The producer reveals the working title for the spin-off while one of the players reveals the cast members along with the names of their characters.
- Mar 12, 2017
AceShowbiz - Some new tidbits on the upcoming "X-Men" pilot have emerged. Producer Lauren Shuler Donner shares on Twitter a picture of the cast members at a table read and reveals in the caption that the project is tentatively called "Gifted".
Cast reading of "Gifted" #Gifted pic.twitter.com/fQGgfoqZrl
β Lauren Shuler Donner (@ShuDonner) March 11, 2017
Meanwhile, one of the cast Natalie Alyn Lind shares on her own social media a photo of the lineup. Each photo of the cast members have a label that shows the character they're going to play, and Blair Redford is labeled Thunderbird.
Its Official: @Blair_Redford is playing #THUNDERBIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thank u, @MattNixTV!!! A lot!!! πππππππππ pic.twitter.com/b9UMjD2Hb4
β X-Men SAGA (@XMenSaga) March 11, 2017
In the comic books, there are at least three characters that take the mantle of Thunderbird. They are an Apache named John Proudstar, his brother James, and an Indian named Neal Shaara. None of those names were mentioned when Redford was confirmed to join the show.
In the casting news, the actor was announced to play a character named Sam. He was described as a "strong-headed Native American leader of the underground network." It's unclear if Sam is just a code name or the character is going to be renamed for the TV adaptation.
The new FOX show will follow two ordinary parents (played by Amy Acker and Stephen Moyer) who discover their children possess mutant powers. Natalie will play one of their kids. Jamie Chung is tapped to portray Blink and Sean Teale will play Sam's brother Marcos Diaz who will take a mantle of Eclipse, a newly created mutant whose ability is to absorb and manipulate photons.
Dallas! We made it! Let's kick ass, mutants! #Xmen pic.twitter.com/0Q04uYFP8j
β Nat Alyn LindπΉ (@NatalieAlynLind) March 11, 2017