FX isn't holding back when it comes to their X-Men spinoff "Legion." The network has cast "Downton Abbey's" Dan Stevens, "Parks and Recreation's" Aubrey Plaza and "Fargo's" Jean Smart to star in the pilot from Noah Hawley ("Fargo"), according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Fargo's" Rachel Keller was cast as the female lead last month.
"Legion" will follow David Haller, who has struggled with mental illness all his life. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Davis has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals all his life. However, following an odd encounter with a fellow patient, David starts to wonder if the voices he hears and the visions he sees might actually be real. In the comics, David is the son of X-Men founder Charles Xavier.
Stevens will portray David, who finally begins to hope again after meeting his dream girl. Before this, Stevens played Matthew Crawley for three seasons on "Downton Abbey." He was most recently seen in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" movie.
Plaza will play Lenny, David's best friend, who believes her life is going to turn around any day now despite years of drug and alcohol abuse. Plaza was most recently seen alongside Robert DeNiro and Zach Efron in "Dirty Grandpa."
Smart is rejoining Hawley after her well-received role in season two of FX's "Fargo." She will play Melanie, a nurturing, demanding therapist with a keen intellect and non-traditional approaches.
Keller will play Syd, a self-reliant woman with street smarts who employs her gruff demeanor to protect her vulnerable side and, despite life's challenges, still believes in a happy ending.
Production on "Legion" will begin in March.
