Fox’s ‘X-Men’ Spinoff Showrunners Exit to Reboot ’24’ (Exclusive)

Fox’s X-Men drama Hellfire is making a change at the top.

Writers Evan Katz and Manny Coto, who co-created the project, are exiting, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Also out are Patrick McKay and John D. Payne, who came up with the story for the drama alongside Katz and Coto and were set to pen the script. A search is underway for a new writer.

The drama, which previously was considered a live-action X-Men, follows a young special agent who learns that a power-hungry woman with extraordinary abilities is working with a clandestine society of millionaires — known as “The Hellfire Club” — to take over the world.

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Insiders say the X-Men project is not likely to go to pilot this season as it remains on a slower track. The change comes as Katz and Coto are shifting their focus to Fox’s 24: Legacy, which received a formal pilot order on Friday during Fox’s time in front of the press at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour. The new take on 24 will feature an entirely new cast with a diverse lead as Fox has high hopes to reboot the franchise for a new era.

Sources say Fox remains committed to Hellfire and wants to get it completely right as the X-Men franchise remains a valuable asset for the company. Should Hellfire go to series and the network renew Batman prequel Gotham, Fox would have dramas from both comic book powerhouses DC Comics and Marvel — a first for a broadcast network and something insiders would love to see on their schedule.