FX, Donald Glover Exit Marvel's Animated 'Deadpool' Series
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However, the cable network will continue to partner with the comic book powerhouse on 'Legion.'
FX is exiting Marvel's planned Deadpool animated TV series.
The cable network, as well as Donald Glover and Stephen Glover, will no longer be involved in the series. The Atlanta star and his brother were set to write, executive produce and serve as showrunners on what was described as an animated adult action-comedy series originally intended to launch this year on FXX that was to be based on the comic book giant's Deadpool. It's unclear if Marvel Television will shop the series elsewhere (or if it could wind up on Disney's planned direct-to-consumer subscription service).
"Due to creative differences, FX, Donald Glover, Stephen Glover and Marvel Television have agreed to part ways on Marvel's Deadpool animated series," FX said Saturday in a statement. "FX will no longer be involved with the project. FX and Marvel have an ongoing relationship through our partnership on Legion, which will continue.”
Picked up straight to series in May with a 10-episode order, Marvel head of television Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory were attached to exec produce. Loeb and his executives are said to have been big fans of FXX's Archer, and approached FX brass with the idea. FX then approached Glover, a significant talent with increasing geek cred. Following a complex negotiation, the series was set to hail from Marvel Television, FX Productions and ABC Studios' cable arm, ABC Signature. A voice cast was never set for the project.
FX president John Landgraf told reporters in August that the Deadpool series would feature a "different tone and editorial voice" with the Glovers' involvement. "We really wanted to make something that was distinctly different from the movie," he said. Landgraf said the brothers and a writing staff were penning the series during their time in London while Donald Glover was shooting the Star Wars Lando Calrissian movie.
Deadpool is the second Marvel project to be picked up to series and see the network attached bail on the project. Freeform last year dropped its buzzy take on Marvel's New Warriors, with a new home yet to be determined.
The Deadpool decision comes as Disney CEO Bob Iger has said that the company's planned streaming service would feature a Marvel original series as well as the comic book giant's slate of films, which have been pulled from Netflix.
Marvel still has an impressive roster of TV fare spread across multiple outlets on top of its suite of Netflix programming, which includes Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher and Daredevil. In addition to FX's Legion, Marvel has Hulu's Runaways, ABC's Agents of SHIELD (and Inhumans, which is unlikely to earn a second season) and Fox's The Gifted.
The news comes two months before 20th Century Fox and Marvel's feature side will bow Deadpool 2.
