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

[jaymes_e06]

Spiderboy some very good story suggestions. I like them a lot. The one thing that need to not happen is have Jean die after the phoenix Saga but to wait and then maybe just killing her off later in the season when no one would expect it. I think she does need to die later in that season though because she is so powerful it would be hard to write for her.

 

[Artistsean]

Some really nice ideas spiderboy2, I like how you used the Shi'ar.
But do you think that changing them from aliens to mutants might be too much of a change for some people?
I mean, I don't think aliens should be part of the show
Does anyone on here think the change is fine?
I like it but it might be because I am not too familiar or something. Let me know.
I could even see the mutant cult of the Shi'ar claiming their mutations were genetic manipulations from aliens. maybe even beliving that they are part alien (but never really prooving it)

The whole Cult angle gives the show a new dimension I think.
As does the Hellfire Club acting like an eletist country club or secret organization that caters to mutants.
It would probably be very natural for some mutants to think that their mutations must be alien in some way. Whether its to explain why they have their powers, or to help them feel important, or not alone.

I like the idea of Jean being in a coma too instead of killing her.
The Pheonix saga is sort of overdone now, and I know that since it is a show having her die (possibly later on) and then even later still having her rise again would work fine and be doable since its a tv show.
Her Pheonix powers could have even been her own powers mutated even further somehow, say by Mr. Sinister or the Shi'ar themselves somehow.


What do you guys think of having Cable appear in the Days of Future Past time travelling Season Four? Or should he have his own season later one (but that would require using time travel again)?

 

[Shemtov]

Some really nice ideas spiderboy2, I like how you used the Shi'ar.
But do you think that changing them from aliens to mutants might be too much of a change for some people?
I mean, I don't think aliens should be part of the show
Does anyone on here think the change is fine?
I like it but it might be because I am not too familiar or something. Let me know.
I could even see the mutant cult of the Shi'ar claiming their mutations were genetic manipulations from aliens. maybe even beliving that they are part alien (but never really prooving it)

The whole Cult angle gives the show a new dimension I think.
As does the Hellfire Club acting like an eletist country club or secret organization that caters to mutants.
It would probably be very natural for some mutants to think that their mutations must be alien in some way. Whether its to explain why they have their powers, or to help them feel important, or not alone.

I like the idea of Jean being in a coma too instead of killing her.
The Pheonix saga is sort of overdone now, and I know that since it is a show having her die (possibly later on) and then even later still having her rise again would work fine and be doable since its a tv show.
Her Pheonix powers could have even been her own powers mutated even further somehow, say by Mr. Sinister or the Shi'ar themselves somehow.


What do you guys think of having Cable appear in the Days of Future Past time travelling Season Four? Or should he have his own season later one (but that would require using time travel again)?

actually the ultimate shi'ar were a cult. however, they were normal people. however, the ultimate hellfire club was an offshoot of evil mutants who belonged to the shi'ar cult. however i want to keep them seperate.

 

[Artistsean]

I wasn't saying the Hellfire Club and the Shi'ar are connected.
I am just saying in a world were mutants do exist, its realistic to say that there would be these sort of factions grouped together by their common beliefs. On faction, the Shi'ar, might think their powers are alien and that one day there would be a chosen one.
Another faction, the Hellfire Club, are elitist mutants who see themselves as better than others (including other mutants).
They aren't connected though,
Magneto's Brotherhood is another faction, mutants who hate (like racism) all humans.
Or yet another faction, the Humans who hate all mutants, and then the humans who hate humans and side with the mutants.

The show could deal with all these realistic groups of thought, including all the ones I didn't mentioned.



But I still wonder, would changing the Shi'ar from aliens to mutants be too much? Its like with Juggernaut, to stay true to the comics you have to have him be magic, but then you have to introduce magic into the show. So I decided to make him a mutant.
So with the Shi'ar, should I introduce aliens into the show or change them to mutants and hope that people still like it.
I personally like the idea that they are mutants. Just add in that they are mutants who desperately think their powers are alien in some way (like aliens came down and genetically altered them) and then at least you have them somewhat connected to aliens.


I still am curiuous if people want Cable to show up during Season Four (I think it was) during the whole time travelling story that would take up most if not all of that season,
Or
should he have his own season, and have the show return to the time travelling idea another season down the line?

 

[Shemtov]

But I still wonder, would changing the Shi'ar from aliens to mutants be too much? Its like with Juggernaut, to stay true to the comics you have to have him be magic, but then you have to introduce magic into the show. So I decided to make him a mutant.
So with the Shi'ar, should I introduce aliens into the show or change them to mutants and hope that people still like it.
I personally like the idea that they are mutants. Just add in that they are mutants who desperately think their powers are alien in some way (like aliens came down and genetically altered them) and then at least you have them somewhat connected to aliens.

the ultimate shi'ar were a cult, so actually this has been done. but your saying that they are actually a mutant offshoot of scientology? thats very interesting.

 

[Artistsean]

I had forgotten about the Ultimate version. They don't necessarily have to be a cult or a church or anything, just a large group of mutants who share the same belief that their mutations were caused by aliens. But a cult would make them different from the Morlocks (who are a community) or the Brotherhood (an organization) or the the Xavier school (a school, team).

Well, my train of thought went like this:
If you are born with an unusual power like being able to shoot lasers out of your eyes or something along those lines (really unusual), in a world where people make you feel like a freak, it might be very natural to start thinking it had something to do with beings from another world messing around with your DNA. Just like some people think the Pyramids were made by aliens.
I hadn't thought of Scientology, but I guess it sort of works too.
But they would be more obvious with their cultishness.

Also adding in that line of thinking for them connects them to their alien roots in the comics.

 

[The Question]

Honestly, unless you make the Shi'Ar aliens, then there's no point in using them. If you didn't want to hurt the tone of the series, you could make them a bit more mysterious. Sort of shadowy and behind the scenes. Maybe Lilandra sees potential in Earth's superhumans, both in terms of elevating their society to a better level (the X-Men) and posing a threat to the greater intergalactic community (The Pheonix and maybe Apocalypse). So, she, with the help of her Imperial Guard, work quietly to shape how things develop and maybe help the X-Men stop a few of their big bads.

 

[Artistsean]

I was afraid that eliminating the alien thing might hurt it somehow.

Sure, it would be nice to have the Xavier school actually have some real allies. Up to this point in the series they have basically only had each other. The humans for the most part, the active humans, have been against them, then there is Magneto and his Brotherhood in all its forms, and so on.
A group that is actually there to help and sides with them would be interesting.


But I also wouldn't want the series to start seeming like it was doing over the top stories because of ratings or lack of ideas.
Like "Season Four they traveled in time, and now aliens?"




And by the way, I finished another Hellfire Club member:

Again, the idea is that she is a very successful business woman, and a member of the Hellfire Club. While at the Hellfire Club the men dress in old fashioned clothing and the woman as well, from the time period that the original Hellfire Club was founded I guess.
I posted her original costume for comparison and contrast.

 

[The Question]

I was afraid that eliminating the alien thing might hurt it somehow.

Sure, it would be nice to have the Xavier school actually have some real allies. Up to this point in the series they have basically only had each other. The humans for the most part, the active humans, have been against them, then there is Magneto and his Brotherhood in all its forms, and so on.
A group that is actually there to help and sides with them would be interesting.


But I also wouldn't want the series to start seeming like it was doing over the top stories because of ratings or lack of ideas.
Like "Season Four they traveled in time, and now aliens?"

It's all about presentation. As long as they're introduced gradually, and retain at least some level of mystique throughout the series, you'll be fine.

 

[jaymes_e06]

The only real bad thing about the aliens is, as The Question mentioned, about the presentation. If it's a space opera a la Star Wars it wouldn't fit the tone of a grounded (no pun intended) show like X-Men would have to be. There would have to be a mystery about it that would be much like The X-Files where you never know if what your seeing is real and someone like Scully quickly can dismiss the happenings to them with "logic." As long as you never give a definate answer to the question it would be fine.

And as far as the Hellfire Club goes I always personally thought of them as an affluent mutant club.... and closet S&M freaks. I mean they were based on a S&M themed episode of the Avengers. Now that's not to say that the show should go heavily into sexual themes because, for the most part, this should be a family show (at least on par with Heroes or Smallville) but I always thought if you take Emma Frost's sexy clothes away you take part of what makes her character great. The fact that she looks like a ****e but is quite possibly one of the most intellegent women in the MU was something that facinated me. The fact that she would, instead of concealing her sexuality, use it as a weapon made for a good dichotomy and gave her character an interesting complexity (and I don't mean that just as a horney young lad).

So I like your idea Artistsean and think it would work for the PG audiance, but to me, I have always thought that the Hellfire Club was about indulgence. Indulgent sex, drugs, and the indulgent want of world domination. So making them just a rich mutant club that just dresses in 1800's garb strips them a bit of some of there charisma IMO at least.

Anyway keep up the good work!

 

[Artistsean]

I am, now, aware of the Avengers episode you speak of. "A Touch of Brimstone" and the idea that all the women were based on Emma Peal's costume in that. (I always wondered why the women had to wear underwear while the men dressed in fancy duds.) And this has been a topic of discussion in the Marvel redesign thread in the art forum.
I was trying to keep her look PG, but I still think the idea behind her costume could be transferred (while being more PG and also while keeping my idea).
I also wondered, if someone like Emma (or one of the other female members) is such a powerful mutant and so influential in the Hellfire Club then why would she wear something like that?

The Hellfire Club is actually based on a rumor of a real Hellfire Club, their motto was something like "Do what you will." It was a Club were rich and powerful would go and do whatever they wanted.
Like you were saying.
I was going to go back in and write this, but I'll do it now. A sort of rewrite.
The Hellfire Club, in my idea, is a Club of Wealthy and Powerful mutants who meet to indulge. Since they are rich and powerful (all very powerful mutants) they feel it is their right to do whatever they want.
I would imagine that Magneto would not agree with them either. He hates all humans, and thinks mutants should rule. But he also thinks they have responsibilities.
So they would differ in that way, among others, from the Brotherhood.
I guess with enough powerful (and cocky) people banded together they might try to take over. Really effect change in their world and shift the power to them.

Not sure how they end up crossing paths with the Xavier school, maybe they want Warren to join them. Or maybe they approach Charles Xavier, since he is independently wealthy. (Although he is a major voice for mutant rights and preaching peace between humans and mutants, that would probably scare them off of both.)

And about the Shi'ar, I guess done right the alien angle could work.
Just keep it more of a mystery, no fancy alien clothing or anything. And make whatever they are there to do not involve space.

And, should Cable be in the Time Travelling season (four) or should he show up later on in like Season five or six? Should time travel only play a big part in season four and then dropped or should it be brought up once more?

 

[The Question]

The original Hellfire Clubs weren't a rumor. Benjamin Franklin is known to have been a member in real life.

 

[jaymes_e06]

The Question: I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that the Hellfire Club where a lot of wealthy mostly politicians that came together to as I said before engage in deviant acts of alcohol and sex (so to not at least touch on that would be inaccurate).

Artistsean: Yeah that is why Emma's name is Emma because of Emma Peel on the Avengers. Chris Claremont must have been very "inspired" by that episode. lol But yeah the show needs to be more PG but maybe you can introduce Emma by having her seducing one of the Hellfire Club's members she can strips off her heavy dress to reveal something that, pays tribute at least, to her comic book costume but by the end of the scene the audience sees that she was only seducing the overwieght SOB (maybe Harry Leland?), who she telepathically drugs, to get information on his company and therefore making herself more rich because she can steal his companies ideas.

Something like this would work for that opening scene.

 

[Artistsean]

I like that idea a lot. I think it would really work. Emma doesn't have to dress skimpy all the time, by her actions and personality and all that she can portray the her comic self.
And speaking of Lealand. I read about how Claremont and his artist at the time (name escapes me at the moment) based each member on actors.
Harry Leland was based on Orson Wells, Sebastian Shaw was based on actor Robert Shaw, and Donald Pierce was based on Donald Sutherland, so it would be neat to cast actors who looked like those other actors or were reminiscent of them. (I know that when you actually cast an actor its only their acting that matters, but its a nice thought). Or at least have the actors dress (clothing and hair styles) similar to those actors to try and get the connection across.

 

[Artistsean]

Because I don't know how many more of these I will be able to do for the time being, and because I want to show him since I got him and don't know how many other characters come before him, and also because I don't want this thread or my idea to die off,
Here is En Sabah Nur the Apocalypse:
(Or what I have thus far)

He is a very tall, muscular man (perhaps done with an actor and a green screen to make him look bigger than everyone, or perhaps he is just a big actor compared to everyone.)
He has a tattoo on his face (and I'd like to spread that tattoo to the rest of his body in some way.) He wears Egyptian clothing from the past, but I could see him updating his wardrobe too. Perhaps even dressing more like a king or something.
In that episode Mr. Sinister returns to his major threat status. He isn't the main bad guy though, his boss (who was always hinted at) finally shows up.
Apocalypse works mostly behind the scenes keeping himself mysterious. But then he becomes a major player.

He could have the same motivations as he has in the comics, but in the show you can see how he is greatly effected by his past. He is a man driven mad by past and his powers.

Again, if aliens don't exist in this TV Show then they wont be introduced here. So Apocalypse has nothing to do with aliens or an alien space ship that he turns into armor or anything like that. He is perhaps the FIRST mutant, his powers were to manipulate his own molecules.
His powers over time, especially during his hibernation he was able to grow, manipulate, and control, his powers more. But because his powers were so great to begin with he had to hibernate to stay alive. He is also a very powerful psychic, and whatever powers Xavier and Jean have. He can also manipulate the molecules of others, homosapien and homosuperior alike. He gave Essex his powers and the power to manipulate other's powers. He also manipulates the powers and emotions of other mutants to create his four other mutant to creat his Four Horsemen.

One of the problems I have with Apocalypse is that he is just too powerful and too inhuman. While that may work for the comics it wouldn't really work for the TV show. So to make him work, I think he would need to be more human. I also don't want to make him the final battle or so powerful that they have to stop him now or never and defeating him unites everyone. He may be a bigger threat than a lot of their enemies but he isn't the series finale. I would hope the show would continue after he is stopped. (It could even be presented like Lex Luther, he is not defeated just stopped for the time being or he stops himself.)

 

[Artistsean]

Something I wanted to make and post way back during Season One:

Warren Worthington III as his vigilante persona:
The Avenging Angel
In my idea for the X-Men series Warren does start out trying to be a hero, but instead of donning a costume he wears Riot Gear.As a weapon he carries a baton and uses a shield. He has added a halo symbol on his helmet and shield and bullet proof vest, and maybe even his belt. But the symbol is part of it, he wants people t start talking about the flying hero, the Avenging Angel.
Once he joins Xavier's school he puts that behind him, but it would be cool to always see it in his closet or see his helmet on his desk.

This is wear I got the idea for his Avenging Angel costume:

Spoiler

I got the idea from the Squadron Supreme's Blue Eagle, who at one point wears riot looking armor.

From there I referenced real Riot Gear.

 

[Artistsean]

These are sort of good examples of one way to recreate the superhero costumes as real clothing while still staying true to the characters.

Now just imagine this done with X-Men characters, and with more variety since the characters will be seen more with different clothing.

And they can even go a little out there with some of the heroes and villains:

 

[steelio2006]

hey guys, long time no see. sorry ive been gone for a while. ive noticed that i have a tendency to disappear and reappear every once in a while. im still interested in possibly helping out on this and working out a pilot fan fic for it. what do u guys think?

 

[Be Snikt-Happy]

I was also thinking about doing an X related web series. I wanted to do a Wolverine mini-series (4 episodes a year optimally.) Mostly just short action sequences with preludes in the intro to explain where they are now. Anyway, where are you with this film or is it just in the what if kinna stages now? Seeing others make a movie is great motivation and its always nice to get ideas from fans.

Great pics you posted btw, I havent seen some of them.

 

[Artistsean]

For me its always been a whit if sort of thing.
I would love to see it happen, and even be a part of it happening, but I am busy right now with work.

 

[Artistsean]

Something I wanted to make and post way back during Season One:

Warren Worthington III as his vigilante persona:
The Avenging Angel
In my idea for the X-Men series Warren does start out trying to be a hero, but instead of donning a costume he wears Riot Gear.As a weapon he carries a baton and uses a shield. He has added a halo symbol on his helmet and shield and bullet proof vest, and maybe even his belt. But the symbol is part of it, he wants people t start talking about the flying hero, the Avenging Angel.
Once he joins Xavier's school he puts that behind him, but it would be cool to always see it in his closet or see his helmet on his desk.

This is wear I got the idea for his Avenging Angel costume:

Spoiler

I got the idea from the Squadron Supreme's Blue Eagle, who at one point wears riot looking armor.

From there I referenced real Riot Gear.

I have come around to another way of thinking about the Avenging Angel costume.

What if the Avenging Angel is one of the first characters we see?
What if the show starts with news of mutants, then we see the Avenging Angel swoop in and save somebody. He is dressed in a corny costume.
But then we get into the whole story with Xavier, Cyclops, and all that, and there are no costumes. Just realistic people with powers.

Its like on Team America, where the puppet movie starts with poorly done puppets in the opening to show the contrast.
Avenging Angel's costume, showing a costumed hero, contrasting the real humans dressed normally (who just happen to have powers).


I'm also coming around to the idea of a live action Spider-Man TV show,
It could start with Peter and MJ, who just got married. Moved into their own apartment. Peter has two jobs, substitute teaching at his old high school, and photographer a for Daily Bugle. Aunt Mays has health problems, and MJ is trying to break into acting.
Added on all that Peter is Spider-Man and has to fight crime on a dialy basis.

 

[QWoods]

I love this

 

[TeenLantern]

registered purely so i could post on this thread.

i love this idea, although i think the ideas for episodes/arcs and such are too loose.

i would love to take a shot at coming up with some of my own for everyone to look at!

Episode 1 & 2 (two hour pilot/premiere, split in syndication) -

Part 1 - Scott summers is already a student with Xavier, and is his adopted son. Bobby Drake and Warren Worthington are shown pulling up the mansion, one in a beaten up old truck, the other in a black limosoune! Warren looks down and smirks at bobby as he gets out and makes his way into the mansion.

Xavier has the three of them in a sitting room. He is in front of them with amelia and gives the mutant speech

“Welcome to the Xavier instuite of Learning. Here we do not judge others for who they are, or where they come from. This is a school for people with amazing abilities. For people who are special or gifted. For those who we will one day call mutants!”

The rest is all, you will trained to use you abilities yadda yadda.
The next day Xavier takes warren out to meet the newest recruit Hank McCoy. He is the king iof the jocks(biut secretly a genius) Xavier talks to him, he rebuffs hiom says he’s not interested. Warren has a talk with him later saying you can be yourself at the institute and all that stuff, and hank joins them.

The boys are in the gym with Amelia, she’s letting them all train on different stuff.

Bobby names scott and warren
“dude with that visor you look like a cyclops!”
“I always wanted wings when I was a kid, so I could fly up there with my mom with and the other angels”

Warren says “shut up, ice pack”

And hank tells them of how he was called beast at his school because of his football ability.

Suddenly an alarm goes off, and Amelia rushes out and the boys follow. They enter a large room filled with computers. On the wall is a screen with a picture of a girl on it screaming in agony. Xavieris there and looks worried he says “ Oh no”

Part 2 - The boys and Xavier are driving as fast as they can upstate.Xavier is explaining about the girl on the screen. She is jean grey, (the best friend dying story is told) and that Xavier blocked those powers from her but she has broken through and cant handle the thoughts/emotions that are now in her head.

They arrive and go to help her, unfortunately Eric Lensherr has arrived first. He was Xaviers old partner. And was keeping an eye on jean as well. He wants to recruit her for his own group.
“I want to help ou people charles. Not by training them how to control their powers, and to live peacefully like human lapdogs, I want to train them to control their powers and their inferiors. A true brotherhood of mutants!”

Most of this episode is stuff inside the hosue as Xavier tries to calm jeans mind and stop her powers from exploding like they have. Its all tension between the boys and eric. In the last 10 to 15 minutes the boys and Eric start battling, big explosions and fighting. Eventually Jean recovers and walks outside and sends pyshic bolts at eric stopping his attack, she says no to him and forces him to leave. The boys help tidy up the carnage they cause and leave.

A few days the boydays are out on the basketball court, they are talking about how pretty jean was, and that’s it’s a pity she couldn’t jointhem. a car pulls up outside the mansion and the boys watch as jean gets out and is escorted inside by Amelia and charles. Just before she enteres she looks over at the basketball court and waves to them.

The boys then argue about who she was waving too, and we roll the credits

 

[Artistsean]

I like it, alot. The reason I kept it vague is because I was sort of just introducing the idea. I'm not much of a writer, but I had some ideas for the show.
I really like the ending, having all the guys talk about which one Jean likes. Because that actually happened in the comic, and after a few episodes (it could happen very slowly and easing into it) Jean and Scott end up together.

While reading your script I had an idea, which I am sure isn't a new idea for the X-Men, But not only would it be about racism, sexism, and stuff like that, but it could also be about things like Hank feeling that he has to hide his true self, his mind, because he is a jock. Or about Bobby feeling bad because he is poor. Scott feeling like an outcast, even among the X-Men.

One of the reasons Buffy was so successful was because they took typical things High School students faced and added and turned up the monster level in it. I think the X-Men could do the exact same thing.

I am glad this thread has caught so much attention.
I will post more ideas later, and I hope everyone will too.

 

[steelio2006]

hey everyone, nice to see this thread kickin still. like the script, pretty cool. i'd have to agree bout X-Men doin a similar thing that Buffy did.

this would be cool to see if it could be put together as a short fan-made motion comic type of thing. i'm working on somethin like that right now. it's a fan made motion comic of Batman and Robin.