Comic book shows are one step away from taking over television, transforming our usual viewing into the stories of a superhero. It seems every network and streaming service has some form of a comic book adaptation. FX has rookie show "Legion," ABC has "Agents of SHIELD," and the CW is the go-to network for superheroes "Supergirl," "The Flash," "Arrow," and "Legends of Tomorrow." Even Netflix has a line up of superheroes: "Jessica Jones," "Iron Fist," "Luke Cage," "Daredevil," and "The Punisher." The list of networks keeps growing.
Fox upcoming Untitled "X-Men" project
Fox currently has "Gotham," the prequel to "Batman," but has announced plans to bring an untitled "X-Men" project to television. The "X-Men" universe has recently been brought to television with FX series "Legion," but the new series will be set apart from that world, and the one associated with the film franchise.
Showrunner Matt Nix (Burn Notice) has plans to shy away from the series being called an official "X-Men" series in order to side step questions about Wolverine and other beloved characters from the films. Nix will only use a certain amount of the already established characters from the comics, and has plans to invent a majority of new ones, but insists that everything will provide a nod to the existing mythology.
The untitled series is described as a family drama, focusing on two parents who discover their children have mutant powers, so they're forced to go on the run and join forces with an underground network of mutants. Recently cast is Blair Redford (Switched at Birth) in the role of Sam, who is described as "the strong-headed Native American leader of the underground network." Jamie Chung (Gotham, Once Upon a Time) has been cast in the role of Clarice Fong, otherwise known as Blink, an established character from the comics.
Also attached to the project is Bryan Singer, director of several "X-Men" films, who will be directing the pilot.
Hulu's "Runaways" has a cast
Hulu is getting in on the superhero fun with Marvel's "Runaways," which has released a complete cast list, starting with the main six. Rhenzy Feliz plays Alex Wilder, a child prodigy. Lyrica Okano plays Nico Minoru, the team's witch who uses her staff to cast spells.
Virginia Gardner plays Carolina Dean, who discovers not only is she an alien, but her parents are evil aliens that invaded earth. Ariela Barer plays Gert Yorkes, a girl with a telepathic link to a dinosaur. Gregg Sulkin plays Chase Stein, who steals one of his mad scientist parents' inventions. Allerga Acosta plays Molly Hernandez, who is a mutant with super strength in the comics. It is unknown what her story will be in the series.
The parents to each of the "Runaways" have been cast with familiar names: James Marsters and Ever Caradine as the parents of Chase. Annie Wersching and Kip Paradue will play the parents of Carolina. Kevin Weisman and Brigid Brannagh as the parents of Gert. Ryan Sands and Angel Parker as the parents of Alex.
Brittany Ishibashi and James Yaegashi will be the parents of Nico.
In case you're unfamiliar with the plot of "Runaways," the show follows the tagline: "Every teenager thinks their parents are evil. What if you found out they actually were?" The group of teenage "Runaways" discover that their parents are actually supervillains that belong to a group called "The Pride." To escape from their parents nefarious ways, the group of teenagers go on the run, and form their own family unit. Hulu has yet to announce a release date, but it assumed to stream sometime in 2018.
Are you excited for Fox and Hulu's new Marvel shows?
