Marvel to film X-Men TV spinoff in Vancouver

Marvel Television will film new X-Men TV spinoff Legion on location in Vancouver with former Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens.

By Nick Goundry 1 Jun 2016

Marvel to film X-Men TV spinoff in Vancouver
Legion in Vancouver

Marvel Television will film new X-Men TV spinoff Legion on location in Vancouver with former Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens.

Legion (pictured) tells the story of David Haller, a character who has apparently suffered from schizophrenia since he was a teenager, but who realises the voices in his head may be real.

In Marvel Comics lore, Haller is the son of Professor Charles Xavier, one of the main characters of the X-Men universe.

The new series will be executive produced by Noah Hawley, who also runs the TV adaptation of Fargo to great acclaim. Marvel Television will run physical production for FX Networks.

“Just as he did in reimagining Fargo, he is bringing an entirely new aesthetic and sensibility to the enormously popular and richly represented X-Men world,” said Nick Grad, president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, of Hawley’s involvement in the series.

“The pilot episode is stunning, driven by incredible performances from Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Rachel Keller and the rest of the cast.”

Marvel Television mostly films on location in New York through a major production deal with Netflix. So far successful TV seasons of Jessica Jones and Daredevil have been shot in New York for the online platform, with The Punisher, Iron Fist and Luke Cage among the planned upcoming superhero shows to be based in the east-coast city.

Legion is being made for FX Networks rather than Netflix, which could be a factor in the choice of filming location, and the show is likely to benefit from British Columbia’s generous filming incentives.

Vancouver is already the main base of operations for rival superhero TV series from Warner Bros and DC, with Supergirl also confirmed to relocate to the city from Los Angeles.

For more on filming in Vancouver see our production guide.

Image: Marvel

In Marvel Comics lore, Haller is the son of Professor Charles Xavier, one of the main characters of the X-Men universe.

The new series will be executive produced by Noah Hawley, who also runs the TV adaptation of Fargo to great acclaim. Marvel Television will run physical production for FX Networks.

“Just as he did in reimagining Fargo, he is bringing an entirely new aesthetic and sensibility to the enormously popular and richly represented X-Men world,” said Nick Grad, president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, of Hawley’s involvement in the series.

“The pilot episode is stunning, driven by incredible performances from Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Rachel Keller and the rest of the cast.”

Marvel Television mostly films on location in New York through a major production deal with Netflix. So far successful TV seasons of Jessica Jones and Daredevil have been shot in New York for the online platform, with The Punisher, Iron Fist and Luke Cage among the planned upcoming superhero shows to be based in the east-coast city.

Legion is being made for FX Networks rather than Netflix, which could be a factor in the choice of filming location, and the show is likely to benefit from British Columbia’s generous filming incentives.

Vancouver is already the main base of operations for rival superhero TV series from Warner Bros and DC, with Supergirl also confirmed to relocate to the city from Los Angeles.

For more on filming in Vancouver see our production guide.

Image: Marvel

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