TV & Movies
Last Updated:
06/08/02
     
The Latest:

Mutant X LogoMutant X TV show:
According to Comics Continuum, the Mutant X live series is scheduled to hire actors/actress on February, scripts on March, production on May or June, and most likely air on the week of October 23, 2001. 

This is a description gathered from the Marvel Comics web site:

MUTANT X is coming to television next October -- fittingly, in mutated form.

The live-action series, to be distributed by Tribune Entertainment, won't be an adaptation of the comic book -- although it will feature mutant heroes.

Marvel Studios' Rick Ungar -- the show's executive producer, with Avi Arad -- doesn't even want to call it an X-Men spin-off.

Here's how he describes it: "Basically, it starts about 20 years ago, where the government and private industry get involved in the genetic research which led to what is now known as the Genome Project -- where they map out the actual evolution of genetics. What we find out is that they've kind of figured out some time ago the secrets to the rest of us. They work with the government and basically create young new mutants, which can be made to specifications. If somebody is an all-star athlete and would like to have their son or daughter be an incredible athlete, they can kind of make this happen -- if they have the right connections.

"This does happen, and there are a number of Genome Project children that are created," Ungar continues. "For most of their lives, they function as ordinary people, except they do have this extraordinary talent. Somebody who has been bred for athletics is probably somebody who is on the Olympic swim team."

However, these mutations prove to be "a ticking time bomb," according to Ungar.

"When they hit the age of 18 to 20, something goes wrong," he says. "It turns out they didn't understand the genetic mapping as well as they thought they did, and the talent that they created is mutated into super-powers. And this creates an entire generation of mutants different from all the mutants we've all known and loved -- being that instead of being born as them, they were basically created.

"You now have a somewhat embarrassed government that is aware of this," Ungar continues. "They have a way of tracking these people, and they're not real happy about their fairly serious mistake: these people all over the place. It becomes important to the government to get these people back. That becomes the thrust of the show: the attempt of the government to either capture, destroy or put to government purposes these individuals. And our team of Mutant X are pretty much dedicated to locating or saving these mutants."

The team's leader is a mutant who becomes super-intelligent. He's slightly older than the group's other four members, who are in the 18 to 25 age range.

Ungar says the series' main villain is reminiscent of the Cigarette-Smoking Man on X-Files.

"He has unusual characteristics, this villain," Ungar says. "But he does work for the government. There are some interesting aspects to what motivates him."

MUTANT X is being produced with Tribune Entertainment and Fireworks Television. Like other Tribune shows -- Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and Earth: Final Conflict -- MUTANT X will have two show-runners, one in Los Angeles to oversee writing and another in Toronto to oversee production.

"I really like their system," Ungar says. "I've produced a lot of television, so I have a sense of how that works. It's a good system, because we like the writing done here where we can keep close tabs on it."

Following the selection of show-runners, casting will take place -- probably in March.

"We anticipate getting in front of the cameras in April," Ungar says. "If you've done it really well, you hope to have eight to 10 scripts in your pocket before you go to shooting."

Daniel Tibbets, in charge of programming and development for Fireworks Television, says Tribune has a commitment for two years of 22 episodes each. Originally set for the week of Oct. 23, 2001, MUTANT X likely will begin in syndication around the first week of October.

Mutant X Official site: http://www.mutantx.net

CHARACTER BIOS: (Images gathered from Comics Continuum)

Adam as played by John Shea: 
A man in his mid 30s, handsome, charming and at ease with everyone. He's the leader of the group. 
Mutation: He's an strategist, tactician, and all-around-one-man brain trust, the smartest man alive.

Shadowfox (Shalimar Fox) played by Victoria Pratt:  
Fiery and feral beauty, utterly in touch with her primal nature, wild, unpredictable and sensual. 
Mutation: Survival instincts, strength and speed.

Fuse (Brennan Mulwray) played by Victor Webster:  
A street-smart guy, fast talking and wise-cracking. 
Mutation: Master of electricity, able to throw off sparks with enough power coursing to his body to power a small city.

Rapport (Emma Desalvo) played by Lauren Lee Smith:  
A sunny, happy, young woman with a sense of mischief and prankish nature. 
Mutation: Telepathic, capable of creating a psychic link with any other living thing, sensing the feelings of others, as well as planting suggestions in humans that affect their behavior.

Synergy (Jesse Kilmartin) played by Forbes March:  
A complex guy. Millionaire lonely guy who has gone through life unloved and uncared for.
Mutation: Splits his body into triplicates, each representing a different aspect of his personality. Can take the physical appearance of anyone around him.

Marcus Eckhart as 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.

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So what's in store for this Summer, Fall and next year in the big and small screen?
You won't believe it, baby!

What has been done already...
X-Men: Evolution (Animated Series): [November 4, 2000]
After the movie, the new animated series. This time, the X-Men are young and inexperienced. This time Shadowcat makes her appearance and Nightcrawler becomes part of the X-Men team. Also, a new mutant Spyke makes his appearance.
Episodes: 13
X-Men: The Movie (Live Action movie) [July 14, 2000]
This movie went through heavy script revisions for years. Casting took place, and it started filming in September of 1999 and debuted on July 14, 2000. And now, it's been on DVD since November 21, 2000.
  
Right: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, James Marsden, and Halle Berry.
Avengers (Animated Series): [November 1999]
This animated Series features some of the Avengers you know, but "hipped" for the 90's. So far so good for the mighty heroes, but will they be out for a second season? If they do, x-pect a visit from the X-Men!
Episodes: 13
Spider-Man UnlimtedSpider-Man Unlimited (Animated Series) [October 2, 1999]
It's the Twilight Zone caught in a web!
Spider-Man's in a Counter Earth were he has to fight Venom and Carnage and rescue John Jameson. Along the way he meets other people that you may know but don't know, did I say that right? See my Spider-Man Episode Guide for more info.
Episodes: 13
Conan: The Adventurer CastConan: The Adventurer (Live Action Series): [Fall '98]
The newest from Marvel Comics. Rerun episodes are being aired.

Check your local station for time and channel.

Left: Conan: The Adventurer Cast

BladeBlade: The Vampire Hunter (Movie): [August 21, 1998]
It's a rated R movie? Really? One of the best and successful Marvel films yet. This movie broke the "curse" of bad Marvel films. There are now plans for a sequel.

Right: Wesley Snipes as Blade.

Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.Nick Fury: Agent Of Shield (Movie): [May 26, 1998]
I have to admit, this movie was much better than I expected it. There are even plans for a sequel!

Right: David Hasselhoff ("Baywatch") plays Nick Fury.

Silver Surfer: The Animated SeriesSilver Surfer (Animated Series): [Feb. 7, 1998]
What can I say, another Marvel Universe cartoon that's cool. First season already aired, and... that was it. Seems that Marvel has no plans to continue with this series.
Kull: The Conqueror (Movie): [1997?? 1998?]
Well, I didn't see this movie. It came out either in late '97 or early '98, I can't remember. If this was a cool movie, or at least ok, please let me know.
Men In Black: The MovieMen In Black (Movie): [July 2, 1997]
Great story + Great actors + Great special effects + everything else that made MiB MiB = Big Success.

Right: Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones in Men In Black.

Nightman (Live-Action Series): [1997]
I heard this was pretty good. Any comments on that?
The Incredible Hulk (Animated): [1997]
I haven't seen this cartoon. How is it?
Generation X (Movie): [February 20, 1996]
Well, a lot of people didn't like this movie. I think it was alright, although not too adapted to the comic book characters . Hey, the special effects were great, right?

Right: Generation X cast.
Isn't ironic? The movie was about showing hatred for mutants, and Gen X TV audience actually got to hate the movie and characters portrayed.

Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesSpider-Man (Animated Series): [1994]
This was another big hit after the X-Men. Mixed with computer effects, great supporting cast, excellent voices, no wonder this was another one of many Marvel fans favorite cartoons. (Hey, Nick Fury and Blade appeared on this series, now they're on the big screen! Could the Punisher, Venom, Iron-Man, Captain America, and the Fantastic Four be next?)
Iron-Man (Animated Series): [1993]
It contained some computer image effects, that I think helped in the following cartoon on my list:
Fantastic FourFantastic Four (Animated Series): [1993]
Although it was not as popular as the X-Men, you have to agree that this series was much better than previous Fantastic Four cartoons. This series featured special appearances by Silver Surfer, Hulk, Thor, Ghost Rider, Daredevil and a few others (Hey, two of these already had their own series!).
X-Men: (Animated Series): [1992]
1st successful Marvel animated series in years. And this is just the beginning.

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TV
Fall 2000 and beyond
Mutant X (Live-Action Series) October 23, 2001 ???
This is been rumored as having a better chance than the Generation X (since X-Men: Evolution already has more of a Generation X theme to it.) 

Episodes planned: unknown but probably they'll go for the lucky 13.

Generation X (Live-Action Series) ???
No, it will not be a re-run from the February 1996 Fox movie. (Most likely this project will not happen soon, since X-Men: Evolution is already using the Generation X theme planned).

Thor (Live-Action Series) ???
Currently, being developed by Artisan Entertainment.

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MOVIES
Fall 2001 and beyond
Spider-Man: The Movie (sometime in 2001?)
Sony got the rights and it's ready for production, and Toby McGuire is Spider-Man. The web thickens as fans are against the organic webbing.

Fantastic Four (Summer 2003?)
I'm probably getting ahead here, but a FF could come after the X-Men debut movie, that is if...

Blade 2 (Summer 2001?)
... doesn't come out first.

X-Men 2 (Summer 2002 or 2004)
Duh! Well... not really...

Wolverine (Summer 2002 or 2004)
... there are rumors that a Wolverine movie would work best. 

(See X-Pider-Man's Link Page for Corona's Production latest news on the comic book Movies).

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Other Marvel Projects

This is what Marvel have planned for the future. Just like the projects mentioned above, there is no guarantee that any of these will actually happen, but there is the possibility that some of these projects will be done.

Captain America (Animated Series): [Summer 2001 ???]
Originally said to be out around Fall '98 and then Fall '99, there has not been any words on this project. It seems it got cancelled and and Fox chose Avengers instead. (But Cap hasn't been forgotten.)

And, there's some others* movies...
... Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Venom, Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Blade: The Vampire Hunter, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer, Iron-Man, Luke Cage, Mort: The Dead Teenager.

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X-Men Movie :: X-Men Page :

* List gathered from Marvel Vision, a magazine with the latest info on the Marvel Universe. Unfortunately, this mag lasted only 30 issues in 1998. = ( and from Wizard the guide to comics.