X-Men TV series Legion will link to future films, says producer Bryan Singer

James McAvoy stars as a young Professor Xavier in the X-Men films.

The new X-Men TV series starring Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens will relate to future movies in the franchise, the writer and director of the superhero films has confirmed.

Legion will be based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and will feature Stevens in the title role.

Dan Stevens in the TV show, Downton Abbey.

Bryan Singer, who has directed all but one of the X-Men films and is the producer of Legion, told the Edinburgh international TV festival: "What we are doing right now with Legion and another X-Men series will relate to future X-Men movies, whether it's Deadpool or X-Men sequels and past ones that I have done."

Hugh Jackman stars as Wolverine in the X-Men movies.

Noah Hawley, who wrote and directed the Fargo TV series, will serve as writer and director of Legion and has previously said the show won't have connections to the big screen world, describing it as a "standalone."

Singer added: "Noah Hawley had done an incredible job with Fargo and we wanted to make a show that would be part of the X-Men universe but when you watched it, you wouldn't have to label it, it can exist completely on its own.

A scene from the movie, X-Men: Apocalypse.

"That was important because if you try to make X-Men for TV, well you can't afford the visual effects.

"It has to exist in that way but Noah has created some extraordinary visuals to complement what will be a really ambitious and fun and unique storyline that will be connected to that universe."

A scene from the movie Deadpool.

The debut trailer for the show was released at Comic Con in July and whipped fans into an excited frenzy.

The show is due to air on US network FX in 2017.