That X-Men TV spin-off starring Dan Stevens just got a full series

The Downton Abbey stars as a psychic mutant in Legion

Published: Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 8:21 am

If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens then it’s time to get X-cited, because his new X-Men spin-off TV show has just been given the green light by FX.

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In case you’ve forgotten it the series is called Legion, and stars Stevens as classic X-Men character David Haller, aka a disturbed psychic, telekinetic and pyrokinetic mutant called – you guessed it – Legion, due to his multiple personality disorder.

In the comics Haller is also the son of X-Men leader Professor X (played by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in the film series), though the TV series is reportedly removing much of that origin story and setting the action in a world completely separate to the X-Men movies where mutants are still a secret from the world.

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Legion in the X-Men comics

The official synopsis is as follows:

“Legion” introduces the story of David Haller: Since he was a teenager, David has struggled with mental illness. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he’s confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real.

And here’s the first official picture of Stephens in character, looking pretty roughed-up and far from his dapper Matthew Crawley days.

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Stevens will star in Legion alongside Parks and Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza, Fargo’s Jean Smart and Rachel Keller and Interstellar’s Bill Urwin among others, with the series created by Fargo’s Noah Hawley and set to air in early 2017.

We’re betting all involved are currently feeling pretty X-static.

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Legion will air in early 2017

Authors

Radio Times commissioning editor Huw Fullerton. He sits in front of a shelving unit, looking at the camera and smiling. He wears glasses and has a moustache

Huw FullertonCommissioning editor

Huw Fullerton is a commissioning editor for Radio Times magazine handling comedy, entertainment and specialist drama. In a previous regeneration, he covered all things sci-fi and fantasy for RadioTimes.com.

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