It seems as if the time has come for Marvel and Fox to FINALLY put away their differences and join forces in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring entertainment to the masses. Fantastic Four rights are coming back to Marvel? Nope. We can see the X-Men: First Class kids show up in the Avengers films? Not quite. We’re gonna see a television show with a bunch of characters we’ve never heard of or cared about since the ’60s? Ding ding ding. You got it!
Fox is going to be developing a new action series called Hellfire, which they will partner with Marvel to create. It’s got some big names behind it: Bryan Singer, Jeph Loeb, and Lauren Shuler Donner behind it so there’s hope; but then Joss Whedon’s name is attached to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and while I don’t hate that show; it definitely doesn’t feel like Whedon. You can read the official press release below, and hope it leads to an X-Men/Avengers world in the future after the tv show fails.
FOX is in development on an action-adventure series HELLFIRE (working title), it was announced today by David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.
Set in the late 1960s, the series — which will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Marvel Television, with 20th Century Fox handling the physical production — follows a young Special Agent who learns that a power-hungry woman with extraordinary abilities is working with a clandestine society of millionaires – known as “The Hellfire Club” – to take over the world.
“We are thrilled to partner with Marvel to bring this world to television and build upon the vibrant mythology that has captivated fans for years,” said Madden. “These powerful and dynamic characters are complicated and larger-than-life, the pace and visual imagination are unrelenting, and the story takes place during one of the most explosive eras in recent history. We are so looking forward to working with this incredibly talented team.”
“HELLFIRE is a unique opportunity to be able to go deeper with some of these extraordinary characters, but to also dramatize new characters and give TV viewers a chance to experience this expanded world in an explosive way that everyone will be talking about,” commented Jonathan Davis, President, Creative Affairs, 20th Century Fox Television. “The action at the center of HELLFIRE will be dynamic and will satisfy the rabid fans, but that said, newcomers will surely be addicted too!”
HELLFIRE is a co-production of 20th Century Fox Television and Marvel Television. Evan Katz (“24: Live Another Day”), Manny Coto (“24”), Patrick McKay (“Star Trek 3”) and JD Payne (“Star Trek 3”) are co-creators. McKay and Payne will write the pilot script, based on a story by Katz, Coto, McKay and Payne. Lauren Shuler Donner (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “The Wolverine”), Bryan Singer (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”), Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Fantastic Four”), Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, “Marvel’s Daredevil”) and Jim Chory (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Marvel’s Daredevil”) will executive-produce the pilot, alongside Katz and Coto, who will serve as showrunners.
