10 Insane Behind-the-Scenes Facts About FX’s Legion

FX’s Legion is not a standard superhero television series. In fact, the series is a total departure from what’s to be expected from the genre. In lieu of over-the-top action sequences and caped protagonists, Legion relies on intense character studies, multiple timelines, and fantastical set designs to tell its story. The series also features stellar performances from its talented cast, including Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, Jemaine Clement, Rachel Keller, and Jean Smart.

Part nightmarish fairy tale, part psychological drama, and part deconstruction of comic book tropes, Legion is a uniquely engaging television experience. Due to its novel approach, Legion was overlooked by many viewers during its three-season run on FX, spanning 2017 to 2019. It’s the kind of series that requires close watching and benefits from repeat viewing — meaning audiences have to work to reap Legion‘s benefits.

10 The Series Is Based On The Marvel Comic Character David Haller/Legion

In the X-Men comics from Marvel, David Haller is the mutant son of Professor Charles Xavier and Gabrielle Haller. David possesses impressive telekinetic abilities, yet his stability is undermined by severe mental health issues.

In the comics, Haller develops the alter ego Legion, and his psyche eventually splits into multiple personalities. Legion evolves into a sort of antihero.

9 Noah Hawley Is Credited As Series Creator

Television writer and producer Noah Hawley was given the opportunity to helm the first live-action X-Men adaptation for television. Not interested in showcasing well-known storylines and characters, Hawley teamed up with Simon Kinberg ⁠— scriptwriter for the X-Men films ⁠— in order to forge a new path.

After refusing to base his series on the comic’s Hellfire Club, Hawley settled on telling the story of David Haller (aka Legion).

8 Hawley Is Known For His Work On The Fargo Television Series

The X-Men series came to Hawley’s desk thanks in large part to the success of his FX series Fargo. Inspired by the eponymous 1996 Coen brothers film, the anthology crime series explores different felonious activities and characters connected to the title city.

Hawley nails the tone, aesthetics, and Midwestern atmospherics in the film while maintaining his own interesting and evocative plots. Each of Fargo‘s three seasons features ensemble casts composed of actors like Ted Danson, Billy Bob Thornton, Ewan McGregor, and Martin Freeman.

7 Hawley Chose Legion From The X-Men Universe Because Of His Mental Health

The reason Noah Hawley picked Legion as the subject of his series is due to the character’s struggles with mental illness. Hawley constructed his version of Legion as a man diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age who comes into his mutant abilities as an adult.

As Hawley said in an interview with HitFix, “I liked the idea that he was either mentally ill, or had these abilities, or both.”

6 Dan Stevens Signed On To Play Legion Due To Hawley’s Reputation

After FX ordered a Legion pilot in 2015, casting began in early 2016. British actor Dan Stevens signed on to play Legion because of Hawley’s reputation with Fargo. Known for his role in the PBS period drama series Downton Abbey, Stevens was drawn into his character’s complex story.

Instead of adapting actual plotlines from the X-Men comics, Hawley chose to explore Legion outside the established narrative. He relied on Stevens’ acting abilities to create new possibilities for the character.

5 During Filming, Stevens Was Often Left In The Dark About Script Developments

So much of Legion‘s tension rests with David Haller’s quest to gain some sense of stability in his life. Instead of using his schizophrenia carelessly, the writing hinges on lifting David outside of his circumstances by bringing him face to face with his inner demons.

Still, Haller maintains a fractured, unreliable point-of-view throughout the show. In order to make this even more believable for audiences, the cast and crew intentionally left Dan Stevens in the dark about script developments.

4 David Lynch Inspired Hawley During Development

When he first began writing the scripts for Legion, Hawley sewed together a more concrete, linear narrative. Eventually he scrapped the idea, choosing to tell the story through a more fragmentary and dream-like lens.

Hawley cited David Lynch and his surreal films as an inspiration for the series. Lynch is known for his nonsensical, cerebral explorations of psychological terror. The prolific director’s works include Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, and Mulholland Drive.

3 The Series Is Structured To Reflect Legion’s Point-Of-View

Part of Hawley’s decision to rework the narrative structure of Legion was influenced by digging deeper into David Haller’s psyche. In addition to grappling with schizophrenia, Legion must also adapt to the numerous realities and universes unraveling around him as he discovers his supernatural abilities.

“I always believe that the structure of a show should reflect the content of a show,” Hawley shared with HitFix. “So if you have a show about a guy who doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not, the audience should experience that themselves.”

2 Hawley’s Stylized Storytelling Is Modeled After The Look of ’60s British Films

Legion is set in an undefined yet futuristic world funneled through Legion’s consciousness. This world feels anachronistic and confusing, which is intentional. When conceiving of the sets, though, Hawley wanted to mimic the look of British movies from the 1960s.

“I wanted it to feel like a 1964 Terrence Stamp movie,” Hawley told Deadline. Hawley deviates from this stylistic foundation as David Haller’s story jumps back and forth through time.

1 Legion Is Written To Both Connect To And Stand Apart From The MCU

Legion occurs in a related X-Men universe where only the government is aware of mutants existing. While in a mental institution, David Haller is rescued by a mutant organization. However, the only other mutant carried over from the comics is the evil Shadow King, Amahl Farouk. The rest of the mutants are unique to the series.

The choice to leave Legion on the margins of the franchise gave Hawley the freedom to explore David Haller without worrying about continuity. Instead, he made a series that both contributes to and stands apart from the MCU.

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