Marvel and Fox are teaming up on two television series set in the X-Men universe and they’re bringing on the bad guys.
Hellfire is the working title for a series set in the 1960’s and featuring an evil inner circle of rich and powerful mutants, the Hellfire Club.
X-Men producing team Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler-Donner and Simon Kinberg will work with Marvel Television Head Jeph Loeb on Hellfire and Legion, the son of Professor X.
What is the Hellfire Club? These were actual exclusive high society clubs in 18th century England where rich rakes indulged in decadent parties and schemed to gain more power and wealth.
Legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont used this real life club to create what would become a long running team of villains. Within the comic book Club was an Inner Circle of mutants who used their powers to gain more wealth and influence over world events.
This covert cabal of mutant power brokers is filled with rich characters for the next evolution of the Fox’s X-Men saga. Here’s a look at the Club members you know and ones who could bring new evil the mythology:
Sebastian Shaw. Kevin Bacon played Shaw in X-Men: First Class with a new origin for the comic book version. Shaw is able to absorb any kinetic energy and convert it to super strength and healing ability. The more you hit Shaw, the more you fuel him. Shaw made a fortune in weapons manufacturing and is leader of the New York chapter of the club. Shaw is also the Black King of the Inner Circle who take chess pieces for their titles within the Club. Shaw seized power from a previous White King. Shaw profited from selling the mutant hunting Sentinels to the government.
Emma Frost. January Jones played Shaw’s telepathic lover in the film. In the comics, Frost escaped her rich but twisted family and got a job as a dancer in the Club. She used her power to read minds and project thoughts to gain insider secrets and build her own empire and became Shaw’s White Queen. Emma later developed a second mutant ability to transform her body into diamond, joined the X-Men and became the lover of Scott Summers. Despite her ruthlessness, Emma enjoys being a teacher of young mutants. While in the Club, she had her own school and students called Hellions.
Harry Leland. This corporate lawyer is the Black Bishop and Shaw’s partner in power brokering with the ability to increase the mass in people and objects. Leland once made Wolverine so heavy he crashed down multiple floors in the Hellfire mansion.
Selene. The Black Queen is not just a mutant but a psychic vampire able to drain the life force of others to give her an extended long life. Selene was once worshiped as a Goddess in ancient Rome and revered as a sorceress in the age of Conan before recorded civilizations. Selene possesses telepathy, telekinesis, flame manipulation and other powers.
Donald Pierce. This cyborg is not a mutant but infiltrated it to kill the Inner Circle. Pierce hates mutants. He later joined a band of cyborgs called the Reavers and the Purifiers, an army of mutant hunting religious fanatics.
Tessa. She is a mutant with a computer like mind who served as Shaw’s personal assistant. It was later revealed that she was a spy for Professor Xavier.
Roberto Da Costa. You may remember seeing Da Costa (in his Sunspot costume and power signature) in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Da Costa was an original member of the New Mutants but inherited his father’s billion dollar company and membership in the club.
By Editor