.
Despite the fact that there are seemingly very few people with “gifts” or mutations, Charles knows that the number will grow. These gifts are a part of evolution. Charles knows that mankind will hate and fear them, possibly try to destroy them. Charles has a dream, where Mutants (or the Gifted) live along side average humans in peace. His mission is to show mankind that there is nothing to fear, that we are all humans. He has developed a very detailed plan with stages and steps that will hopefully help him and his X-Men, and any fellow “Gifted” people, do this. (Although in the comics his methods and motives, and even actions, have become dubious and aren’t always good, I think the TV show’s Charles should be very kind, wise, and always have the best in mind. He tries to be a good representative of the “Gifted.” Although he is only human and has flaws, he is still a very good person.) He creates a school for the "Gifted" (or mutants), a safe place for the students to get an education, learn to use their powers, learn how to be responsible with their powers, and a safe place for all mutants.
In the first season he is the sole teacher of his small class of students. But he is also their caretaker. Since they are under his care he must do things with them like teach them to drive.

 

[Artistsean]

Scott Summers/Cyclops: He is a 19 year old kid; he is about 5’8” tall and about 150 or so pounds, with the unusual gift of optic blasts or being able to blast energy from his eyes. Scott is a very mature young man, taking responsibility for everything and everyone. He is the natural leader of the team, and is sometimes too serious for his own good. He can sometimes be too stiff and humorless. He is one of the most honest and noble people you can meet. He can also be a goof and somewhat dorky, and never on purpose. He takes everything so seriously, and sometimes too seriously.
He discovered his abilities at a young age, well before puberty. Originally he came from a happy and loving home. He lost his parents and brother in a plane crash when he was around 8 (maybe), his father was a pilot and the family took their small plane out one day for a picnic, but something went wrong. He was then in an orphanage until he was around 10 (maybe). His powers emerged in the orphanage; this was about the time that Charles Xavier found him. Scott can’t control his powers, an injury from the crash; he cannot turn off the laser eyes. Another side effect of the crash is that Scott sort of connects his gift with the death of his family. Charles spent endless hours and days with young Scott trying to help him control his powers but in the end all they could do was find something to block his powers, ruby quarts lenses. These were crafted into glasses for young Scott and he wears them at all times, and when he doesn’t he holds his eyes closed so tightly. Scott is Charles’ first Xavier Institute student; he was also sort of adopted by Charles back then. He looks at Charles as a father.
Scott and Jean begin dating in season one, maybe even near the beginning. They seem like the perfect couple. The two develop a psychic link, their minds are connected. At times, when Scott has lost his visor or his glasses, Jean acts as his eyes giving him a psychic vision of what she sees. When season two introduces Logan, eventually a there is a slight love triangle. The triangle should be settled around season three, with Jean and Scott staying together. Scott Summers is the first Xavier student. His was orphaned and almost raised by Charles Xavier.

Jean Grey/Marvel Girl: The show starts with Jean Grey as a 17 or 18 your old young woman. Her special gift is to move people and things with her mind, and she is learning how to read peoples thoughts. Jean is a very happy person; she is very well adjusted and carefree. But she also knows when to get serious. This wasn’t always the case, as episodes that focus on her will show. She was very young when her “gifts” manifested. She couldn’t control them, or handle them. It was all too much for her. She was saved by Charles Xavier. Xavier and Jean’s relationship on the show should be something like a father and daughter. Her family was supportive; they just didn’t know what to do. Her character on the show is very caring and kind. It should be easy to see why Scott Summer, Logan, and many others have crushes or fall in love with her.
Somewhere in the series Jean’s Phoenix saga could be dealt with, mostly because fans might be expecting it. But Since the cartoon show dealt with it, the movie dealt with it, it might be OK to not focus on it so much and maybe even change it. Since there would be no aliens on the show, it is possible to down play the magnitude of the Phoenix.

Sometime between Season One and Season Two, Hank accidentally mutates himself further. (Possibly while trying to cure himself.) His body becomes covered in blue fur. His fur covers his entire body, even spots where it just seems like blue skin, there is a tiny thin layer of blue fur.

Hank McCoy/Beast: When the show starts Hank is a 19 or 20 year old guy, he is about 6’ tall or more and has a football player’s physic. His hands and feet are also very slightly larger than normal. While his size is built for sports like football, Hank takes more joy in science and math and other academic studies. He looks like a jock Hank often acts very geeky, and likes to quote poets and scientists and other great thinkers. This is his mutant ability, he is insanely genius able to read a page faster than he can turn it and learn a new language in a matter or days. Along with his mind he is also strong and agile. Hank can move around like a gymnast with great flexibility and ease. His powers developed sort of as he grew. Hank grew up in an abusive home, his father, but because of his gift (his size) his father left him alone. (I wanted his past to not be squeaky clean. But I’m not sure if this is the way to go.) One day Hank stopped his father from hurting his mother and forced his father out the door. He never saw his father again. Hank is a gentle giant, a poet inside a bully’s body. (For effects reference, look at Lord of the Rings for enlarged feet and hands.)
Hank always seems perfectly content and happy. But as the show progresses we crack his positive bubble and see that he is unhappy and feels like an outcast. In a few episodes we watch as he tries to create a chemical to relieve him of his “gifts.” He does it in secret (but then what about Xavier?) One day he creates something. However the chemicals further mutates him. He becomes even more of a furry beast. He is covered head to toe with blue fur. If he were to shave it all though, he would look back to normal, but he decides to embrace his look and mutation. And as the show continues on he becomes even more positive and happy and a champion of and for mutants.
As the show progresses, season after season, the cast grows, shrinks, and changes. Characters leave, characters come back, and new characters come in, and so on, just like Angel or Buffy or Smallville. In Hank McCoy’s case, he leaves to go onto college at a University and becomes a professor. But he is one of the cast members who I would definitely want to have return.

 

[Artistsean]

Warren Worthington III/Angel: Warren is, again at the start of the series, an 18, 19, or 20 year old and air to his father’s fortune and company. His is about 5’9”, blond hair, blue eyes, extremely good looking, and very charismatic and charming. His “gift” or mutant power came at puberty, it started small. But within a few months Warren had large white feathered wings growing from his back. For a while Warren was able to hide them from his father, but when his father found out he sent his son to the Xavier institute. It was almost like he was trying to hide his son. While he is rich and charming and could live off of that, Warren also has a hero complex. For a very brief period after his powers developed Warren took to the streets as “the Avenging Angel” and tried to stop criminals and save people. As the Avenging Angel Warren wore some protective gear (minimal) and carried a baton and a bat. He doesn't dress like a superhero, more like a vigilante. Maybe he is the person on the team who wants to be a super hero and is a fan of comic books. He is proactive. He wants to get out there and do something, whether it’s protesting, marching, fighting, anything. He cannot just sit by and watch. His wings cannot go back inside his body. There are like extra appendages, always there growing out of his back. So its important to show him have wings on his back in every scene with him. Even though his father was sort of ashamed of him, Warren loves his wings. They are his greatest joy. And he loves nothing more than to just fly around. In an episode that takes place several seasons in, perhaps why he leaves the show for a while, Warren’s wings are broken, paralyzed, or cut off, by a team of assassins called the Marauders. Warren becomes deeply depressed and has to leave the team for a while. He could even leave the show for a while because of that. And if doing the Apocalypse story idea isn’t too expensive for a TV series, it would be cool to have him become Archangel, with blue skin and metallic wings, and even have the archangel tattoos that Nightcrawler had in the X-Men movie. But that idea isn’t a must. When he leaves the show it could be because he feels he is old enough now, and is taking over his father’s company. He plans to use his company to further Xavier’s goals.

Bobby Drake/Ice Man: Bobby Drake is the youngest of the team, about 15 or 16 years old. Bobby’s family is middle class, but not as well off as Jean’s family. They aren’t as loving and supportive either. Bobby has the gift of lowering the temperature around him to create ice or snow; he can also survive extreme cold temperatures. Bobby acts younger than the rest of the team too, he doesn’t know when to stop joking or talking. But he is also very kind and carefree. He tries hard to make friends. For expense purposes he doesn’t have to turn into solid ice, or cover himself with snow or ice in the beginning. It could be like the movie where he looks human all the time, but creates ice around him from his hands. Eventually though Bobby should to turn icy. Maybe in earlier episodes he can have snow on him, sort of like he just came in from the snow. He could have snow on his shoulders, hair, and so on.

Nurse Amelia Voght: During Season One Amelia is Charles’ girlfriend. She was his nurse at the hospital when he was recovering from the injury that crippled him. She fell instantly for him; she loved his strong beliefs and his will to change things. During the course of season one he and her date, she is even at the X-Mansion on several episodes and takes part in discussions. She is not just a silent, off camera, girlfriend. But things aren’t always happy with her and Charles. He often gets too rapped up in his agenda and his X-Men to spend time with her and she is often not even considered. The two are just on two different paths, Xavier shouldn’t be a jerk. Towards the end of Season One Amelia and Charles break up. Charles is usually shown single, but once in a while he does date, but not often and usually nothing serious. This would give the actor more to do, especially during scenes when the X-Students are out doing something without Xavier. Don't want him to become one of those adult characters that is later written off the show.

 

[Artistsean]

Magneto: AKA Magnus, AKA Eric Lensher (spelling?). He is a 30-38, or possibly a tiny bit older, man. He looks younger, perhaps than he actually is because his “gift” could keep him looking young somehow. He is about 6” tall and in good physical shape. He has silver looking hair, premature for his age. He is a person with a special “Gift” or mutation. His power is to manipulate, control, and telekinetically move all forms of metal. Magneto is a man with a mission of his own, one that started out on the same path as Charles but took a drastic turn. But to understand why he is doing what he is doing it is you must first know where he came from, his past. Eric grew up during WWII, he and his family were captured by the Nazis and placed in Concentration Camps. He is the sole survivor of his family, and saw first hand the horrors of the Nazis. It was in these Camps that Eric first discovered his gift. And perhaps how he survived, and maybe even escaped. Years later he met Charles Xavier, a fellow gifted person. Through flashbacks in later episodes we see the story of their friendship. At first Charles and Eric tried to use their powers for good, roaming around trying to help people. But this wasn’t enough for either of them. Magneto was very connected to the X-Men, and their plans, very early on. But Xavier saw more and more Magneto’s true agenda and couldn’t let that happen. After a violent argument the two went their separate ways.
Magneto talks and acts, very noble and regale, but he acts with violent force and speed. While Charles Xavier preaches tolerance and peace, Magneto strongly advocates violence against the Homo Sapiens. He may even be a little racist against them. Magneto respects his old friend, even though he knows Charles is wrong. Charles is constantly trying to get Eric to see that Mankind and the “Gifted” can live together. Magneto is constantly trying to make his former friend Xavier see that that can never happen and should never happen, that mankind is a primitive monster and that “Homo Superior” is taking over.
It should be very clear that Magneto isn't exactly a bad guy, although in Season One is is THE main bad guy so to speak.

 

[Artistsean]

Magneto's Brotherhood
Magneto is considered a terrorist, so even though he feels he is just spreading his way of though like Charles his Brotherhood is considered a terrorist group.

Pietro Maximof/Quicksilver: He is one of Magneto’s students. He is a young man with the mutant gift of super speed. He is also Magneto’s son, only he may not know that yet. He has light grey hair that went grey prematurely from his “gift”, and has a runner’s body. His costume allows for fast movement in no matter what he does. Maybe he wears a lot of form fitting clothes because of that. Peitro does everything at super speed; it is hard for him to slow down. He even thinks faster, talks faster, and acts faster; it is because of his gift that he is very impatient. In his eyes he is constantly weighting for everyone to catch up. He looks up to Magneto like a father, even though he has no idea that Magneto is his father. He strongly believes in Magneto’s vision. The show should try to never show him acting slowly, even if it’s something like getting a glass of water.

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch: Another one of Magneto's first students. She is also his daughter, and she probably knows that she and her brother Pietro are Magneto's children. But she probably keeps it secret from Peitro and Magneto. Like her twin brother she is about 19 or 20. She has a strange "gift" that seems almost like magic, she also can shoot energy projection. She and her brother are fraternal (spelling?) twins; add that to the fact that they are "gifted" and haven't had a real home their whole lives, they are practically inseparable. She believes in Magneto and his vision, but not as strongly as her bother. He is almost unquestioning, while she has many doubts.

Fred Dukes/Blob: Fred is another one of Magneto's students. He is in his late teens and early twenties, like around 18-21. He was set to go to the X-Mansion and become one of Charles' students but was scooped up by Magneto, He was actually a Xavier student for a part of one episode but leaves when he is offered something better at the Brotherhood. Fred like what Magneto had to say better. His mutant power is superhuman strength, endurance, durability and resilience, personal gravity field, all thanks to his size. Fred's body is more like a fit sumo wrestler. He has no real costume, I just added those pics of him in a classic X-Men uniform (from the comics) to show what his body looks like. He strongly believes in Magneto's vision just as Cyclops believes in Charles'. For a brief instant it might be cool to see Fred wearing an Xavier Institute uniform. But then he defects to the Brotherhood.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Mortimer Toynbee/Toad: Mort is a young man with a mutant “gift” much like Beast’s, in his physical capabilities only. He is extremely agile and flexible, he can move around like a frog or a toad which is where he got his name. Because of his strange appearance Mort was bullied and picked on a lot, and not just in school.

 

[Artistsean]

Not all X-villains in Season One are in the Brotherhood.

Cane Marco/Juggernaut: Cane is Charles' half brother. He and Charles grew up in an abusive home, and he in tern abused Charles as well. Cane stands at 6'10". He is approximately 32 to 37, maybe even 39 years old. He and Charles share the same abusive alcoholic father, but have two different mothers. His powers include super strength, speed that builds with his momentum, and being seemingly unstoppable at high speeds. I am not sure whether or not to make Cane a mutant or not. I like the idea of him being a mutant, but since this is a show we could bring in the magic element here. Cane constantly shows up to make trouble for his brother, but he isn't black and white evil. He isn't all bad, Charles can see the good in him and never refuses to try and help Cane. Cane, while resentful of his brother, there will always be a small part of Cane that loves his brother. They have a love hate relationship.


I had an idea for Calvin Montgomery Rankin/Mimic: He is a "gifted" person but is only gifted when he is around other gifted people. His gift is to mimic other's gifts when he is close to them, and gain their powers. But he doesn't see himself as one of the "gifted" and he also doesn't see himself as human. He feels like an outcast in both situations. Calvin doesn't change or show his powers until he is exposed to the five original X-Men. In his head the "freaks" infected him and made him change. (This could demonstrate one of the fears that society could have if they knew about the X-Men) It isn’t until after his confrontation with the X-men that he begins to understand that he isn’t a freak and isn’t alone. He ends up becoming close to the X-Men but never joins them and maybe never stays in the mansion long.
Calvin is a character introduced in season one, back when mutants were more of a myth not widely known about.

Senator Robert Kelly: Senator Kelly is the voice against “Gifted” or Mutants in Washington. He is extremely active in trying to get this problem and these people under control. He is a driving force behind the Sentinel Project, and is a big supporter of the Friends of Humanity (that is until they fall from grace in the public eye). He even spear heads the Registration Act in later seasons. He claims he is only thinking of America’s safety, but in truth he is the perfect example of fear of the unknown and hatred of what you don’t understand. He stands at about 5’10”, weighs about 175 lbs., and is starting to go grey. He is a very conservative Republican. He is targeted during Season two, or three, by Mystique (and if she is with them, the Brotherhood) for assassination. During the beginning of the show, especially Season One, Senator Kelly is the leader and the face of the human enemy of the X-Men. He represents that part of the show. Later one, as the show progresses, maybe even shortly after his near assassination, Kelly has a change of heart. He is changes completely to the other side, and becomes a leader for mutant rights. This should show that anyone, even one of the X-men’s greatest enemies can change and become an ally. This relates to Charles Xavier’s message of peace, prosperity, and hope. It should be done in a way so that it doesn’t seem like the show ran out of ideas for his character though, or wanted to write him off the show.

(sorry about the small pictures, I could repost them bigger if you want.)
In Season One (maybe), it is shown on one or two episodes that the Government has unofficially put together a panel of people to deal with these special people. Two such men are Mr. Trask, a scientist/technical engineer/weapons manufacturer, and a Senator Kelly. The team is only shown one other time, after something catastrophic happens. It is something that the panel knew about but hid from the public. They all vote and decide that these “gifted” people are a possible great threat, and that steps must be taken to ensure the safety of the nation as a whole.
Not sure if it is in Season One or Two, but they create ways to stop the Mutant Menace. They are Sentinels, the first versions, robot trackers created to subdue non-human beings. The Sentinels are about 8 feet tall robots. They aren’t the skyscraper sized robots they are now in the comics. This would be to cut the price really. Imagine lots of actors in robot suits like the Cybermen from Dr. Who.
The way to create believable Sentinels, maybe, is to make Sentinel costumes like Dr. Who made for Cybermen. Then cast tall actors, maybe even extras since they won’t be doing much acting, and then high a person to do the voice for all the Sentinels. Not sure if having them fly would be too expensive or not, but if it wasn’t they should fly. However if flying is too much money, then they can just walk or march. They are also shown to be very strong, walking through and punching down brick walls or lifting cars and things like that. They also fire energy blasts from their hands, that can stun or kill. While I am not sure what Trask should look like, his look isn’t written in stone. His character never becomes a central character anyway. But the Sentinels have a definitive look and one voice.
(Not sure if this idea should be used, but in the comics the Sentinels overpowered their programmers like Trask and Kelly. They thought of a plan of their own, to rid the world of Mutants forever. To take over humanity, kill all living mutants and control the breeding of humans through genetics. Making sure no mutants would ever be born again. This idea might be too much however, and maybe too close to what Dr. Who’s Cybermen and the Matrix have already done.)

Friends of Humanity: They are a hate group, pure and simple. Their mission, as they see it, is to wipe out the mutant menace. They became big supporters of Senator Kelly, and backed anything he put out such as the Sentinel Program or the Mutant Registration Act. They protest, the riot, they threaten, and they attack, they kill. They are a very hateful group and are very public about it. It was founded by Graydon Creed, and other members mentioned are Cameron Hodge, Donavan Zane, Jack “Weasel” Hammer, maybe Doland Pierce and Steven Lang, and others to be found out later I guess. They are first shown, just getting started really, during season one or two. And as much as Senator Kelly appreciates their support, Kelly eventually has no choice but to distance himself from them and disapprove of their actions. This group should have a symbol of some sort. (But like a few characters on the show, they are never a huge focus. At least not in Season One.)

Reverend William Striker: While his character may never become a huge focus, he is at the very least shown preaching the evils of mutants. It would probably be during a montage of showing humans hating mutants (like Senator Kelly giving speech about them, protesters, and a minister, and so on). I could see a scene where we see a minister speaking to his congregation, on live TV, blasting out about how mutants are evil (Maybe with the word “mutant” crossed out with red behind him on a sign.)
At the most I think he could become the voice of the religious side of the anti mutant group. For instance a news reporter is talking to a panel about the Mutant issue; one person on the panel is the Reverend. He preaches how mutants are a sin. But I don’t see him as a major focus of the show; he never became a central character or a main enemy. (Don’t know about his character in the comics, but he could be a smarmy evangelist out to make a name for himself.)

Senator Kelly, Stryker, the Friends of Humanity, maybe even the Sentinels, could all be moved to Season Two if it would fit better that way. I mean, in Season One Mutants aren't a world wide known thing and may not be considered a huge threat. Then again, maybe This is where their characters could start and could become bigger during Season Two.
Or maybe it fits perfectly find in Season One. This could help define the scared and hateful atmosphere the X-Men are living in.

 

[Artistsean]

The Uniforms

Trying to keep the classic Jack Kirby designed X-Men costumes, and trying to transfer them to real life, I got the idea that they costumes are actually Xavier School Uniforms. Their school colors are yellow and blue and their school logo is the X symbol in a circle. The hats however are only worn when needed, and that is hardly ever and would probably only be seen once and then phased out. Since his first group of students was so small, Xavier was able to make school uniforms. However when new students come in the uniforms and school colors can become less and less important. However the X logo can still be seen on shirts and belt buckles.
Why would he make them wear uniforms, not sure yet. But maybe it would be to give them a sense of unity. To keep it in the realm of reality Xavier makes one one style of uniform for all five students. His makes a long sleeved shirt, short sleeve, pants, shorts, a skirt, a dress, jackets, and hats (although the hats aren't ever really worn except maybe once.)

The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning

When Charles Xavier starts his school he uses his mansion for the buildings. He converts rooms into dorm rooms, and class rooms, and whatever else is needed. He even adds a gymnasium onto his mansion, one capable of withstanding powerful forces. At first this is all he needs; he only has five students and was only expecting a handful more. But eventually he needs to add onto the Institutes facilities. Make the school bigger to house the larger student body. His Xavier Institute idea, safe place for mutant’s students to go to school and a haven for mutant kind, has brought in more than he had prepared for.

Danger Room: Since the idea of the show is to focus more on the school side, Xavier needs a place to train his young students. Not as a fighting squad but train them to control their powers. One of the problems many mutants face, which is shown time and time again, is that their powers manifest around puberty or because of a traumatic event. And these powers are sometimes too much for them to control right away. So Xavier builds a facility, adding onto his mansion. It has a high ceiling, strong walls, and lots of training equipment. He uses it to help train his students like Ice Man or Angel to master their powers. (Cyclops is never able to master his.) Xavier also uses this large building as a sort of gym. It should look similar to the picture, but maybe on a smaller scale. Like a cross between this and a High School gym. It should have gymnastic equipment, an Olympic sized swimming pool, basket ball (and other sports) court, bleachers, he even put in a obstacle coarse, and many things featured in the picture. It is just not so huge. Later on Hank McCoy helps boost the technology of the Danger Room, and Forge can take that even further several seasons later.

Episodes of Interest:
(I am trying to separate the posts into Seasons. Trying to post them as it might be shown on TV.)

First Day at School- This is the establishing episode, where we are introduced to the idea of the show. We see Xavier recruiting young “gifted” students. We are introduced to Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Hank McCoy, Warren Worthington III, and Bobby Drake. We are also introduced to the idea of being gifted; people are starting to show up having extra, almost alien like, eerie powers. We are introduced to the hate and fear the general public has about “gifted” people. Finally we are also introduced to Charles Xavier, his idea for how to get “gifted” or mutant people to become accepted, and we are introduced to his school. Look at episodes of Buffy, Angel, Smallville, Heroes, and any other shows like this.

Meet the villain- While this show isn’t solely about X-Men versus evil mutants, The X-Men tangle with bad guys along the way. The main bad guy in season one, the main focus, is Magneto. Like in Buffy with the main evil vampire called the Master (or something) he is there all of season one and he brings in his minions called the Brotherhood. By the end of season one there is some sort of fight, but Xavier and his students aren’t a SWAT team. Charles didn’t bring them together to become a combat team (maybe intends to face Magneto alone), they are forced into it in the beginning all the time.

The Brotherhood- Magneto introduces to the show his students, the Brotherhood. These students are learning Magneto’s view of humanity and are actually being trained as a combat team.

Driving- Somewhere in season one, in some episode, Charles Xavier has to deal with teaching his students things like driving and things like that. So he isn’t just their teacher, he is like a father to them. This show isn’t just about fighting evil mutants, or hatred. This show also deals with young teenagers trying to grow up too.

Focus on Cyclops- As season one roles along; we have episodes that focus on individuals on the show. We get to know and learn more about Scott Summers, or Jean Grey, or Charles Xavier, even a focus episode about Magneto might be good.

Hatred- In season one, to get the audience to understand the concept completely, we should have a lot of human fear and hatred of the “gifted” people. Its almost like the “gifted” are being chased by mobs with torches. There could be things like protesters, hate groups like the “Friends of Humanity,” and things like that in season one but they should be small and not so organized. One episode deals with the issue completely, the Sentinel episode.

X-Factor- Charles and his students go under cover as “gifted” or “mutant” trackers, in order to find and save innocent mutants who are being hunted by authorities. This would be a nod to the comic X-Factor which was about this concept. Maybe one the show they join an already put together of human mutant trackers. Something else this show would have, that I would hope they would do a lot on the show, is to show non Xavier student “Mutants.” There are lots of them all over who aren’t members of the school. Buffy and Angel had done this a lot too with monsters, demons, and creatures. Another thing shown is that the “gifts” aren’t individualized. Others have the same powers, which aren’t even related, or have variations.

Of Coarse there is a climactic scene where Xavier, and his students, must stop magneto and his Brotherhood. In the end Magneto is defeated and possibly apprehended. The Brotherhood then disbands. (Much like in the first Season of Buffy or shows like that, at the end of the season the villain is defeated.) and things seem safer.

(I will start posting Season Two soon.)

 

[Artistsean]

Season Two

(I will try my best to write what I think would fit in Season Two)

Season one ends, Magneto, for now, seems to be defeated. His Brotherhood has disbanded for the time being. In Season Two Charles decides to expand his school, he recruits students from other countries. This is phase two of his plan. Like Buffy or Angel, or most TV shows, the cast grows and changes. Characters are added and others leave, and in season two there are more characters than in season one. Over time, even from the start of season two to the end of season two, characters come in and leave. The purpose of the Xavier Institute is still providing a safe place for mutants and a school for mutants, not a combat training camp.

Logan/Wolverine: One student he recruits is the most elder student of the school, a man known only as Logan. Logan is a 29-33 year old man (is a year or two younger than the Professor) (doesn’t look old, just weathered like he has lived hard) who stands at 5’3, but bulky (think of the rocker Danzig). He has black hair which he keeps wild and bushy, and he has long side burns. Logan’s official mutant powers are his healing and his heightened animal senses, but he has been experimented on and as an outcome of that he now has metal bones and claws. Logan is not a nice guy, it seems like he doesn’t really like anyone. Over his time on the show he will eventually grow to like almost everyone on the show, or at least respect them. Logan is a brutal fighter and won’t hesitate to kill anyone if he has to. But deep down Logan hates killing, he sort of feels like he has failed each time he has to kill. But he truly feels like he has to do it each time. (I have heard him described as a failed Samurai.)
At the surface Logan seems like he has a drifter attitude. Xavier found him working for the Canadian department of defense under the code name Wolverine. He can’t remember his past, which is one of the ways Xavier gets him to come to the school. While the other students are like young innocent children, especially the five original students, Logan is like a grim soldier.
Logan convinces Charles that along with gym, and training their powers, the students need to know how to defend themselves. His reasons are many, they need to learn how not to rely completely on their powers. Another being that they keep getting dragged into fights like against the Brotherhood.
So Logan becomes a self defense teacher, his class is required. I think at the most the show would have a few scenes from Logan’s class, here and there but not focused on usually. Maybe Kitty Pride becomes a very dedicated student.
Logan’s style on the show is very much like the comic, he wears jeans and flannel or plaid shirts, and many times a cowboy hat. He also sometimes wears a jean jacket, or an old leather jacket. He won’t wear a Xavier Institute uniform, he will go as far as wearing the Xavier “X” logo belt buckle but that is it. He also likes to wear an old shirt from his days in the Canadian Secret Security, Alpha Flight. It’s almost his favorite shirt, sleeveless and yellow with black slash marks. He also wears specially design gloves with metal ringed holes in them, for his claws to protrude out of his hands. He wore them during his Alpha Flight days, so that he would tear up his gloves with his claws but wouldn’t leave his fingerprints all over the country side. But he doesn’t wear his yellow shirt, or his gloves, all the time. His gloves he wears when he goes on a mission he feels require them, and his yellow shirt is worn when it is clean.
Episodes of Interest:
Sabretooth hates Logan, every year on his birthday he returns to bring Logan to the brink of death and leaves him to heal. He also attacks and kills one person Logan cares about that year too. So to introduce Sabretooth, this might be a good idea for the show, at least one episode.
As the show progresses we learn more and more about Logan, as TV shows do with almost every character. Like on Angel we see many, many, flashback episodes or stories. These flashbacks, like Angel, can go as far back as time itself. Logan has been alive since the late 19th century, and has drifted all around the world, including Japan, he has fought in WWI, WWII, and has been a C.I.A. operative, a samurai, a spy, a soldier, and many other things, even if he has no memory of most of his life it doesn’t mean we can’t see glimpses of it. So on one episode or one flash back at least, could show Logan as a Samurai. We could see Logan in WWII, or we could see him as a cop partnered up with Victor Creed.

Ororo Monroe/Storm: One of Charles’ new students Ororo comes from Africa. She is about 5’9 and her hair is prematurely white, possibly caused by her powers like Magneto. Her “gift” is to control or effect the weather around her. When Charles Xavier found her she was being praised as a god, maybe being used by someone to trick others. Later on in the season and seasons to come more is revealed about her past. She was orphaned at a very young age, from there she was used by another “gifted” man to become a thief and from there she moved to becoming a goddess. It could be Storm that brings Remy, Gambit, into the X-Mansion.

Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin/Colossus: Was living with his poor family on their farm in Russia when Charles Xavier came to him and offered him a chance to learn more about his “gift.” Piotr doesn’t ask for much, he is a very humble person who keeps to himself most of the time. He is perfectly content to help others and draw in his spare time. He is similar to Beast in that he is a gentle giant, but he does not share the same love of science and math and poetry. After maybe two seasons of his character being on the show Piotr and another X-men, Kitty Pride, sort of start dating.
(In the X-Men 3 movie Colossus was done by making a metallic looking suit for the actor to wear, instead of having to CG his metal skin the whole time. This idea could go even further, having the actor wear a metallic looking skin tight fabric and a mask that allows him to move his mouth. So his metal skin could be easily done I think.)
I think it might be cool to have a shot, like a school photo, of the all new Xavier Institute cast painted by Colossus hanging in the main room of the Mansion.

Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler: Kurt is a “gifted” young man from Germany. His ability is to jump through time and space from one spot to another leaving only a cloud of purple smoke. As long as he knows the spot he is going to jump to, or what has come to be called Bamphing, it is perfectly safe. For some odd reason Kurt’s gift has mutated his physical appearance as well. His skin is blue, his eyes are yellow, pointed ears, he has only three fingers on each hand and two toes on each foot, and he has a tail with an arrow head shape on the end. His appearance is very similar to descriptions of devils. But his demeanor is quite the opposite. He is an incredibly kind and fun loving human. Kurt was found by Xavier touring Germany in a Circus, he was a star there. Although his treatment by the Circus is in question, maybe he wasn’t treated like a star but more like an animal. He grew up an orphan, raised in a monastery. Kurt is a very religious Catholic (I think). Kurt is also in love with Swashbuckling Adventure stuff. He learned how to use a sword so he could be one; he watches all those types of movies, and loves to dress up like that too.
As far as his being on the show, he might be a character that would be too hard to keep for every episode. He could be on the show for a short time, or pop up here and there, but he might be too expensive to try and do. But if he was doable for the show, then he should be a regular for a while starting season two.
(Maybe to combat the cost of keeping Nightcrawler blue, he can use the holographic image device that Beast or Forge made for him. That way the actor can be out of costume on screen some of the time.)

 

[Artistsean]

Shiro Yoshida/Sunfire: Shiro Yoshida is a “gifted” young man from Japan. He is 5’10” and is 175 pounds. His hair is short. Code named Sunfire; Shiro Yoshida was a member of a small terrorist group. His Uncle was trying to work his way up through the ranks so he brought his nephew in. Shiro has the “gift” absorbing solar energy and converting its energy using it to allow him to fly and create plasma energy blasts. During season one Charles and his X-Men stopped the terrorist group but not before having to fight a little with “Sunfire.” Charles and his X-men were able to get through to Shiro and he left the terrorist group. (Not sure about this origin.) When Charles was inviting “gifted” people to his school he called Yoshida, who had had kept in touch with. Shiro was at the school for a very short time however. He was still very angry and had no patience for the school and the students. (His leaving should actually be because of the death of Thunderbird. He got too scared, the dangers became too real.) He was told he could always return however. Later, maybe in an episode where he returns, Shiro looses his legs during a battle. Shiro can still be a student at the school but he can no longer help on field missions. Shiro decides, maybe, to go back home to Japan. (Tragedies like this, or Thunderbird’s death, should be limited so that the X-Series isn’t full of sadness and heartache and doesn’t turn Xavier into some monster. When these tragedies happen Xavier feels the pain worst of all on the show.)

Sean Cassidy/Banshee: In Season One Banshee bursts on the scene as a "gifted" terrorist. He has no connection to Magneto, but is connected to a terrorist organization from Ireland. That organization could also include his cousin Black Tom. His "gift" is his sonic scream, and super human hearing (not affected by his scream). The X-Men and Banshee fight until they are able to reason with him and convince him to stop, Xavier can be very influential in this scene. Then he leaves.
In season two he returns as a teacher. (His story needs to differ from Sunfire’s some how.)
(I know, Banshee is a terrorist “like” Magneto. He isn’t affiliated with Magneto, but he has similar goals. But Then he switches over to Xavier’s side. This would make his story different from Sunfire’s, and would show that someone on Magneto’s side can change, or something like that.)
Banshee's character shows how someone can redeem themselves. Change into a better person, a good person. Even if they start as a mutant terrorist, they can become a good guy.
Banshee is called in when Xavier begins phase 2 of his plans, phase one I guess is to create a school and a safe haven for “gifted people” or “Mutants.” Phase two is to turn the Xavier Institute international and invite several “gifted people” from all over the world. Sean Cassidy joins but not as a student. Although he may participate in a class or two he becomes a teacher at the school, as does Logan. In season two Xavier isn’t the only adult or teacher on campus anymore. Moira McTaggert, Logan, and Sean Cassidy, all participate as teachers. Eventually, maybe, Forge can even join on from time to time as maintenance.

Kitty Pride/Shadow Cat: Kitty doesn't show up at the beginning of Season Two, but she does enroll a few episodes into Season Two. Kitty Pride is young woman around 16 or 17 years old. She joins the X-Men maybe in season three or halfway through the second season. She like the others is “gifted” her gift is the ability to pass through solid objects, people, places, or things, almost like she were a ghost. She can turn it off and be solid herself, but when she first attends the school Kitty is having trouble controlling her “gift.” She is unable to control when she is solid and when she isn’t. Charles recruits her, not for the X-Men, but to help her learn. That is why they are all there, to learn how to control their powers and to show the world that “Gifted” People are not monsters. Early in her first season Kitty could, or if not Kitty then another young X-Man, invite some of her non-mutant friends to the X-Mansion. This could lead to various situations, some trouble perhaps, and maybe even her losing her only friends from outside the mansion. Leading to her only having mutant friends.

John Proudstar/Thunderbird: John is one of the new recruits in Season Two, alongside Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and the others. He was borne into an Apache tribe in Camp Verde Arizona. He is about 19 almost 20, stands at about 5'9" or so, and is muscular but not bulky. He looks physically fit, but not as big as Colossus. He does have an athletic body. His "gift" is superhuman strength, stamina, and durability. He is first very reluctant to join the team, and doesn't want to like anyone. But he quickly changes his mind. He quickly makes friends. Then Sabertooth attacks. The few episodes that this story takes, one or two, show everyone in the house is scared or on edge. Then in the final fight, where all the X-men try to stop Sabertooth, John sacrifices himself. He leaps onto Sabertooth in order to stop him from attacking or killing one of the other students like Cyclops or Iceman or Storm. When the fight is over and Sabertooth is gone John is dead.
His death would be important, as it was in the comic, to show that being an X-Man is dangerous and not always happy. It makes it very real for everyone, especially Charles Xavier who maybe is rethinking his X-Men idea at this point. Some of the mutants at the mansion could even leave at this point. (The point of the X-Men was never to be a combat team. Just to provide safety for mutants, and to teach the world that mutants and homo sapiens can live together in peace.)
In a much later season, maybe just two or three seasons later, his twin brother James Proudstar/Warpath (or Thunderbird II) arrives at the mansion. James can be played by the exact same actor who played John. He doesn't necessarily become a regular cast but does become a reoccurring character who pops in every now and then for a few episodes here and there.

Dr. Moira MacTaggert: Moira is another old friend of Charles Xavier’s. She is not a “gifted” person though. She is just human, and a doctor. Her character originally starts over seas in Ireland during Season One, where she has her own facility for “Gifted” people. But in Season Two she moves to New York in order to help at Xavier’s school. She is like the school’s medical staff, plus she teaches some and helps out here and there. Moira, for the show, acts as two different things. She is the human element for the show that knows about the “gifted” people and is not afraid of them. Secondly she adds to Charles Xavier’s part, gives his character something to do other than teach the children. She has a past with Charles, possibly they were engaged. Now they are friends, but they still like each other that way. Moira is from Ireland, born and raised. She met Charles when he and Magneto were traveling around and detailing their “Big Plan.” She is about 5’6”, and has a thick Irish accent. Moira is fascinated by what this means for evolution, but also has a personal stake in it. It might not be revealed till later, but her son, a son she had with her ex-husband, has a “gift” that might kill him. Her character can later fall in love with Banshee, perhaps.
We don’t want Charles Xavier’s character to become lost and forgotten in a sea of mutants. He should still have some interaction with his students, but Moira is also there to give Charles a friend, someone to talk to and hang out with. Banshee can be there for that too.

 

[Artistsean]

While Senator Kelly remains as an "enemy" during Season Two, as well as the Friends of Humanity, some Sentinels, And Magneto's presents is still felt, and while the former members of the Brotherhood from Season One are still cast members of the show, Xavier and his students face other threats like an all new Brotherhood.

Raven Darkholme/Mystique: Mystique makes her first appearance in Season Two. Her “gift” is the ability to alter her appearance, or change it, or shape shift, morph her body, or whatever term you would like. She looks like a 25 year old woman, but because of her power its unsure what age she really is, but it is believed that she is much older. She is also a lesbian, or bisexual, and in later episodes we meet her lover Irene otherwise known as Destiny. In Mystique’s usual appearance is bright red hair, blue skin, and yellow eyes, this is considered her actual appearance and not just another disguise. She usually wears combat gear, ready for whatever combat comes her way. But occasionally she wears civilian clothes. Mystique is another “gifted” person whose appearance separates her from society. Mystique is currently highly skilled in weapons, combat, and strategy. On the show she first is introduced as the new leader of the newest chapter of the Brotherhood, since Magneto’s creation of it several chapters have popped up here and there. Perhaps Mystique’s chapter is the second or third. She is incredibly devoted to Magneto’s vision. But she isn’t devotedly blind. She has ideas and a strong will of her own. And she often is out for her own gain in any situation.
One of the fun things about her character on the show is that she can change into anybody, including fellow cast members. So it would give anybody a chance to mimic her acting. So like the actor chosen for Cyclops would maybe have a scene where he reveals he is really Mystique to someone, and then he would have to mimic the actress playing Mystique.

Irene Adler/Destiny: Irene is another “Homo Superior” who joined Magneto’s Brotherhood. Her ability is to see the future. She is very old friend of Mystique, and her lover as well. Her ability is so great that she can see everything from what happens in the next few seconds all the way to the next twenty years, but she is unable to control when these visions happen. She keeps the knowledge of how vast her powers are a secret from everyone, even Mystique. Irene is looks about 76 years old and stands at 5’7.” Her age could suggest that Mystique is actually a lot older than she looks. Another side effect of her power is her regular sight. She is totally blind. Despite her older age, and her blindness, Mystique brings her into the Brotherhood. Density, as Mystique refers to her, is too valuable not to. Mystique is always looking out for herself and knows that the Brotherhood needs Irene’s power, but she also loves Irene. In secrecy Irene begins to write a journal of all her visions she calls the “Destiny Journal.” Her character is only on the show for a handful of episodes during season two or three, during which she informs Mystique of things to come and writes secretly in her journal. At the end of her character’s run she is killed, something she had predicted would happen. Later on, ranging from one season to four seasons later, Xavier and his students and Mystique and the Brotherhood find out about the journals. Irene has had near omniscient sight for most of her life and was always writing about her visions in her journals. (Maybe someone like Mystique finds one journal that predicts everything that had already happened, like Irene’s death, everything from Season One and so on, but its dated back to when Irene was a younger woman. There could even be dispersed in there story ideas from future episodes. That could be a fun scene.) Maybe Irene’s journals are the focus of one season; the season becomes a race between Xavier’s students and Mystique’s Brotherhood to find the Destiny Journals. Perhaps that is when Bishop shows up.

Anna Marie/Rogue: is a young mutant from Caldecott County, Mississippi. Her mutant power is to absorb the strength and energy from other living people through contact with her skin. Her mutant power has separated her from the rest of the world. Although when we first meet her we don’t know her back story, eventually we find out that Anna Marie left home at a young age, about 15, because her mutant powers nearly killed her boyfriend and actually did put him in a comma. She was picked up by Mystique, who raised her like a daughter. When Mystique formed a new Brotherhood a few years later she put her daughter at the front. Anne Marie’s first meeting with the X-Men and Charles Xavier was as their enemy. But even then she had doubts about the Brotherhood. She joined the X-Men, but it should be remembered that she was an enemy, for at least two or three episodes. She attacked some of the X-Men, so the show should keep that in mind. As the show progresses she would be more accepted, maybe even after one big show of faith or something. Her character, at first, is an outcast among outcasts. When Gambit joins the team, not sure how far into the show that would be (but definitely after the Morlock massacre) she and Gambit become an item. Their relationship is thrown into turmoil a season or two later when Mr. Sinister, who at this point might be the new villain or simply making a return, reveals that Gambit lead Sinister’s team of Marauders in killing the Morlocks.
Her powers on the show are slightly similar to her powers on the movie. She has no super strength, no flying abilities.

John Allerdyce/Pyro: John is a young Homo Superior with the ability to control and manipulate fire. He is about 20 something years old, and stands at 5’something”. He was born in Sydney, Australia, and for the show he should have a real thick accent. Like many of the mutants on the Brotherhood’s side his home life was bad. Mystique is a warrior, a great soldier, so her calling Pyro means that he is an asset to her team. He is, however, cocky and rash.

Dominikos Ioannis Petrakis/Avalanche: He is 25 to 30 year old Homo Superior from Greece with the ability to create seismic shockwaves from his hands. All he has to do is target something like the road he is walking on or a building he is close enough to and he can make earthquake like destruction. Not much else is known about him, except for the fact that he is safety conscious. He wears a helmet and padding to protect himself from falling debris because of his power. He is called in by Mystique for her Brotherhood. He quickly becomes “buds” with Pyro. Like all the Homo Superiors Mystique calls, he is an extreme asset to her team. (Dominikos could have an accent like Pyro, but he doesn’t have to.)


Mystique’s Brotherhood: Even though Mystique is only leader of the Brotherhood for a short time, one season at the least, her Brotherhood is still a large threat. On her team there is herself, as leader, Destiny, Pyro, Avalanche, and Blob. Perhaps one of their big goals is to free Magneto, and that would put them directly in the line of fire with the Government and Xavier's school. Rogue is a member when Mystique’s team first appears but leaves before the seasons is over to join the Xavier Institute. During one of their battles, Destiny is killed. Perhaps this is what breaks them up, the fact that Rogue has left and Destiny is dead.


Still Other enemies spring up too,

Forge: Forge is another “gifted” person who joins the cast in season two, although not right away like some others. He first appears as a traitor, using his “gift” to help the Government build devices and machines to track other “gifted” people. Maybe he was even involved in the Sentinels Project. His “gift” is his genius mind. He is able to understand technology, invent whatever he can imagine with technology, and sort of communicate with it. Forge is a Native American from the Cheyenne nation. He is about 5’6” pr 5’7”. One of his most distinguishing features is his prosthetic limb, which uses highly advanced robotics designed by Forge himself. (His limb is either a leg or a hand, but not both.) He could even start out without the false limb and then have it by the time he is a teacher. X-Men convince him to stop; perhaps he doesn’t know or think he is “gifted.” (I am working on his first appearance). Then in later episodes he becomes a teacher around the X-Men school, and the resident maintenance guy. He teaches a technology based class, and using the great technology Hank McCoy had put in Forge vastly improves the entire school’s technology especially in the Danger Room. He even can be working on a high tech lower basement, a sort of HQ for the X-Men that will include a training facility.

Victor Creed/Sabretooth: Victor Creed is one dangerous person. He stands at 6'6", against Wolverine's 5'3" stature, and is very bulky and almost like he is pure muscle. He looks like he is in his late 30s early 40s. He is not the best looking person either. He has scruffy hair, is unshaven most of the time, and is very hair all over. Victor Creed is another "gifted" person; his power is like Wolverine's. He has fast healing and animal senses. But his powers and senses are only half of what Wolverine is capable of. Even in his down time he makes Wolverine look like a saint. Creed shows up because of Wolverine, they have a history together. Something that maybe Wolverine can't remember. The history that is revealed is that they were former partners, cops, in Canada. There is also something about Sabertooth murdering Wolverine's love, and they were in Weapon X together (but not much about Weapon X is revealed for a while).
I think Creed should be treated like the boogie man on this show, or like when Angel turned evil on Buffy. Victor Creed could be the best example of what the Government is afraid of. He is so dangerous that almost everyone in the mansion is freaked out. He is a horrible psychopath, the worst example of a human being, who wouldn't think twice about murdering everyone in the mansion while they slept. This would also probably be a heavy effects (big fight scenes and powers) episode where everyone in the house, mostly Wolverine, goes all out to stop Creed. This would also be a heavy Wolverine episode, revealing more of Wolverine's past. Creed could later return and we can learn more about him then but for now he is like a big monster. Maybe in his next appearance his evilness can be brought down a peg or two so that the audience doesn't hate him so much that they aren't able to watch him.
He would be easy to do as well, like Beast and Nightcrawler, they can use the type of make up and effects they did for Buffy and those shows.
We eventually learn more and more as the series goes on, Sabretooth was one of the Marauders who slaughtered the Morlocks. We also find out that he is the father of Grayden Creed, a HUMAN and leader of the mutant hate group “Friends of Humanity.”
And like all the other characters we get a glimpse into Creed’s past, we find out that as a child he was severely abused and neglected. His mutations were visible at an early age, his parents (maybe his mother died in birth) thought he was a demon and kept him locked in their basement cellar. He was shackled around his neck and chained to the ground like a dog. His father would only come to see him to yank out his animal like sharp teeth. Creed has mentioned once that he murdered his father.

 

[Artistsean]

The Morlocks: They first appear, maybe one season, before Mr. Sinister or the Marauders do. They are Mutants whose powers made them into freaks and monsters and outcasts of society. They cannot blend in like Xavier and his students or the Brotherhood. They live in sewers and subways, places abandoned or condemned. They are Squatters, Homeless, and Runaways. They live as a community and are lead by Callisto. I am not sure how the X-Men meet the Morlocks, but it should help shape more of the X-Men world and the characters on the show. (In the comics the Morlocks capture Angel for Callisto to mate with, but I don’t know how to get them to meet each other here.) Xavier offers them refuge at the Xavier Institute, it’s not just a school but a safe haven (always been a part of his plan). But Callisto and her society refuse. In the following season, or two, the Morlocks are attack and many are killed. Perhaps Callisto or one of her Morlocks contacts Xavier and his students. This leads to the X-Men trying to stop the Marauders and eventually leads to Mr. Sinister. (The X-men meet the Morlocks, then some time later there is a Morlock Massacre, and somewhere in there after the massacre Gambit joins the X-Men and Mr. Sinister is revealed, and then much later it is revealed that Gambit was part of the massacre.)

Callisto: Not much is known, or ever revealed about her past. She is around 5’9” and weighs about 130 lbs (59kg). She is very athletic, from a life of living and acting like a soldier. Callisto’s gifts are heightened strength and reflexes, enhanced senses of sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. She is a skilled huntress and tracker. She wears an eye patch over one eye, was possibly scared or blinded when she lived among the humans. She was once a very beautiful woman, and although she still is under all her harshness she does not see herself like that anymore. She views the world of humans as harsh and evil, a place that mutants and Morlocks can never and should never live in. Her biggest concerns are always about protecting her community. When the Marauders attack she is on the front line and saves as many Morlocks as she can. But In the end most of them are killed and she and the rest of the community must go deeper and further into hiding.

Not sure, yet, what the over all story arc of Season Two should be. It should flow from Season One, and expand their world and help mold and grow the characters on the show.
I think the main threat of Season Two is Mystique and her Brotherhood, with the Human side, and the Government side, getting more and more involved. Perhaps Senator Kelly becomes an even larger character in Season Two than he was in Season One. We also still have Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Magneto, and Master Mind, on the show in Season Two. They may have disbanded their Brotherhood but they haven't left the show. Plus the first appearance, and not the last, of Sabretooth. The overall arc could have something to do with Xavier and his students and the increasing level of violence and danger.

Season Two Episodes and Ideas of Interest:
A New Year- Xavier opens up his school to more “gifted” or perhaps by this time we are calling them “mutant” students. So like in episode one, we are introduced to the new students. Later on, like in season one, we get to know the rest of the student body even better.

Logan’s Birthday- Its Logan’s birthday, and that brings Sabretooth into the show. He shows up every year to beat Logan to near death, and kill someone he loves, and then leave Logan to heal. I don’t know if it would be too hard to focus on both Logan and learn about Sabretooth all in one episode, but we don’t have to learn everything about Logan yet. Perhaps Sabretooth doesn’t have to show up on his birthday, maybe he just starts stalking and attacking the school because Logan is there. Or maybe he stalks and attacks because it’s Logan’s birthday. This is an episode where we get a quick glimpse, thanks to Sabretooth, into Logan’s mysterious past.

Flashbacks- we can flashback on several episodes during the run of the entire show, like Angel did (or Buffy), and show things like when Charles met Magneto, or use it a lot with Logan. But we shouldn’t make the show only flashbacks. We should use them sparingly. Logan is, however, the character who uses the flashbacks the most I would imagine.

Alternate Reality- the X-Men comic deals with alternate futures and realities, and aliens, all the time. While this show wouldn’t, it might be fun to have a alternate reality or future just once.

Combat- in one episode during the first thee seasons of the show Charles decides, and Logan maybe urges him to, train the students as a team. This isn’t to make them soldiers, it’s just because they keep getting forced into fights like stopping the Sentinels, the Brotherhood, Magneto, saving innocent mutants, and so on. This could be wear the Danger Room is created, or modified. In season one Charles Xavier created a space in the mansion for the students to learn to use and control and even push their powers. Now it is modified to be a combat room, for simulations, self defense training, gym, and things like that.

Return of the Brotherhood- Some of these ideas aren’t in an order. Anyway, the Brotherhood returns this time with Mystique leading them.

Other members join in- not sure how many episodes, or even seasons this would take, but many members join besides the new students in episode one of season two. Rogue joins; Gambit, Kitty Pride, and I think a few others too. But some of the new comers are introduced during pivotal storylines, some of the storylines even deal with that character. The show can shift some what, maybe more and more as the show progresses, from a school into a boardinghouse for mutants. Although the focus on school never disappears.

Graduation Day- While the show continues to change, and grow, it also shrinks. Over the course of several episodes and seasons, many members leave. Hank McCoy leaves to move onto a non Xavier school, maybe even a college. Warren leaves to take care of his father’s company and maybe further Xavier’s goals from outside the mansion. Warpath dies during season two, and Sunfire leaves because of his death. Ice Man could maybe leave too for some reason. Scott Summers however is a character I don’t ever see leaving. Xavier’s school is the only true home he has ever had. Logan can leave to deal with some private stuff, but he always returns. Gambit eventually leaves for a time, in prison for a while. Banshee and Miora can even leave for a while. (This happens over the whole show, not just one season).

They Always Come Back- Hank McCoy returns to the show a season or two later. When he returns he is a full professor, so maybe it should be much later. Worthington could return too, but his stay is only for one or two episodes. After that he can make a return here or there. Sunfire comes back, only to become crippled and leave again.

Morlocks- Sometime, during the first three seasons, the Xavier school is introduced to the Morlocks. The Morlocks are mutants like the X-Men and the other mutants but their mutations have deformed their bodies. They hide in sewers, and live as a community. Xavier offers his school as a sanctuary, but the Morlocks turn it down. This shows that not all mutant powers, on the show, are media friendly and that there is a different level of mutation that effects the outer appearance. This episode also lays ground for a few things, X-Men allies, the Morlock massacre that is to come, and the coming of Sinister and Gambit.
In a later episode, probably much further down the line, the Morlocks are attacked by the Marauders and many of them are killed. Morlocks turn out to be Mr. Sinister experimenting on mutants and pushing their mutations further. He tries to kill them off because he considers them failures.


Season Three Coming soon.

 

[Artistsean]

Season Three

Some of Season Two, Season Three, Four, and on, sort of blur together for me. But I will try to sort it out best as I can. However, the seasons are sort of a vague idea really. In any case I think in Season Two and Three the cast should be in a little flux, characters joining and some leaving. I think we could have some majro characters begin to leave this season, like the original students. (Not al at the same time of coarse, but one every so often over a few seasons.) I think in Season Three we have a few new Students join the team. We could also have the Xavier Institute begin construction on expanding the Mansion. We also get the return of Juggernaut and the Morlock Masacre as well as a new villain.

Elisabeth "Betsy" Braddock/Psylocke: (The Opening Scene: Betsy Braddock is a blond British girl. She just transferred over to the Xavier School; her gift is Telekinesis and Psychic knives.
Then there is the episode with the ninja assassin (perhaps an assassin hired to kill Charles.) Then she is nearly killed by the ninja or gets the ninja into a fight alone. In a climactic end to the almost one sided battle they exchange minds. In doing so they even exchange memories and skills, they are mingled.
She was 19 or 20 in her original body, now she is about 25 or 29 and she is in the ninja's body and maybe the ninja even looks like she could be a model or something.
I see Betsy being the other woman sort of. Scott and Jean got together last season after the triangle thing and they are still dating. Then Betsy transfers over from Britain. She and Scott had a brief moment where they caught eyes. (If it doesn't mess up the characters or the show too much there could be some dating between these two, like if Scott and Jean break up. But I don't know if I like that, and it might make it too much like 90210 or something. If they did date however, They only date for about two shows, maybe even one, before Jean and Scott get back together.) After that Betsy doesn’t just go away. She eventually starts dating Beast, and becomes a big part of the X-Men.
I think her character starts out as a young british girl, maybe even blond like her brother. Then after a few episodes, one or two, the mansion is attacked or something, and she is forced to switch bodies with a young ninja woman. From then on she is in the body of the young ninja woman.

I don't know if I have mentioned these characters already, so please bare with me. but in this season we also meet Scott's brother Alex, who Scott thought was dead with his parents.

Alex Summers/Havok: After the devastating news that Scott’s brother hadn’t died in the plane crash that killed his family a search begins. Scott knows that Sinister might have been lying, he was a monstrous person after all, but there is still a chance it was the truth. Charles helps any way he can. The search is something shown once or twice in the season to fallow, and its occasionally mentioned once or twice. But it isn’t until a season or two later that the long lost younger brother Alex Summers is found. Alex is a year younger than Scott. He is about 5’7” or 5’8”, almost as tall as Scott. His mutant ability, or “gift” is to absorb the sun’s radiation and project it out like bursts of energy from his body.
Alex could be a sort of regular, but nothing huge at first. He is just a character we see once in a while. I don’t want to clutter up the cast with another major character.
[It isn’t until finding out he had a brother and meeting Scott that his “gift” fully presents itself I full force. He nearly blows everyone up including Scott and his foster home. He had energy bursts here and there but nothing big, until now. Alex must learn to control it. Something Charles can teach him. But maybe he sends Alex to Moria MacTaggert in Ireland. So that he won’t be a major focus just yet. A season or two later he can return with a grip on his powers.]

Also on this season

Lorna Dane/Polaris: I was thinking of Loran being 17. Maybe about 5'6" OR 5'5". Lorna finds out she is adopted, around that same time her "gift" starts to show and it is magnetism. Fearing the worst, that Magneto is her father, the X-Men get involved (somehow).
Perhaps her character begins to join the Brotherhood, who make another return this season. (Magneto has maybe escaped and laying low. With the Brotherhood starting up yet again and Lorna trying to find and join them.) That’s all I have for her right now, other than her maybe dying her hair green or it changing slowly after her powers emerge, almost like when chlorine turns a bland person's hair greenish. She never becomes a regular cast member though.
Lorna and Alex can leave the show together, they can both return in later episodes.

Around Season 2 or 3 we are introduced to another character. His name is Douglas Aaron Ramsey or Cypher. His “gift” was possessed a superhuman intuitive facility for translating languages, codes, and writings, or any kind. It was as if he instantly understood them somehow. He was gifted at designing software and programs. In the comics his character is killed by a super villain. I thought his character would be interesting for the show, but I have two ideas on how to use him and not sure which is best.
Idea one has Ramsey join the team, his powers don’t translate well into combat. And in the end he is killed while trying to help his mutant friends from the mansion. This would show that in this universe, the live action series, not all mutants are soldiers or fighters, and that not all their mutant powers are made for fighting. This would contrast Thunderbird’s death, because Thunderbird was a fighter. But not all mutants are.
Idea two has Ramsey join the team, gain their trust, and in the end turn out to be Mystique in disguise. That could even be her introduction. But then you loose the idea that not all mutants are warriors. Maybe we could bring Ramsey back later on and act like he came back from the dead. Then he regains their trust and turns out to be Mystique. The problem with that might be that Mystique was probably already introduced by that point. I like idea one much, much, more than idea two. If I had to choose that is.
Ramsey’s look isn’t important really; maybe have him look like someone not suited for combat. But don’t have him look like a skinny weakling or a dork or something like that.

Tom Cassidy/Black Tom: He makes a brief appearance in Season One, doesn't even have a real speaking role, but his cousin Sean is the focus of that episode. In Season Four the Juggernaut returns and he brings with him his new partner in crime Black Tom. We find out that Tom is another “gifted” person or a “Homo Superior.” His “gift” is to project concussive energy or heat focused or channeled through wood that is in direct contact with his skin, usually a wooden shillelagh. That means that without wooden objects he is unable to project his energy. Black Tom was a member of an Irish terrorist group, which Banshee his cousin used to also be a member of. Like his cousin he got out, but now is working with the Juggernaut. But what trouble are the two of them up to? And why are the X-Men getting involved other than they are related?
This Season, with Tom and Sean, Alex and Scott, we see that some mutant relatives are unable to effect eachother with their powers.


The Morlocks also return in Season Three, breafly. Maybe a visit here and there until...

The Marauders: They are a team of killers, mainly assassins, and some seem to have powers like Xavier’s students. They are a motley crew of some mutants, regular human killers, and genetically altered humans. Each member is very psychopathic, one member is Sabretooth. Their first appearance in the X-Men live action series is when they slaughter and kill almost most all of the Morlocks. (This means their appearance is after the first appearance of the Morlocks, but before the first appearance of Mr. Sinister or Gambit.) Since this is a live action TV show they don’t have any special costumes, but they do wear military like SWAT gear. They even use codenames. They are hired by some mysterious person to attack and kill the Morlocks, and perhaps attack the X-Mansion or something. This is one of the situations that force the X-students into becoming a team, into being the X-Men. Normally they are just students or mutants there, the purpose was not to become a combat team, but situations arise that force them to be.
The Marauders are as dangerous and monstrous as they look. Their appearance for the show should call into mind the characters from the comics, but should (like the others) be realistic. Their wardrobes are like a patchwork of military, punk, and biker, or something like that. There is no team uniform. Each member wears what they normally wear plus maybe some SWAT type gear and weapons, and there is no team really. They are just solo killers who end up together when Mr. Sinister hires them. When the job is done the team is over, then when they get hired again it might be an all new line up or Marauders. Sometimes they are psychopaths who have worked together or know each other already, and sometimes (even in the very same roster) they are mercenaries called from all over the world.
(This is the second or third appearence of Victor Creed/Sabretooth.)

Eventually the man behind the masacre, and the main villain of the season, is revealed.

Mr. Sinister: Mr. Sinister is a very pale skinned man, almost deathly white, he stands about 6 or so feet tall, and has jet black hair. He is constantly wearing very fancy layered black clothes, an eclectic wardrobe derived from his centuries of life, with a red diamond shape on his chest. Although his wardrobe is inspired by different styles and clothing from all the years he has lived, and looks somewhat futuristic, it is clear is heavily inspired by the 1800s. I would like him to look very much out of place, wearing almost ridiculous clothing, pale skin, and blood shot eyes, and a red diamond on his forehead. I would also like his face to look very much like his older self, with slicked back hair, a mustache, beard, type thing. And while I do what him wearing a costume of sorts, no tight spandex like materials.
When he first appears on the show, around season 2 or 3, we don’t know everything about him, his past, powers, or connection to any of the other characters, but we get a good idea at his character. But as the series goes on, and as Mr. Sinister appears on more and more episodes over several seasons, we learn about him and his past. Eventually we find out he was once Nathaniel Essex, a geneticist in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. He believed in Darwin’s theory of evolution but wanted to take it a step further. He theorized that by controlling human breeding you could create a superior race of perfect, possibly superhuman, people. He horrified his colleagues who ejected him from their ranks. He even lost his wife because of this theory. He began experimenting on the poor and homeless. He had become obsessed. His work got the attention of another man interested in genetics and breeding a super human race, a mister En Sabah Nur.
(add more about Apocalypse and all that later.)
His first appearance is an episode about Cyclops, and he is the main villain.
Mr. Sinister is a very mysterious villain who in a later season begins to make problems for Scott Summers. As we find out eventually Sinister is a scientist obsessed with genetics for some reason. He messes with “Mutant’s” genes for his research. During the final confrontation Sinister reveals to Scott that his brother Alex is alive.

Remy LeBeau/Gambit: Not sure how to introduce him, but I have two ideas. Idea 1: When Gambit first appears on the show he is an employee of Mr. Sinister. He is hired to do some really underhanded, dirty, and horrifying things. The biggest is probably the massacre of the “Morlocks” “gifted” people, or as Sinister calls them “Mutants” who are so disfigured that they live under ground. Idea two: The Morlock massacre happens before we even meet Gambit. Later, he is given a home with the X-Men. Perhaps he was originally sent to spy on them but we don’t know that yet. He eventually grows to love the X-Mansion and Xavier’s ideals. His life begins to turn around; he even starts a serious but difficult relationship with Anne Marie, Rogue. Then Mr. Sinister returns, and reveals that Gambit was working for him and had lead the Marauders in killing the Morlocks. This causes the break up of Rogue and Gambit, and maybe even Gambit leaving the show, at least for a while. Maybe to make amends for what he did he turns himself in for murder. And for several seasons Remy is in prison. When we learn more about Gambit we find out he was raised in New Orleans, at 15 he joined a local street gang called the Guild of Thieves. Remy, or as his gang called him Gambit’s, “gift” is to energize any non-organic object and charge it with energy causing it to explode a few seconds after touching it like it were a grenade. Being a gambler, almost to the point of a compulsion, Gambit’s weapon of choice are exploding playing cards. The cards also give him something to do with his hands. Gambit is about somewhere between 19 and 22, while he is physically fit he is not bulky but is more lanky. Because of his “gift” Remy’s eyes are black and red. This caused his parents to kick him out of his house at a young age, it was around the time his parents kicked him out that Gambit’s powers manifested. He has grown up doing whatever he needed to in order to survive, and when not needing to survive he did whatever he felt like. For someone who, at first, is so despicable Remy is incredibly charming. Something else he learned on the streets to survive.

 

[Artistsean]

On the Human front, a new character is added. Kelly begins to become a major threat to Mutantkind as well. And maybe some focus is given to the Friends of Humanity, especially their leader and founder Graydon Creed.

Dr. Valerie Cooper: Her character enters the show around season three or four, maybe even five. The situation is that Mutants are becoming increasingly known and a household word. Dr. Cooper is a National Security Advisor, placed on a board dealing with Mutants. She has been there since day one, behind the scenes, even during the whole Sentinel Program. Dr. Cooper is an average human, no mutant powers. Maybe at first she hates mutants, or dislikes them. Or maybe she is worried they are a threat and wants to make sure America is safe. Her character could start out like Amanda Waller from Justice League Unlimited. Perhaps part of her job is to be a press secretary about the Mutant Crisis. Eventually her character learns that mutants aren’t a threat, they are just humans with an extra power, and like with average people there are some good and some bad. Her character still wants to keep America safe, but she changes that to include all its citizens including Mutants. She is full of remorse over her role in the Sentinel Program and the deaths and hurt it caused, she may have also been involved in various other programs against Mutants. Part of her change of heart is her dealings with the Xavier Institute, especially with Charles Xavier and his X-Men. Her job puts her in danger every day, she has been through bomb scares, had death threats, and maybe even had to be saved from the Brotherhood.
Her character starts out having no connection to Charles Xavier, the Xavier Institute, Mutants, or even the Brotherhood. Eventually she is brought into contact with many of these things, and overtime she even becomes friends with Charles. But she always works for the Government.
Dr. Valerie Cooper is a young woman, maybe late 30. She is about 5’9”, and weighs roughly 135 lbs (61 kg). Her hair is blond. She rarely wears glasses. Her wardrobe is usually business suits or government issued clothing.
Her character is someone who has learned to be tough skinned, and hard edged. She is someone who is strong willed and with strong opinions. When she thought mutants were dangerous there was no question in her mind, or was there.

Perhaps we also

like I said, the rest of the seasons ideas blur together for me but I think the main idea this season is giving focus to the characters families. And showing more of the hostility coming from the human side.
There should be more of a focus though. Just not sure what it would be.
I'll add more later.

Episodes and Ideas of Interest:
Well its a little hard to decide where the 3rd season starts off. It could be a sort of spill over from season 2.
But this season there is the introduction of the Marauders, the Morlock Massacre, and then the intro of Mr. Sinister. Later there is the Intro of Gambit. So those are important. (Gambit isn't revealed to be part of the Morlock massacre this season though, its more like in season 4 or 5.)
There is the Introduction of Betsy Braddock too, then the episode where she switches bodies with a young Ninja woman.
There is at least one flash back episode with Logan where we learn more about him. and maybe, like with most shows, we have at least one episode dedicated to one character. So that we focus on each and learn more about them.
This season we could also introduce Doug Ramseys and maybe even have him die this season too.

I will think up more for this season later.

 

[Artistsean]

Season Four

OK, if Season Three didn't seem fully realized then Season Four is even less. Its not that I ran out of ideas. Its just that I am not sure how to form them into full Seasons. But I will try. At the very least I will just post my ideas for future storylines and episodes.

I think maybe a few Morlocks, one of two, could join the cast. But I don't see many new additions. Maybe another one or two original cast members could leave the show this season too. While at least one returns. I also think Magneto returns as a major character this season after laying low for a while.
Through Season One, Two, and maybe Three, the term “Mutant” isn’t used. There are several different terms used. To Xavier and the X-Men its "Gifted" to Magneto and his students is "Homo Superior" to the Government its "Anomalies" and to mutant haters its "Freaks and monsters", but eventually they become classified as "Mutants." They become classified as “Mutants” once the Government’s scientists discover that the powers are from a single gene mutation.

Lucas Bishop: Bishop is a mutant from the future (time travel is possible in this show but is rarely done and only future people coming to the past and possibly Kitty Pride going to the future and back once), he shows up out of no where with a warning for the X-Men. He comes from a future where mutants are hunted down by advanced Sentinels or killed in the process; they are forced into camps, marked with an “M” brand and bar code, and then put into service for the government or put to death. He even mentions a few names of mutants; some who are in the X-men or were on the team, that were killed in the camps because they refused to hunt their fellow mutants. At this point in the X-Men show the term “mutant” is starting to be, or is, a public term but most of the public still doesn’t know about mutants. He warns them that there is a chain of events that causes this future, and the assassination of a government official by someone in or close to the X-Men is where it begins. Bishop is a “gifted” person or “mutant” or “Homo Superior,” whatever you wish to call it, with the power to absorb, store, and emit, various forms of energy. Luca Bishop is a 25 to 29 year old man who stands about 5’9” or 6’. He is also very bulky and has scars from various battles; the main scars though are the M on his right eye and the bar code on the inside of his left or right forearm. Bishop also comes from a future where he had to fight to survive; his physical appearance should indicate this. This forced him to become an aggressive and formidable soldier, trained in various forms of combat and weaponry, among other things. I see Bishop, in the show, acting very agitated and erratic because of the time traveling. His mind is sort of scrambled, and is slowly unscrambling. Some of his facts are mixed up but he eventually gets his message across. Bishop, on top of being somewhat hostile, is also incredibly guilty and grim. In his future mutants either work for the Government and do whatever they asked or be put into the camps and killed with the other mutants. Bishop decided to work for the Government, and his duties included tracking, hunting, arresting, and sometimes killing other mutants. Sometimes he was sent after escaped mutants, rebels, or mutant children born to human parents. He and his fellow Mutant Guards were used and treated like hunting dogs. He has done lots of things he isn’t proud of in order for him to survive. Eventually he couldn’t take it anymore. He snapped and turned against the Sentinels and his human bosses; narrowly escaping with his life he found the resistance. The resistance put him to work but nothing he did felt like it made up for his past. That is why he volunteered for the experimental time travel plan. (All this can be shown in one quick flashback or several mini flashbacks over the course of the story arc.) Bishop hopes that this will make up for everything. Other than his warning I am not sure what his role on the show would be, maybe he sticks around some to help the X-Men. Perhaps he can’t go home yet. Somehow he goes home though; maybe Beast or Forge fixes his return device. I would love to see a scene where Bishop meets Magneto and instead of hating each other they totally get along. Bishop warns about a future Magneto is afraid is unavoidable, and he preaches “Homo Superiority.” Something Bishops really likes to hear, and always believed growing up.
His role on the show could be a bitter warning to the X-Men, who at this point are still mostly teens, about the grim future that waits for them. A future in which the world knows about them and instead of embracing them like Xavier and the X-Men are trying for, they are hated and killed in camps. He also represents the idea that Magneto was right all along.

I am not sure if they would fit better in Season Three, or earlier, but they could be in Season Four

The Hellfire Club (group affiliation): The Hellfire Club is an exclusive organization that has existed since 1750. They operate under the guise of being a social club for America’s richest, where the rich congregate and dress in old clothing and act rich. Such members mentioned could include Norman Osborne, Tony Stark, Wilson Fisk, Warren Worthington Jr.; some members are members in name only and never show up at functions (like Warren or Tony). The Club, using its wealthy elites, influences the world, such as elections, wars, assassinations, the economy, etc, as long as it helps them gain money, power, and influence. It is a club that very active members find hard to leave. They cover things up for one another, and if one tries to leave or tell on the others they are killed. While the club has many members, the Club’s goals and actions are decided by an inner circle called “Council of the Chosen.” Most recently, perhaps in the shows opening, there was a hostile take over of the Council led by Sebastian Shaw. He and his team of mutants (Emma Frost, Donald Pierce, Harry Leland, Jason Wyngarde, and Tessa, gained control of the Hellfire Club in a bloody takeover that left the previous council dead. Perhaps the X-Men get involved because of Warren becoming a member or because of the Club asking Charles Xavier to join. Perhaps the Hellfire Club, because of its new leadership, is enlisting the very powerful mutants in an effort to gain ultimate power and influence.
The Hellfire Club, as a group, is ruthless and heartless. They think only of themselves, and don’t see any harm in death and destruction as long as it suits their needs and they make a profit.
When the X-Men deal with the Hellfire Club the Club is brutal with them, even putting them in cages. Maybe even trying to brainwash them and experiment on them or something like that.
I think it could be very true to the comic book story. The story arc could involve Jason Wyngarde, and maybe Emma Frost, brainwashing Jean Grey (who at the time had to Phoenix Force in her) and convinced her she was a member and in love with Jason. They do this in order to use her powers, something they had planned to do to Charles until they found a more powerful mutant than him.
Ultimately the X-Men come to her rescue and the Club’s whole plan goes terribly wrong. Jean Grey uses her powers against the Hellfire Club and especially her brainwasher Jason, leaving him a crying and quivering in the corner. The X-Men take her home, but this is just the start of what becomes the Dark Phoenix Saga.

Sebastian Shaw/Black King: Shaw is 48 or 50. He is about 5’8” or 5’9”, balding on top but long black hair in the back. He has also grown bushy side burns too. He is the head of his own industry Shaw Industries, and became a billionaire by the age of 40. He discovered he was “Powerful” by the age of 20. Shaw’s “power” is to metabolize kinetic energy or electricity into greater physical strength, endurance and durability. Shaw slowly worked his way through the group, the entire time hiding his “power,” until he became close enough to the inner circle. Shaw also found others inside the Club who had “power” but were hiding it, these others became his secret council. The driving force for Shaw is greed, sure he is angry over having to hide his “power” all these years in order to get to where he is. But for him it is all about gaining even more power. And he will do whatever it takes to get it.
(side note: it would be awesome to see Colossus punch Shaw straight in the jaw and to have Shaw barely move.)

Emma Frost/ White Queen: She is about 25 years old, 5’9” and has platinum blond hair. Emma is another one of the elite who is also, as Shaw calls them “Powerful.” Her “power” is similar to Jean Grey’s or Charles Xavier’s, in that it is mental based. She has telepathy and the ability to force others to see what she wants them to see, manipulating their thoughts while doing so, and sometimes using their thoughts against them. She amassed her fortune and access to the Club by way of her powers. Unlike Shaw, Emma’s driving force is not pure greed. It is more anger over the hatred she has endured these years, I also see her having guilt from her past but I don’t know if her past would be explored yet. Maybe once she is called back in for another episode. Perhaps she has connections to Charles Xavier and that is why the X-Men get involved. But anyway, she is also not a nice person. She will, like Shaw, do what it takes to get to her goals.
She could become a regular cast member too.

Moria becomes a pivotal character this season too. She starts a relationship with Banshee. And then there is her son from her previous marriage...

Kevin MacTaggert/Proteus/Patient X: Kevin is an 8 year old boy, give or take a year or two. He is the son of Moira MacTaggert and her ex-husband Joseph, but perhaps it’s somehow implied that he might be Charles’ son. Kevin is “gifted” but way beyond all the others. He has the “gift” of telepathy, to force others to see what he wants them to see on a large scale (city size), body possession, and his body is composed of psionic energy (or mind energy). In his story arc (maybe around three episodes) it’s all about him having such extreme power at such a young age. Moira had to almost keep him locked away to keep everyone safe. Kevin constantly hungered for energy. One day he escapes and that’s when the X-Men come in. Kevin is almost brutal with his powers too. I don’t know what his story would be exactly but maybe it ends like the comic did, with Colossus being forced to kill him. But that seems wrong to do to an 8 year old. Maybe Kevin is about 14.
I do see him possessing his father’s body, Joseph (the abusive alcoholic jerk), and going to kill his mother, during the final battle scene.


In an episode, or a two-three parter, Storm, Psylock, and maybe even Gambit, and maybe even Jean, become central characters we focus on.

Shadow King/Amahl Farouk: He is a Mutant with psychic and telekinetic powers that rival Charles Xavier’s. Charles meets the Amahl Farouk when he challengers Charles to psychic battle, maybe Jean was the original target but Charles intervened. He challenges Charles to psychic battle in the Astral Plane under threat of Farouk mentally attacking and killing all of his students and friends. Amahl Farouk, the body the Shadow King is currently in, is not his first body. The Shadow King mentally challenges others, kills them in the Astral Plane, and then takes their body and strengthens his own mental powers. The battle is epic, taking a whole episode, with cuts back to the students. Charles has no choice; he totally cuts loose with his mental powers. He completely wins the battle the Shadow King to become trapped in the Astral Plane, and unable to return to his current body or any other, and with no way to get out or hurt anyone again. But perhaps the Shadow King, in his Astral form can return to make minor trouble for the X-Men.
In this episode we find out that Amahl Farouk was the man who forced young Storm into being a theif. Maybe Gambit has some tie int that too. Psylock is one of the only students who has the ability to stop or at least hold Amahl Farouk back. But it is Charles who is the one to stop him.

 

[Artistsean]

In Season Four Henry McCoy returns from college. Because of his vast intelligents he speeds through school and becomes a professor. He returns to help out at the X-Mansion, possibly as a new teacher. (Xavier's school could be slowly but surely growing.)

The government once again plays an important role too. And thats where we meet...

Dr. Kavita Rao: Rao is a 38 year old (or older) geneticist from India. She stands at almost 5’6” but is really a fraction over 5’5.” She was a teacher, or perhaps a student or someone who just used the labs, at the same college that Henry McCoy earned his doctorate at. She and Hank became very close friends. Rao was called in by the Government’s specially appointed team to research the “Mutant Epidemic” in America. Part of her research included experimenting on “mutant” corpses. For Rao the whole thing is very clinical. She is fascinated by the whole thing and she does not consider anyone’s feelings, human or “mutant.” But she and Hank are still close; they exchange emails and meet from time to time to discuss things. (She probably never mentions her work; lucky for her it’s classified.) Hank finally finds out somehow. He is totally offended and outraged, especially about the use of “mutant” corpses. This puts a strain on their friendship, but perhaps they become close again. She isn’t evil and is not trying to wipe them out, just understand them better. And she wasn’t the one who killed the “Mutant” corpses. But still she is somewhat unfeeling about some things and she is cut and dry. Almost as if she is dissecting a worm. She almost believes the ends justify the means and that the mutants have no feelings (almost). Later on, after more one on one with some mutants, she starts to empathies with them. She sees how many mutants are trapped by their mutations, in her mind. And she sees first hand the devastation mutants can cause, gruesome devastation. She begins to despise mutations, not “Mutants” but their mutations.
She becomes a member of the Government organization put together to deal with the mutants. She, Dr. Cooper, Senator Kelly, Reverand Stryker maybe, Bolivar Trask, and some others.

While many enemies try to take center stage it is Magneto who returns to being the main villain of the overall storyarc of the season. (amaybe Season Four and Five.) Once again he has his followers and he returns from his laying low to attack the Government or something. Perhaps here is takes over Genosha in a violent cue (or however you spell it) and makes it Mutant Capital of the world. He does this around the end of Season Four, leading to a cliffhanging episode.
Then Season Five becomes about Magneto and Genosha.


The main idea of this thread is that I think the X-Men would make a perfect live tv series with very minimal changes.


Let me know what you think of all this, from Season One to Season Four and Five. (I merged them sort of.)

 

[steelio2006]

hey, it's nice job on this. i did somethin like this a couple of years ago. didnt manage to make it very far tho. good luck on this.

 

[Artistsean]

Thanks. The idea of this thread was to show just how easy it would be to transfer the X-Men from the comics to a live action TV series. A TV series would give the audience a chance to get to know the characters better than a movie, similar to a comic book. The stories can keep going with more exposure for the characters and the show.
There are so many X-Men characters, and story ideas (that don't necissarily need to come from the comics) that the show could last for a very long time. At least as long as say Buffy.
the only thing would be that there would have to be minor changes, like no costumes really. Some effects would be too expensive so they would have to be tweeked, like the Sentinels being changed from giants to slightly larger than human robots.

If you have any ideas, of suggestions, anyone, feel free to post them.

 

[Artistsean]

Season One,
Corrections and additions:

Here are some mock ups of character designs for Season One, to show what they might look like transferred into the real world.
(Think Buffy or Smallville.)

Some changes to characters. It might be cool to sort of start the show with the sort of idea that X-Men Children of the Atom used. Xavier goes to work at a school to find mutants. There he meets Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, and Jean.
Beast pretends to be the big man on campus, a jock who is more worried about being popular and pretends to not be smart.
Cyclops starts out not being a leader and must learn that on the way.
Iceman is constantly cold and can't control his powers, touching things and freezing them in ice.

(But it doesn't have to be based on Children of the Atom.)

It puts the students in a school setting with other students (like the first season of Buffy.) And gives them other students to play off of.
Add that with historical climate over mutants and a growing mob of mutant haters lead.

Then there is also Magneto taking his campaign public (mutants are the next step and better than humans.) And then later bringing his Brotherhood in.

It would be cool as a TV series.

 

[steelio2006]

is it cool if i decided to work on this into a fan-fic, script-format? u'll get complete creative credit. all i'll be doin is taking ur ideas and putting 'em to keyboard and hopefully ppl would enjoy it. i can work on a pitch to show ya.

 

[Artistsean]

I would love to read a pitch, sounds fun.

 

[Artistsean]

Here are more character design ideas fro Season One

Eric Lenshhir/ Magneto

Pietro Maximoff/ Quicksilver

Fred Dukes/ Blob

Mortimer Toynbee/Toad

Cane Marco/ Juggernaut (not a affiliated with magneto)

Calvin Rankin/ Mimic

 

[Artistsean]

And the Human "Enemies" of Season One

Graydon Creed: Leader and founder of the Friends of Humanity
Senator Kelly: political face of the anti mutant movement
Bolivar Trask: Inventor (even though Forge might have had something to do with it) of the Sentinels
Reverand William Stryker: religious voice always neard on TV preaching against Mutants.

Trask and his Sentinels:

The Sentinels are actually actors in Sentinel robot costumes. and are about human size (like the Cybermen from Dr. Who)

 

[steelio2006]

wouldnt they want the sentinels to blend in and sneak up on the mutants?

im working on the pilot to show ya. im just havin a hard time trying to figure out how to start it. that's always seems to be the hardest part.

 

[Artistsean]

I understand. Beginnings are always hard.
I had imagined the show starting with Charles Xavier and his nurse girlfriend, as Charles starts putting into action his plans for the school. Then maybe peaking in on the five students life's.
Like on the cartoon show Charles approaches each student about attending his school.
(with Jean the comic story always is, like in the cartoon, movies, and comics, that Charles was a tutor helping her control her powers at her home. He was called in by her parents. But her powers were too strong so she was sent to live at his school because she needed more attention.)

In my idea for the show Xavier starts the school to give mutants a place to be safe, to learn and feel connected and not alone. Plus he could teach them how to use and control their powers and be responsible with them. (also in my idea Xavier doesn't hide that he too is a mutant. He is their leading advocate. And doesn't want any mutant to be ashamed to be one.)

I am not exactly sure if that helps, but that sort of a vague idea for where it could begin.

In Children of the Atom

Spoiler

the story starts by setting the atmosphere. Showing the rise of mutants and the growing hysteria about them. Then we are introduced to the leader of the Anti Mutant group and the whole Anti Mutant movement. Then we meet Charles Xavier.
Charles Xavier then signs up as a teacher at a local school to get close to the students who are mutants. All the while we see the anti mutant stuff going on at the school with students. Charles works at the school as a Guidance Councilor and where he meets Cyclops, Iceman, and Beast. He also enrolls Jean and Warren later on.

I was just trying to help you with the beginning. I hope that helps.


As for the Sentinels, I was going for the classic comic book robot look but with a realistic TV budget. That is why they are like the Cybermen on Doctor Who. They are actors in elaborate Sentinel costumes. That also goes along with how the Sentinels looked in the early comics. They are big, but not giants. But in this show they could be human size.

I don't think they technology would be at the point, in the show, where they can make human looking Sentinels. Maybe in some future episode or something we can see that the Sentinels are like Terminators or something, human looking. (I think future episodes could be cool. I designed a future Mimic for one.) But Not this early in the show, in my opinion.

Spoiler

Like on Heroes, the Xavier Institute series (X-Men) could have future episodes where the audience gets glimpses of the alternate realities and futures. We can show what dark futures there could be, but not over do it with showing them all the time or dwelling on them. Eventually the show would introduce Bishop but not until around Season Three or Four. And using that alternate future the show can also introduce Cable. (but again not over do it.)
And in one of those, or both or all of those, future episodes the Sentinels can be shown to be hiding as regular humans. Possibly even sleeper Sentinels who don't even know they are Sentinels. I think they even did that in the comics too.
Future Mimic:

He was taken in by Mystique and her Brotherhood, expertly trained, and became her ultimate weapon.
Just an idea for a later Mimic Episode.