If Fox has its way, we'll soon be hearing about a live action X-Men series on the network. Fox announced today that it's very close to making a deal to bring such a series to the small screen.
"[For] X-Men, we're in negotiations with Marvel," said Fox Television Group chairman and CEO Dana Walden at the Television Critics Association's press tour as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "We're hopeful we'll be able to announce something soon. We're not closed on a deal yet but it's something we're definitely pursuing."
Of course, the Disney-owned Marvel hasn't agreed to the series yet, but 20th Century Fox already owns the film rights for the X-Men franchise with seven X-Men films under its belt and more on the way. However, Marvel favors its parent company, Disney, with two of its comic book-related franchises on ABC, which is also owned by Disney. However, Marvel also made a deal with Netflix for several series, including Daredevil — which aired earlier this year — and the upcoming Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist series.
However, Fox figures it could still make the series work on its network.
"The characters from the X-Men franchise are with Fox on the feature side so we won't be including Marvel characters that are at ABC with Disney," said Walden. "This will be exclusively the franchise as it has existed at Fox."
That could work as the X-Men franchise is not a part of Marvel's current cinematic universe.
Needless to say, this isn't already a done deal, but that hasn't stopped Fox from putting some time and attention into an X-Men series by hiring Star Trek 3 scribes Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne as writers, who will share credits as showrunners with 24's Evan Katz and Manny Coto.
As it stands, the X-Men television series on Fox is now in Marvel's hands. Only time will tell if the company will let Fox run with it. Until then, Fox remains optimistic, with plans to turn it into a long-running series and not a limited event, such as its 24: Live Another Day revival.
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