Noah Hawley has made a name for himself as one of the most prolific names in television.
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The writer added to his accolades with the Emmy nominations from the latest season of Fargo, but he also earned a lot of geek cred from comic book fans with the first season of Legion.
The Legion panel began with a clip compiling some of the most epic moments from the first season, beginning with (and set to the music of) Oliver Bird acting as a composer of “Bolero” while fixing the dire predicament David, Syd, and the rest of the Summerland crew were left in as time slowed down with bullets flying toward them.
Eric Goldman began the panel by introducing the cast and creators of the series, including Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder, Bill Irwin, Melanie Smart, Aubrey Plaza, Rachel Keller, Dan Stevens, John Cameron Jeph Loeb, Lauren Schuler Donner, and Noah Hawley.
Season 2 Is 10 Episodes
The panel began with the announcement that Season 2 would be 10 episodes long, adding two more episodes to the slate from Season 1.
Asked about the famous “Bolero” scene that we saw the new montage cut to, the cast expressed surprise because they didn’t know it was going to be portrayed as a silent film when they got the script and film it. Hawley said that it came together like that in the editing room.
Goldman asked about the musical sequences and when they were conceived to be a part of the show, Coleman said the Bollywood sequence made him do a double take at first, but it’s become a part of the show’s tapestry.
Asked whether he knew everything about his character arc before hand, Stevens said he didn’t and that a part of the show is the confusion that David Haller has, rather than portraying the story of an ill person.
A Wild Ride
Talking about Lenny AKA the Shadow King, Aubrey Plaza said she knew some of the broad strokes but that she learned a lot about the character and her role as filming progressed. She appreciated the dream-like scripts and the amazing writers.
“She’s in love with a popsicle and she hasn’t had sex for 20 years,” Jean Smart said about her character Melanie Bird. “She’s a little moody.” Her character Bird had a brief reunion with her husband Oliver (Jemaine Clement) that was cut short when the Shadow King took hold of him.
Talking about the Kerry/Cary dynamic, actors Midthunder and Irwin are still figuring it out. Both actors have different approaches; Midthunder describes them as siblings while Irwin refers to it as a parent/child relationship.
Harris spoke about Ptonomy’s trauma and how his power affects his character’s personality.
Season 2 Tease
Noah Hawley spoke about Season 2, saying that the finale ended with
He revealed Saïd Taghmaoui will be playing the Shadow King’s true personality Amahl Farouk in Season 2, sharing Oliver’s mind alongside Plaza’s Lenny.
When asked what took David at the end of the first season, Hawley said, “It’s pretty obvious,” referring to the flying ball.
Hawley said that the second season will focus more on other characters’ backstories compared to David’s.
“We’ll get our money’s worth out of every character on this show,” Hawley said. “I do believe the more you shift point of view, the more empathy you build.”
Asked about the appearance of Professor X in the future, Hawley deflected and directed all fan requests to Jeph Loeb.
Fan Q&A
Asked if the potential Professor X who appears will be the young, James McAvoy version or the old, Patrick Stewart one, Hawley said he wasn’t sure at this point and that it depends on the actor who decides to play him.
Hawley was asked about learning more about Oliver, and the showrunner admitted that backstory was in the plan for the first season but as he wrote the character, the story took a different turn. He said that backstory, and more of Melanie and Oliver’s dynamic, will be explored.
Plaza said the dance sequence she did was scary and fun, among others. Stevens said playing the banjo was risky.
Hawley spoke about how Shadow King’s influence exiting David will leave him with a void that will be explored in Season 2.
Asked which song the actors would like their characters to sing, Plaza answered “Ain’t Going Down ‘Til The Sun Comes Up” for Lenny. Smart said Melanie would sing “My Man” from Funny Girl. Kerry would be independent and sing “Seek and Destroy.”
Harris’ Ptonomy would sing “Mama” by Boyz II Men, Keller said, very applicably, Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and Stevens said “Just The Two Of Us.”
Hawley was asked whether he looks toward current social events to look for inspiration to portray the divide between mutants and humans. Hawley spoke about the society’s agreement between what it accepts as normal and the rest as abnormal. He said the show will continue to explore the definition of sanity, how people define themselves as healthy.
Asked where they want their characters to go, Plaza said she wants to “ride on the horse.” Smart said she wants Melanie to get a dance sequence with Oliver to a tango. Stevens said he wants to get out of the ward. Irwin said Kerry/Cary want “to dance like we’ve never danced before.” Harris wants Ptonomy to start a band. And Keller said she just wants more singing.
The panel ended with the HUGE bombshell that Hawley said he’s developing a film for Fox, and he only said two words: “Doctor. Doom.”
More Legion News
A haunted man, David escapes from the hospital and seeks shelter with his sister Amy (Katie Aselton). But Amy’s concern for her brother is trumped by her desire to protect the picture-perfect suburban life she’s built for herself. Eventually, Syd guides David to Melanie Bird (Jean Smart), a nurturing but demanding therapist with a sharp mind and unconventional methods. She and her team of specialists – Ptonomy (Jeremie Harris), Kerry (Amber Midthunder) and Cary (Bill Irwin) – open David’s eyes to an extraordinary new world of possibilities.
LEGION STARS TALK TO COMICBOOK: Dan Stevens Talks Season One| Michael Uppendahl Discusses Season Finale | Jean Smart Owns The Screen As Dr. Bird
Hawley serves as Executive Producer, along with Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, Jeph Loeb, Jim Chory and John Cameron. Legion is the latest project from Hawley and Cameron, two of the executive producers of the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning FX limited series Fargo.
