FX’s LEGION adds Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, and Jean Smart

 

From The Hollywood Reporter today comes news that Noah Hawley’s X-Men based television series for the FX network, Legion, has just cast three major roles.

First up is Dan Stevens, who you may have seen cracking heads as the star of the far too underrated The Guest or as Lady Mary’s paramour on Downton Abbey. Stevens will be playing David Haller aka Legion, described as: “a haunted man, trying to find his way back to sanity, but he’s getting tired and is about to give up when he meets the girl of his dreams”.

Aubrey Plaza (Bad Grandpa, Parks and Recreation) will play David’s best friend Lenny, who is dealing with substance abuse issues.

Finally, Jean Smart (most recently one of the stars of Hawley’s excellent Fargo) joins on as a therapist named Melanie who utilizes “unconventional methods”.

All three join the already cast Rachel Keller (also from Fargo) in the series. Given that Hawley has basically earned my eternal trust with two outstanding seasons of television these past two years, this is easily one of my most anticipated television series and could potentially produce the first truly *great* comics-based television program. Give or take how Preacher turns out anyway.

Don’t believe me? Go watch Fargo, right now.

Production on Legion begins in March.