Legion, the upcoming X-Men semi-spinoff TV series, has found its star. Dan Stevens, best known as Matthew Crawley in the hit British period series Downton Abbey, has been cast as David Haller, the estranged son of Professor X, who isn’t sure if he has immense mental superpowers or is totally insane.
Stevens isn’t the only new cast member announced. Deadline reports Aubrey Plaza will play “David’s friend Lenny, who despite a life of drugs and alcohol abuse, knows that any day now her life is gonna turn around” while Jean Smart has been cast as “a nurturing, demanding therapist with a sharp mind and unconventional methods.” The three join Rachel Keller as Syd, the female lead, love interest, and possible mutant.
Literally all I know about Stevens is that 1) he was good on Downton Abbey and 2) people are still pissed that he left the show after season 3, because he wrecked the series’ main romance. Something tells me if Legion is a success, he won’t be able to escape from Fox quite as easily as he did the BBC.
[Deadline]