X-Men TV Series ‘Legion,’ Starring Dan Stevens, Will Relate To The Franchise’s Films, Says Producer Bryan Singer

It looks like FX’s upcoming X-Men TV series “Legion” will connect to the franchise’s movies after all.

Back in January, FX Networks and FX Productions CEO John Landgraf said at the Television Critics Association winter press tour that “Legion” — starring “Downton Abbey” alum Dan Stevens as lead — will not crossover with the ongoing X-Men film series.

“It’s not in the continuity of those films in the sense that the current X-Men films take place in a universe where everybody on planet earth is aware of the existence of mutants,” Landgraf said (via /Film) of the upcoming sci-fi series created by Noah Hawley. “Legion takes place in a parallel universe, if you will, where the government is aware mutants exist but the public is not. I wouldn’t see characters moving back and forth because they really are parallel universes.”

“Legion” executive producer Bryan Singer, however, suggested at an Edinburgh Television Festival session on Thursday, Aug. 25, that the show will be connected to the films.

“[It is] part of the X-Men universe, but when you watched it, you wouldn't have to label it, it could exist completely on its own,” Singer said (via The Hollywood Reporter) of the upcoming series. He then added that “Legion” and another planned X-Men series “will relate to future X-Men movies.”

While Singer didn’t reveal any new plot details, he did tease that the show is “really ambitious and fun and very unique storyline.”

“Legion” follows the story of David Haller (Stevens), a young man who was diagnosed as schizophrenic and struggled with perceived mental illness for years. After bouncing around different psychiatric hospitals, he has a strange encounter with another patient that makes him realize that the voices he hears in his head and the visions he sees may be real. In the comics, Haller is the son of X-Men leader Charles Xavier, who happens to be a telepath.

In addition to Haller, the cast also includes Jean Smart ("Designing Women"), Rachel Keller ("Fargo"), Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation"), Jeremie Harris ("A Walk Among the Tombstones"), Amber Midthunder ("Sunshine Cleaning"), Katie Aselton ("The League") and Bill Irwin ("Interstellar").

According to Entertainment Weekly, the eight-episode freshman run of the series will air in early 2017.