X-Men, Mutant X in Legal Battle
April 12 -- X-Men, last summer's blockbuster about good and bad mutants, was a thinly disguised tale of tolerance. However, the folks behind the X-Men film and Mutant X, a new syndicated TV series set to debut this fall, just can't seem to get along.
Both X adventures are based on the original X-Men comics that debuted in 1963, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Marvel Comics sold the film rights to Wolverine and Co. to 20th Century Fox, which made the 2000 film X-Men. Now Marvel is partnering with Tribune Entertainment and Fireworks Entertainment for the Mutant TV show.
Fox is suing Marvel, claiming that the mutants on its small-screen series are too similar to X-Men's genetically altered superheroes.
"Although we value our good relationship with Marvel and hope this can be resolved, we must take all appropriate action to protect our very valuable X-Men rights," a statement issued Wednesday by 20th Century Fox said.
Marvel responded within hours with its own suit, which stated that Mutant is completely different from X-Men.
Anticipation is high for Mutant X, which was one of the biggest hits at the National Association of Television Programming Executives syndication TV market in January.
X-Men 2 is currently in development at Fox.
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