There have been several television projects based upon Marvel's X-Men universe in various stages of development over the past few years and now we have another one to add to the pile. Marvel announced today that Fox has made a put pilot commitment for a new as-yet-untited Marvel action-adventure series. Burn Notice creator Matt Nix will pen the pilot script and serve as executive producer alongside Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Jeph Loeb, and Jim Chory.
Entertainment president of Fox Broadcasting David Madden said:
Developing a Marvel property has been a top priority for the network–and we are so pleased with how Matt Nix has led us into this thrilling universe. There’s comic book adventure, emotional and complicated relationships, and a rich, existing mythology from which to draw. With the brilliant production crew behind this project, it has all the makings of a big, fun and exciting new series.
The untitled series will focus on "two ordinary parents who discover their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive." Hold the phone, Kevin, doesn't Fox already have an X-MEN related series in development? As of yesterday, you'd have been correct, but Variety is saying that Hellfire, a 1960's set series which would have followed "a young special agent who learns that a power-hungry woman with extraordinary abilities is working with a clandestine society of millionaires, known as “The Hellfire Club,” to take over the world," has now been shelved. Marvel Television will be producing the new series along with Fox, and Marvel Television president Jeph Loeb had this to say:
Marvel Television is thrilled to be co-producing with 20th Century Fox Television on our first project. Matt’s a huge fan of X-Men and his take on the X-Men universe, with its rich characters and high-stakes adventure, is exactly the show we want on FOX. It's a great team of creative producers who will be making something entirely unique.
Although the details are sparse, what do you make of Fox's new X-MEN series and how do you feel about the shelving of Hellfire?