“X-Men”: Fox Confirms TV Series Happening

After the many many hiccups with Marvel comics published properties being owned in film rights form by 20th Century Fox, it seems the idea for an X-Men live action television series is finally moving forward.  The 90’s cartoon series was on Fox, and remains one of my favorite shows of all time (right behind Disney’s Gargoyles, Fox’s The X-Files, and NBC/SyFy’s Battlestar Galactica.)

Fox entertainment chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden stated that negotiations are under way to develop an X-Men series, inspired by the comic book series first published in 1963 and film franchise.  Which could very well mean further retconning the known comic book universe, ala X-Men: First Class.  I myself would totally be on board with this, since First Class remains the only “X-Film” I’ve enjoyed and felt carried the underlying themes and characters truthfully to the big screen.

I would totally be on board with this idea if it meant a live-action reimagining of the classic 90’s cartoon.  That theme song was truly bitchin’, and the stories they chose to tell were animated cells taken RIGHT from the comic pages.

The biggest complication remains the ownership rights to the X-men themselves, as well as their decades of stories.  20th Century Fox maintains the film rights to the X-Men characters, while the comic book(s) remain owned by Marvel, who are owned by Disney. A live-action TV series requires Marvel’s blessing- something we’re probably not going to see with the recent influx of Marvel-Netflix series garnering so much positive chatter.

“It’s in negotiations,” Newman stated during the TCA’s. “We’re cautiously optimistic, we had a good meeting with them. That will not be on a fast track creatively. This is just the deal, now we have to find the creative.”

Newman went on to state he didn’t think a show would be ready before the 2016-2017 TV season.