**”Midnight Special” spoilers ahead** Now, before you hit the comments section in a rage that Marvel isn’t ripping off anybody and that Jeff Nichols‘ “Midnight Special” wears its influences (“Close Encounters Of The Third Kind,” “Starman“) on its sleeve, you’re right, it does. In fact, it could be viewed as something like the Superman story told in reverse, where instead of the child with special gifts coming to Earth, he starts here, and goes back to his people instead. And yet, it does seem like Marvel is borrowing a page from Nichols.
The company announced today that Fox has made a pilot commitment to a series that will focus on two ordinary parents who discover their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive. I mean, it really does sound like “Midnight Special” except with more mutants, and even if the creators put it together with no knowledge of Nichols’ movie, the timing is certainly…unfortunate.
The series comes from “Burn Notice” creator Matt Nix, and he’ll produce along with Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory producing. No word yet on casting, or even a title, but everyone is very excited, as you can read in the press release below.
FOX has made a put pilot commitment for a new Marvel action-adventure series, it was announced today by David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.
The Untitled Fox Marvel Project will focus on two ordinary parents who discover their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive. The series will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Marvel Television, with 20th Century Fox handling physical production.
“Developing a Marvel property has been a top priority for the network–and we are so pleased with how Matt Nix has led us into this thrilling universe,” said Madden. “There’s comic book adventure, emotional and complicated relationships, and a rich, existing mythology from which to draw. With the brilliant production crew behind this project, it has all the makings of a big, fun and exciting new series.”
“Working with Marvel on a television series for FOX has been a professional dream for our head of development, Michael Thorn, and all of us at the studio,” added Jonathan Davis, President, Creative Affairs, 20th Century Fox Television. “Matt, Lauren, Bryan, Simon, Jeph and Jim are a powerhouse team of creative artists, and we can’t wait to get started on what will easily be one of this development season’s most exciting new projects.”
“Marvel Television is thrilled to be co-producing with 20th Century Fox Television on our first project,” added Jeph Loeb, Executive Producer and Head of Marvel Television. “Matt’s a huge fan of X-Men and his take on the X-Men universe, with its rich characters and high-stakes adventure, is exactly the show we want on FOX. It’s a great team of creative producers who will be making something entirely unique.”
The Untitled Fox Marvel Project is a co-production of 20th Century Fox Television and Marvel Television. Matt Nix (FOX’s upcoming “APB,” “Burn Notice”) will write the pilot script and serve as an Executive Producer. Lauren Shuler Donner (“X-Men: Apocalypse,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “The Wolverine”), Bryan Singer (“X-Men: Apocalypse,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past”), Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Fantastic Four”), Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s Daredevil,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones”) and Jim Chory (“Marvel’s Daredevil,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones”) serve as Executive Producers.