Comics 2 Film Archives 9/00-12/01
Reported By Variety, 12/7/2001:
Today's Variety contains a report spotlighting Marvel/Tribune's Mutant X as the top new syndicated weekly action hour on TV. The show pulled a 3.0 national household rating for November sweeps and a 3.1 for the final sweeps week. The show was third weekly hour overall for the month.
New syndicated hours that trailed the mutant mayhem were Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and The Practice.
The two veteran weekly hours that topped Mutant X were Entertainment Tonight Weekend and Andromeda.
Reported By Comics2Film, 11/26/2001:
The official Mutant X website has posted a video preview of this week's episode of Marvel's hit syndicated show.
According to the website the episode centers around a young boy who had the mutant ability to control fire. When he gets kidnapped, it's up to the Mutant X team to attempt a rescue.
A future episode of the show is set to feature an as-yet-unnamed special guest star. The "Presumed Guilty" episode, which goes into production soon, will feature an actor better known from the Andromeda TV series. No word on who that might be, but we're told it is not a regular cast member from that show, but "definitely a fan favorite."
John Fawcett, who directed the recent werewolf pic Ginger Snaps is due to helm an upcoming episode called "Blood Ties." In that episode we meet the electricity throwing Jesse's father and learn what his link to the Genetic Security Agency is.
Mutant X producers promise that everything is building up to a season finale that Howard Chaykin is working overtime to write himself.
Videos and photo galleries from all recent episodes can also be found on the site.
Reported By Comics2Film, 11/21/2001:
In October, Marvel's Mutant X debuted as the highest-rated hour-long, weekly action-drama in syndication.
Smallville also debuted early in October. That series bowed as the most-watched show ever to air on the WB Network and continues to pull strong ratings.
The third week in October brought the feature film From Hell to cinemas. That movie debuted at #1 beating out Drew Barrymore's Riding in Cars with Boys and Robert Redford's The Last Castle. It was the first ever #1 opening for star Johnny Depp.
Early this month the Fox network debuted the live-action series based on Ben Edlund's The Tick. The series garnered great reviews, pulled respectable numbers and delivered key demographics and a ratings improvement for the network.
It's been an exciting year for comic book movie and TV fans.
Reported By Variety, 10/25/2001:
The syndicated Marvel/Tribune action hour Mutant X debuted to a 3.3 national household rating making it the number two syndicated, hour-long weekly for the week ended October 14 according to Variety. The number one spot was held by the long-running Entertainment Tonight Weekend. To add one more qualifier, this makes Mutant X the top syndicated, hour-long, weekly, action-oriented show.
Reported By SCI FI Wire, 10/10/2001:
Mutant X made it's debut in first-run syndication last week. Lead John Shea recently talked to SCI FI Wire about the new show. The actor has gone back and forth between acting in commercial, genre fare and more serious material.
"When Mutant X was offered to me, it seemed like the natural evolution of the cycle, back to the commercial end, back to where I'd been with Lois & Clark," Shea told SCI FI. The actor is well remembered for his turn as the villainous Lex Luthor on Lois & Clark.
"I didn't want to repeat myself and play another villain. What I like about Adam is that he's sort of an antihero. He's a wounded idealist, which is something I could relate to," Shea said. " I liked that he's a complicated modern hero who's not so clearly black and white. I also met with [producer] Jamie Paul Rock and Howard Chaykin, the head writer, and I liked their
take on what they promised would come. They said Mutant X would become an ensemble piece that would deal with some fairly serious issues and, at the same time, be enormously entertaining and broadly popular."
The show has sold two seasons worth of episodes. Shea told SCI FI that he looks forward to watching the character and the concept evolve, and knowing that he'll be on board for 44 episodes.
Fans interested in the show can also check out Comics2Film's review of the first episode, which aired last weekend.
Reported By Bloomberg.com, 10/1/2001:
According to a report from online financial news outlet Bloomberg.com, Marvel Enterprises is still feeling the sting of the trademark dispute over the Mutant X TV show. As has been reported in the past, 20th Century Fox filed a suit against Marvel and Tribune Entertainment stating that the Mutant X TV show violated Marvel's agreement with the movie studio to refrain from making X-Men spin-offs.
Now Safeco Corp. is suing Marvel over the legal bills stemming from the lawsuit. Safeco is Marvel's property casualty insurer and is currently on the hook for $952,483.37 in fees as a result of the dispute.
The insurer claims that Marvel did not provide information about the suit. "Marvel's failure to provide timely notice without reasonable justification for such failure constitutes a failure to satisfy a condition precedent and vitiates the policy," Safeco's complaint reads.
Thanks to Comicon.com Splash! for the lead.
Reported By Comics2Film, 10/2/2001:
An unnamed spy has e-mailed in a link which reveals a loophole in the GenomeX website security. Following the link to http://www.genomex.net/intranet gives fans access to the evil corporation's internal e-mails. The e-mails paint a pretty clear picture about what's going on inside the mind of the evil Security Head, Mason Eckhart.
To hack in, you'll need the following:
username: pseurver-admin
password: genomex
GenomeX is, of course, the villainous organization that will appear in the Mutant X TV show. The above link is just part of the online fun, including faux websites, created by the show's producers. Check out the MutantX.net website for more links like that one.
Mutant X debuts in syndication this week.
Reported By Comics2Film, 9/25/2001:
The Mutant X team will make an appearance as special guests at next months auction by The Motion Picture Industry Charitable Alliance (MPICA) in Ontario, Canada.
Forbes March, Victoria Pratt, Lauren Lee Smith and Victor Webster from the upcoming syndicated superhero show are set to serve as guest auctioneers at the event.
While there are many charities and fundraisers benefiting the recent tragedies in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, this previously scheduled event aids other, equally worthwhile, causes. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Canine Companions For Indepndence and Kensington Youth Theater & Employment Skills.
MPICA is an entertainment industry-based non-profit organization that hosts charity auctions featuring items donated by studios, theatres, actors, directors, producers and crew members of popular movies, television series and stage productions. At these auctions, the fans of the shows are given the opportunity to collect special memorabilia while simultaneously generating funds for noteworthy causes. The selected charities benefit from both the generosity of the donations and from the enthusiasm and support of the fans. Each yearly event benefits one US and one Canadian charity, with different charities selected for each event.
The auction is set to take place October 19-21. The Mutant X crew are just a few of the many celebrities that will attend the event. Registration is still open, although space is limited. Check out the MPICA website for details.
Reported By Comics2Film, 9/20/2001:
With the series premiere only a few weeks away, the official Mutant X website is buzzing with activity.
Like many folks in the entertainment industry, the producers of Mutant X are trying to do their part in providing aid for the ongoing relief efforts. To assist victims of the recent terrorist attacks in New York, Washington.D.C., and Somerset County, PA, Tribune Entertainment Company is conducting a drive to raise disaster relief funds. Contributions to the fund may be made online or by check.
Last week the site rolled out a set of new images from the first episode of the show. A few of the screen grabs show the genetically altered heroes using their super powers.
This week the site has also posted a new 30 second promo for the syndicated program.
It also expanded the "MX Gateway", a fun component of the site that takes viewers to other websites in the Mutant X world. Newly opened sites include The Midnight Press.com and GenomeX.net.
Mutant X will be released into syndication the first week of October. Check your local listings for specific dates and times. Check the MutantX.net site to see which stations are airing the show near you.
Reported By The Comics Continuum, 9/11/2001:
According to The Comics Continuum, Cedric Smith is set to make a guest appearance in the first episode of the syndicated Mutant X TV show. Smith may be well know to mutant fans of the X persuasion as he provided the voice for Professor X on the long running X-Men animated show. Other than that, Mutant X has no relation to X-Men.
Reported By Variety, 9/5/2001:
Variety reported an update in the ongoing struggle between 20th Century Fox, Tribune Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment over the Mutant X TV show. Judges Jon O. Newman, Guido Calabresi and Robert D. Sack of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York denied Fox's request to bar the producers of the show from using the Mutant X title until the court hears an appeal on the studio's previously denied injunction.
The court did grant the studio an expedited appeal and ordered the parties to file briefs later this month.
Fox has taken issue with the show, which they feel is positioned as a spin-off of the X-Men movie franchise. Tribune has carefully maintained that the show is unrelated to X-Men despite a number of similarities between the two concepts.
Last month New York District Court Judge Allen Schwartz ruled on the studio's lawsuit against the show's producers. The ruling did not prevent Tribune and Marvel from going forward with the show or using the title, but it did open the door for Fox to pursue further action.
The show is set to debut in syndication next month.
Reported By Comics2Film, 9/3/2001:
Fans can get another sneak peek at the Mutant X TV show by visiting MutantX.net. Last week the site unveiled another TV video promo. This new clips gives a nice intro to each of the characters and features a number of F/X, makeup and action shots. Lawsuits aside, the clip does put one in mind of the X-Men movie. Regardless, the show does look cool.
The site has also updated its list of cities that will be airing the show. Check it out for your local Mutant X outlet.
Reported By Comics2Film, 8/23/2001:
Two weeks ago, New York District Court Judge Allen Schwartz ruled on the lawsuits filed by 20th Century Fox, Tribune Entertainment and Marvel. The suits centered on the dispute over the upcoming Mutant X TV show, which Fox feels violates their rights to develop live-action X-Men properties.
Schwartz ruling's did not prohibit Tribune and Marvel from going forward with the show, but it id allow Fox to pursue monetary damages against the show's producers. At the time, Ted Russell, Fox's VP of litigation threatened, "If Tribune and Marvel decide to use the title Mutant X, they do so at their own peril."
Now Variety reports that Fox is making good on the threats and is filing a new motion to prevent Tribune from using the Mutant X title.
Fox's new action, filed on Tuesday, includes another motion for injunction and a motion of an expedited appeal in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Fox is confident that it will ultimately prevail," the studio said in a statement.
Reported By Comics2Film, 8/21/2001:
Has the MutantX.net website has been hacked by a conspiracy nut known as TAGC? No. Not really.
Visitors at the Mutant X site are invited to try the MX Gateway, which takes us into the world of the show. However, after entering the gateway, our uplink gets hijacked by TAGC and rerouted to his own site, hosted at GenomeCities. There, we learn TAGC is an acronym for There's A Genetic Conspiracy. The website details the genetic manipulation of the human race and the involvement of the shady Breedlove Foundation. TAGC even links to the official site for the Breedlove foundation.
It's all good fun, and reminiscent of the X-Men movie website. That site also linked to the mock website for one mutant-hating Senator Kelly. Fans of the movie will remember that Kelly's own website was also "hacked" by a mutant liberation group. Of course, Mutant X is not related to X-Men.
Reported By Comics2Film and Variety, 8/10/2001:
In April of this year 20th Century Fox and Marvel Enterprises, Inc. filed suits against one another over the syndicated TV program Mutant X. Fox asserted that the show infringed on its right to make X-Men features and violated their contract which forbade Marvel from developing X-Men related live-action TV shows without consent from Fox.
Marvel countered by stating the Mutant X is not an X-Men spin-off.
Subsequent to the filings, fans have seen a disclaimer appear on the Mutant X website stating in no uncertain terms that Mutant X is not related to X-Men. More recently, the art design for the show underwent a face-lift. This month the site rolled out the new look, logo and color-scheme, which further differentiated it from the feature film.
Yesterday New York District Court Judge Allen Schwartz handed in a ruling on the suits. The ruling was followed by a press release from Fox, claiming victory in the mutant battle. According to Fox's release, "the court issued an injunction against Marvel, Tribune and Fireworks, preventing them from violating Fox's rights in its X-Men movie."
The release also states that the court has held that Fox can recover monetary damages for Marvel and Tribune Entertainment's use of Mutant X as the title of their television series, in violation of Fox's contract with Marvel, and that a permanent injunction on the title of the series may later issue.
The release references the logo change as a direct result of the lawsuit and claims that the court has ordered further changes. Furthermore, Fox can now take their case against Marvel and Tribune to full trial.
All of this sounds like a resounding victory for Fox. However, an article in today's Variety states that Marvel and Tribune are also claiming victory.
Tribune Entertainment president-CEO Dick Askin told Variety that the judge, "overwhelmingly ruled in our favor...(and dismissed) all of the significant claims against Tribune."
For one thing, the court order does not prevent Tribune from launching the show. Mutant X will go into syndication on October 1 as planned.
Also, the order does not forbid the use of the title. So, there's nothing stopping Marvel and Tribune with proceeding with the launch without making any further alterations to the show's title, look or format.
However, with the option of a full trial open to Fox, the show's producers may be considering taking steps to avoid further problems. Ted Russell, Fox's VP of litigation cautioned, "If Tribune and Marvel decide to use the title Mutant X, they do so at their own peril."
Reported By Comics2Film, 8/6/2001:
The official Mutant X website has changed its look and posted some new goodies for the fans.
The new site has been redesigned to reflect the show's new logo and look.
They've also posted a promo video from the show, which feathers a number of shots of cool special effects, the Mutant X team in action and the evil Mason Eckhart putting on his skin! Click here to view the QuickTime video.
Reported By Comics2Film, 7/30/2001:
Fans wondering where they can tune in to see the new Mutant X TV show can check out the official website (the preferred address for which is MutantX.net). The site currently lists 162 TV stations in the United States that will be carrying the show in October.
The site itself is expanding, with placeholders opened for new areas like "Mutant X Universe", "Video/Multimedia" and "Community." So far these new areas are short on content. However, the new "Behind the Scenes" area does feature a "Development Update" summarizing the filming of the first five episodes of the show.
Reported By The Magrathea/SFTV Pages, 7/24/2001:
Click for larger image
Although we missed it at the Comic-Con International, Lee Whiteside of The Magrathea/SFTV Pages picked up a publicity photo of the Mutant X cast at a panel held by Tribune Entertainment. The photo features the show's stars Victoria Pratt as ShadowFox, Victor Webster as Fuse, John Shea as Adam, Lauren Lee Smith as Rapport and Forbes March as Synergy.
Tribune talked about the show following a discussion of it's current hit Andromeda. For a complete write-up of the Andromeda panel check out The Magrathea/SFTV Pages.
Reported By Comicon.com Newsarama, 7/16/2001:
Fans interested in the comic book based on the upcoming Mutant X TV series can check out Comicon.com Newsarama for a preview. The site features five pages of artwork from newcomer Lee Ferguson. The preview is part of an interview Matt Brady did with Ferguson. In the interview Ferguson talks about breaking in to comics and working on the new book with scribe David Tischman.
Reported By MutantXTV.com, 7/16/2001:
According to the official Mutant X website, the syndicated Marvel show is set to make its debut the first week in October.
Reported By MutantXTV.com, 6/7/2001:
The official Mutant X website posted the finalized descriptions of the major characters for the show. Fans will notice that these descriptions are altered from the very early takes culled from casting call sheets. Most notably, the mutant leader's last name has been dropped, and the villain's name has been changed entirely. Here are your Mutant X characters:
Adam ( played by John Shea): Adam, whose last name is shrouded in mystery, is arguably the smartest man alive - the strategist, tactician and moral center of Mutant X. It was his genetic research that inadvertently created New Mutants - and he takes as his responsibility the salvation of these innocent victims of society. Adam has the serenity of a warrior poet - the perfect leader for Mutant X.
Shalimar Fox ( played by Victoria Pratt): Shalimar Fox is in her mid 20s, fiery, feral and stunning, a sensual beauty utterly in touch with her primal self. Blessed with both human and animal DNA, Shalimar has the strength, speed, and cunning of the animal kingdom…with a tempestuous nature to match. She is uncannily fast, inhumanly agile and sensually feline. Walking the line between human and feral, Shalimar is a little wild and completely unpredictable.
Brennan Mulwray ( played by Victor Webster): Brennan Mulwray is a tough, yet vulnerable, street-smart wiseguy in his late 20s-with the astonishing ability to generate enough electricity from his own body to power a small city. A fast talking cavalier with an ingratiating grin, Brennan is a master of electricity - who throws bolts of energy from his fingertips. Brennan loves being a New Mutant - throwing off sparks is an absolute blast.
Jesse Kilmartin ( played by Forbes March): Jesse Kilmartin is a sweetly naive and good-natured guy in his early 20s who can alter the density of his body at will - going from rock solid as a stone wall one moment-then walking through a stone wall the next. Jesse led a sheltered childhood, and still has a lot to learn about the harsh realities of the world, but he's more than proved himself an invaluable member of Mutant X.
Emma Desalvo ( played by Lauren Lee Smith): Emma DeSalvo is a mischievous knockout in her early 20's - a telempath who can communicate her own feelings - and receive the feelings of others around her. Emma can't read thoughts, but she can sense in great detail an emotional state of mind - and learn an awful lot about another person from it. When these gifts combine with her party girl personality, fun and trouble are a double guarantee.
Marcus Eckhart ( played by Tom McCamus): Markus Eckhart is the head of the Genetic Security Agency - a man who hunts down New Mutants for his conscience and his country. Eckhart blames Adam for the failed experiment that requires him to be forever insulated in an impermeable artificial skin. His distaste for New Mutants grows everyday that Mutant X exists. He won't rest until all these anomalies are under his control.
Reported By Jam! Showbiz, 6/1/2001:
Casting on the Mutant X TV show has been finalized. The Toronto Sun (via Jam! Showbiz) has revealed the actor who will play the ongoing villain of the piece. Award winning Canadian actor Tom McCamus has been cast in the role of Marcus Eckhardt, the mutant-hunting head of the Genetic Security Agency (GSA).
McCamus starred in the 1993 feature called I Love A Man In Uniform for which he won won a Genie award for Best Actor. More recently he can be seen in a supporting role in The Claim starring Wes Bentley.
Early casting sides described the GSA as " a completely covert intelligence service... that seeks out Mutants to bring them into the government's custody. The government agency has converted a team of mutants to work for them in their mission to track down all the New Mutants. Each adventure will pit Mutant X against other equally powerful-or even more powerful-mutants, working for the GSA."
The same casting sides named this character Albion Magnus. The name was likely changed due to potential confusion with a certain X-Men villain. The similarities between the two properties have lead to mutual lawsuits between Marvel and 20th Century Fox.
This dispute likely led to the following disclaimer which recently appeared on the official Mutant X site: "You may be aware that Marvel Entertainment, Fireworks Entertainment and Tribune Entertainment are named in a dispute with Twentieth Century Fox, with Fox claiming that there may be some confusion about a relationship between X-Men and our Mutant X. We have made it clear that the only relationship between X-Men and our Mutant X television series is that each originates with Marvel, the publisher of Spider Man, The Incredible Hulk and a whole host of other successful properties featuring superheroes. We want you to know that Mutant X is not based on the X-Men property and is not in any way related to, licensed or approved by, or associated with the motion picture X-Men or Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation."
Thanks to SkyFox for the lead!
Reported By Comics2Film, 5/30/2001:
John Shea is Adam Xero
Last week the official Mutant X website posted an update indicating that casting had been finalized, including the roles of the show's mutant leader, Adam Xero, and the main antagonist, Eckhardt.
Comics2Film has received a tip that the role of Xero will be played by none other than veteran actor John Shea. Shea's credit's include over 40 movies and TV shows. He may be best known to comic and TV fans for his turn as Lex Luthor on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Shea made his directorial debut with 1998's Southie starring Donnie Wahlberg and Rose McGowan.
The casting sides for the show, which circulated in January, described the character as "the leader, strategist, tactician and all around one-man brain trust of the Mutant X. Adam is simply the smartest man alive-one of the special breed of children genetically engineered within the Human Genome Project - a product of a test-tube baby. He knows everything known to man since the dawn of time and can call upon this information at any time. His extreme intellect is his mutation."
Shea's team of mutant actors includes Forbes March (All My Children), Victoria Pratt (Cleopatra 2525), Lauren Lee Smith (Dark Angel) and Victor Webster (Days of Our Lives). Comics2Film has not yet been able to determine who has been cast in the role of the villainous Eckhardt.
Reported By MutantXTV.com, 5/24/2001:
The official Mutant X website reports that production on the show is set to start on June 4th. The cast has been finalized, although official announcements have not yet been made. No word is given who is to play mutant leader Adam Xero or the evil head of the Genetic Security Agency. Casting is underway for the guest stars in the first episode.
Cast members have been training with wires for two weeks now. The site reports that Victor Webster (Fuse) and Forbes March (Synergy) are already doing backflips.
Meetings have been held with the show's Directors and Directors of Photography to discuss "new and bold looks for the show." Also under discussion was the visual representation of the different mutant powers.
The enormous sets for the show are almost completed.
Reported By Jam Showbiz!, 4/27 and MutantXTV.com, 4/20/2001:
Victoria Pratt
Victor Webster
Lauren Lee Smith
Forbes March
The Toronto Sun (via Jam Showbiz!) has revealed the four Canadian actors cast in the Mutant X TV show.
Victoria Pratt plays Shalimar Fox (a.k.a. ShadowFox), a half human-half animal mutant. Fans may remember Pratt as the terminally tough Sarge on Cleopatra 2525.
Victor Webster has been cast as the show's electricity wielding Brennan Mulwray (a.k.a. Fuse). Webster is best known for his role on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives.
Lauren Lee Smith plays the telepathic and empathic Emma Desalvo (a.k.a. Rapport). Smith has appeared on an episode of Dark Angel.
Finally we have Forbes March as Jesse Kilmartin (a.k.a. Synergy). Synergy can split his body in to triplicates, each representing an aspect of his personality. He can also take on the appearances of others. March has appeared on All My Children.
The write up states that the role of mutant leader Adam Xero has yet to be cast. Also open is the role of Albion Magnus, head of the evil Genetic Security Agency (GSA).
According the the official Mutant X website the foursome will undergo extensive training next month. The blurb on the site states, "we will be harnessing them up with both our Stunt and Fight Coordinators for some real training in wirework. The results should literally blow you away!"
There's been no new news on the lawsuits surround the show. Fox contends that Mutant X is a thinly disguised spin-off of it's movie franchise X-Men. Marvel contends that the show is original and unrelated.
Regardless, current plans are to start production in June. According to The Sun, the show's per-episode budget is just under $2 million. By casting Canadian actors who are under the ACTRA contract, the producers of the show have made it impervious to the possible SAG actors strike.
Other news for the official site:
Set designer Rocco Matteo and his crew are busy building the Mutant X Sanctuary and the GSA headquarters on a Toronto sound stage.
The Directors of Photography are developing "new and innovative looks" for the series
Howard Chaykin and the writing team are cranking out new scripts.
Reported By Associated Press, 4/12/2001:
It's mutant against mutant in U.S. District Court this week as both 20th Century Fox Film Corp. and Marvel Enterprises, Inc. filed opposing lawsuits in a dispute over the currently-in-development TV show Mutant X.
According to the Associated Press report Fox feels the new TV show cheapens their X-Men movie franchise and violates their contracts with Marvel. The contracts allowed creation of the X-Men movie and sequels in the future. However, the contracts also forbade the development of any related live-action TV shows without Fox's written consent.
Fox alleges that Mutant X characters and premises are virtually identical to X-Men and that the show has been marketed with similar logos and artwork in order to try to link the show to the movie.
Marvel also filed suit against Fox disputing the merits of the studio's case. Marvel asserts that Mutant X is totally different from X-Men in terms of character likenesses, character names, character personalities, underlying premise and individual episode stories. Marvel also asserts that it can't be found to be infringing on its own trademarks and wants a declaratory judgment from the court that it had done nothing wrong.
Marvel points to the timing of Fox's suit stating, "Fox has carefully waited until the last-minute to strike, a time when it would be the most difficult in all ways to cease production of the series." Cameras are set to roll on Mutant X on June 4.
Reported By The Official Mutant X Website, 3/30/2001:
The official Mutant X website reports that the three of the five lead roles in the show have been cast. No names are give but one of the actors is said to be familiar to fans.
The site also reports that the show has hired a stunt coordinator from Hong Kong (also unnamed). Costume designer Laurie Drew is working on designs with Howard Chaykin overseeing. Other preliminary designs have been turned in and show scripts are also flowing in.
Thanks to Katrall for the tip.
Reported By The Official Mutant X Website, 3/16/2001:
A progress report for the Mutant X TV show was posted on the official website yesterday. According to the report, the producers of the show are down to a short list of actors and screen tests are underway.
Rocco Matteo (La Femme Nikita) is working on set designs which include vehicles used by the Mutant X team and the group's "Sanctuary."
Howard Chaykin and the writing team are developing a variety of mutant characters. Chaykin is also overseeing the costume designs for the mutants as well as the government's shadowy Genetic Security Agency.
Reported By Comics2Film, 3/12/2001:
Fans looking for a sneak peek at the Mutant X syndicated TV series can now tune their web browsers to MutantXTV.com. The website opened earlier this month. It gives a description of the show's concept, a run down of the creative people involved and ongoing reporting on the production effort.
According to the site, extensive casting sessions have been completed and staff writers are starting to bang out scripts. Howard Chaykin is the head writer for the show. Staff writers include Mark Lisson ( Mighty Joe Young), David Newman ( Superman I, II, III) and Elizabeth Keyishian ( Queen of Swords).
Reported By Comics2Film, 1/30/2001:
Comics2Film has learned that Howard Chaykin is on board the Mutant X TV series as Executive Consultant. Chaykin has previously been a Supervising Producer on the Viper TV series and is a veteran comic creator, creating such titles as American Flagg and Power and Glory.
Reported By Comics2Film, 1/25/2001:
Comics2Film has obtained information which sheds light on the upcoming syndicated Mutant X TV show from Marvel. According to a casting breakdown (given to agencies by casting directors when casting is underway), the show is slated to begin filming in Toronto on June 4 of this year. 22 one hour episodes will be filmed. Jay Firestone, Adam Haight, Avi Arad & Rick Unger are Executive Producers. Jamie Paul Rock is the producer.
Although the show is not based on any existing comics or characters, the producers of the show are trying to link it to the X-Men concept. The breakdown provides this description of the storyline: "The series is based on the feature film X-Men. Different characters, different stories. This series is about 5 genetically engineered humans who were all victims of the Human Genome Project-a top secret experiment on fetus's that created children with enhanced gifts. They were made still very human and yet they have capabilities that far exceed those of mankind. The New Mutants, led by Adam Xero, are a 'family' of outlaws with a mission to find the victims of the Human Genome Project...aid them in mastering their abilities, protect them from those who would exploit or harm them, and to provide a sanctuary where they can rebuild their lives.
"There is a government agency called the Genetic Security Agency (GSA), a completely covert intelligence service under the command of Albion Magnus, that seeks out Mutants to bring them into the government's custody. Our New Mutants heroes are not about to be captured by the GSA. The government agency has converted a team of mutants to work for them in their mission to track down all the New Mutants. Each adventure will pit Mutant X against other equally powerful-or even more powerful-mutants, working for the GSA."
So who are these New Mutants? Here are the five parts currently being cast:
Adam Xero: Adam is 30's, handsome, charming and at ease with everyone. He is the leader, strategist, tactician and all around one-man brain trust of the Mutant X. Adam is simply the smartest man alive-one of the special breed of children genetically engineered within the Human Genome Project - a product of a test-tube baby. He knows everything known to man since the dawn of time and can call upon this information at any time. His extreme intellect is his mutation. Even at the age of 10 he was a published writer in the fields of physics, biotechnology and medicine as well as writing bestseller novels that made him a millionaire. He very sexy and has an excellent body. The call sheet requests a physical actor.
Shalimar Fox (aka Shadowfox): She is a fiery and feral beauty utterly in touch with her primal nature. She is a little wild and completely unpredictable... breathtakingly sensual. Outrageous sexiness, with a dark edge. She has strong survival instincts, all of which are the natural outgrowth of her mutant abilities. She also has strength & speed. This actor must be extremely sexy, have a fantastic body and be an amazing athlete.
Brennan Mulwray (aka Fuse): He is the master of electricity-able to literally throw off sparks with enough power coursing through his body to power a small city. A street-smart guy, he is fast talking and wise-cracking with an ingratiating grin. He is a vibrating mass of nervous energy, jumpy and impulsive. He loves being a Superhero and thinks throwing off sparks is a total gas. He is a good-natured, partying, wiseguy, urban roughneck. He has one weakness.... the Mutant X named Emma for whom is is crazy about.
Emma Desalvo (aka Rapport): She is a telepathic, capable of creating a psychic link with any other living thing, sensing empathetically the feelings of others, as well as plant suggestions in humans that affect and direct their behavior. She is beautiful, charming and saucily sexy with a wisdom beyond her years. She can also manipulate the way others feel. She is a sunny, happy young woman with a sense of mischief and prankish nature. Her psychic powers have also given her too much information at times…which sometimes terrifies her but also makes her a strong survivor in the team.
Jesse Kilmartin (aka Synergy): A very complex guy. Son of a self-made millionaire. He grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He is a lonely guy who has gone though life unloved and uncared for. He is cautious and defensive. Jesse can literally split his body into three triplicates, each representing a different aspect of his personality. He wants to use his powers to help others in need. He can be aggressive, charming, sensitive and is also able to take on the physical appearance of anyone around him.
The breakdown for the show also mentions that it is "strike proof" making reference to the planned SAG strike. The show is filming in Canada and actors will be required to sign a 5 year option under the Canadian ACTRA union agreement. Casting is expected to be completed in March. Actors are then required to train until the filming start in June.
Reported By Cinescape, 12/29/2000:
Cinescape reports that Katz Television is pushing Marvel's Mutant X TV series as their "first recommendation" to their broadcasting clients. This comes from The Hollywood Reporter who quotes Katz vice president Bill Carroll. Carroll points to the success of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda as signs of continued life for the declining syndicated programming market.
Reported By Fandom Comics Newsarama, 12/7/2000:
Hollywood loves to tamper with comic books before putting them on the screen, and fans hate it. When Mutant X hits the small screen next year it will look like the ultimate in concept tampering. Marvel/Tribune's Mutant X TV show will look and feel nothing like the Mutant X comic. Why? Well, according to a recent article by Michael Doran appearing on Fandom Comics Newsarama, the show isn't really based on the comic book at all. They only thing the two projects have in common is the title.
Doran spoke with Rick Ungar, Executive Producer of the show and Prexy at Marvel Character Group, along with Avi Arad about the show.
Ungar revealed that they decided on the title without recalling that there had been a comic book with that same name. However, Ungar told Doran, " It was helpful that we already owned the title, needless to say, but that’s kind of where any similarities end. This show really has no relationship to the X-Men, or anything that’s existed in the Marvel Universe before."
Ungar described the show as being about a society where the government has secretly developed ways to genetically engineer certain traits in people. People with the right connections can have their children genetically perfected at birth, making them athletically superior or more intelligent or whatever the parent wants.
Things look great for these kids until they hit a certain age. Then the genetic coding goes wrong causing the engineered humans to mutate. Intelligence turns to super-intelligence. These mutants become proof of the secret government program, and therefore have to be eliminated. This is the dramatic premise of the show.
"We really did not want to go back and try and do the X-Men again," Ungar told Doran. "The X-Men have been done really well, and hopefully they’ll continue to be done really well. I really wanted to come up with a new series idea that had a Marvel 'feel' to it for a first run syndicated hour, because I really like that genre. But I really didn’t want it to be an existing Marvel character."
Keeping the Mutant X concept separate from existing Marvel mutants also avoids any conflict that could arise with 20th Century Fox and the X-Men movie franchise
Thanks to Il Diabolo and Cinescape for the lead.
Reported By Sci Fi Wire, 12/7/2000:
Sci Fi Wire reports that Tribune Entertainment's syndicated Mutant X TV show has been signed by stations representing 60 percent of the market. Citing Variety as its source, Sci Fi also reports that Tribune's own 22 major-market TV stations are part of that number.
The show is based on the Marvel Comics' series which finds former X-Men member Havok transplanted on an alternate world. The show is targeted for a Fall 2001 release.
Reported By The Hollywood Reporter, 11/29/2000:
The Hollywood Reporter announced today that the Mutant X TV show is targeted for a fall 2001 release. The show is in development by Tribune Entertainment Co., the makers of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict and Beastmaster. The artcle states that the show has been cleared on Tribune Broadcasting Stations.
The show will be developed by Philip Segal, who was also recently named senior VP of scripted programming and development at TEC.
Reported By Comics Continuum, 9/10/2000:
Avi Arad revealed yet another Marvel TV property to Rob Allstetter of the Comics Continuum. Arad told Allstetter, "We are...working very hard on Mutant X."
The show, based on an X-Men parallel universe spin-off, is in the works with Tribune Entertainment. Arad told Allstetter that the show would likely air on cable TV.
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