Fox hoping to close X-MEN tv series deal with Marvel.

Fox is hoping to get their developing X-MEN TV series off the ground with Marvel’s approval. “[For] X-Men, we’re in negotiations with Marvel. We’re hopeful we’ll be able to announce something soon. We’re not closed on a deal yet but it’s something we’re definitely pursuing,” Fox Television Group chairman and CEO Dana Walden told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour stop.

But wait…does Fox even have television rights to the mutant characters? Their sister production company 20th Century Fox only has film rights and things get tricky when going the television route. Marvel has those rights and needs to sign-off on the project before Fox can proceed with production.

The potential live-action series is being penned by Star Trek 3’s Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, who will share a “created by” credit with 24’s Evan Katz and Manny Coto, who will serve as showrunners.

The goal, said Walden, is for X-Men to be a “long-running” series.

If approved, the show won’t be ready before the 2016-17 TV season.