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''Mutant X'' is a
science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
television series created under a
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
license, but with no connection to the '' Mutant X'' comic book series. It debuted in first-run syndication on October 6, 2001. The show was created by Avi Arad, and it centers on Mutant X, a team of "new mutants" who possess extraordinary powers as a result of
genetic engineering Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including t ...
. The members of Mutant X were used as test subjects in a series of covert government experiments. The mission of Mutant X is to seek out and protect their fellow new mutants. The series was filmed in
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. The series was abruptly cancelled in 2004 after the dismantling of
Fireworks Entertainment Fireworks Entertainment (originally Skyvision Entertainment) was an independent studio originally founded in 1991 by Brian K. Ross and later bought out by Jay Firestone in 1996 to produce, distribute and finance television shows and feature film ...
, one of the show's production companies, ending the show with an unresolved
cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
.


Characters


Main

* Jesse Kilmartin (
Forbes March Forbes March (born May 12, 1973) is a British-born Canadian actor. Although born in Bristol, England, he was raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Biography Forbes March, the son of Dr. Peter March, a former philosophy professor at Saint Mary's Univ ...
) can alter the
density Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often used for density is ''ρ'' (the lower case Greek letter rho), although the Latin letter ''D'' can also be used. Mathematical ...
of his body at will. Kilmartin is the only known new mutant to have surpassed his "expiration date". As a molecular new mutant, he can become intangible, or super-dense, making him nearly impervious to harm. He can only maintain these forms for as long as he can hold his breath, and is able to extend his powers to people or objects through physical contact. He serves as the technology and computer expert of the team. * Shalimar Fox (
Victoria Pratt Victoria Ainslie Pratt (born December 18, 1970) is a Canadian actress, author, and fitness model. Early life Pratt grew up in Chesley, Ontario, a self described "tomboy at heart." She attended the kinesiology program at York University in Tor ...
) is a recombination of human and animal DNA – a "feline feral" – giving her great strength and agility, healing ability, and superhuman senses. After further mutation, she develops a sixth sense which allows her to anticipate incoming danger to herself. Adam found her starving and frightened in a sleazy motel. Like all feline ferals, Shalimar is extremely territorial, has a heightened fear of fire, and is immune to hypnosis. * Emma DeLauro (
Lauren Lee Smith Lauren Lee Smith (born June 19, 1980) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her television roles, including Emma DeLauro in the syndicated science fiction drama '' Mutant X'', Riley Adams in the CBS forensics drama ''CSI: Crime Scene Investi ...
) is a "tele-empath" who can communicate feelings and emotions to, and receive them from, others around her. She has limited precognition, and also has the ability to induce hallucinations into the minds of others by drawing upon their own emotions and feelings. Emma later developed the power to project blasts of pure psychic energy which she uses to knock her opponents unconscious, alter and erase memories, and even kill. Before Adam found her, DeLauro sold clothes and used her control of emotions to become a successful businesswoman. Initially resistant to joining Mutant X, she eventually developed an attachment to Brennan. DeLauro was killed in an explosion at Naxcon Corporation Industries (Nicholas Fox's company). (seasons 1–2) * Brennan Mulwray (
Victor Webster Victor Webster (born February 7, 1973) is a Canadian actor. He is known for being the second actor to play Nicholas Alamain on the NBC daytime soap ''Days of Our Lives'' from 1999 to 2000, and for his roles as the mutant Brennan Mulwray in '' Mu ...
) is an "elemental electrical" mutant with the ability to generate electricity, enough to power a small city. He can shoot electrical bolts from his hands which, if fired downward, are capable of launching him high into the air. His primary weakness is water, which causes him to short-circuit. Before Adam Kane found Mulwray, he had been a thief; Mason Eckhart captured him and used him to hunt down the other new mutants. However, Mulwray escaped and managed to join Mutant X along with Emma DeLauro. * Adam Kane (
John Shea John Victor Shea III ( ; born April 14, 1949) is an American actor, film producer and stage director. His career began on Broadway theatre, Broadway where he starred in ''Yentl (play), Yentl,'' subsequently winning his first major award, the 1975 ...
) is the strategist and moral center of Mutant X. Head chief bio-geneticist of the scientific experiments that led to the creation of the new mutants, Kane created Mutant X to atone for his mistakes. The group seeks to protect new mutants and help them control their powers. Viewing the new mutants as his responsibility, Kane is looking for treatments for their various conditions. To this end, Kane has stolen the creator's database, which can be used to track other new mutants. (seasons 1–2; recurring, season 3) * Lexa Pierce (
Karen Cliche Karen Cliche (; born July 22, 1976) is a Canadians, Canadian Actor, actress. She is known for her roles as a regular on the television series ''Vampire High'', ''Adventure Inc.'', ''Mutant X (TV series), Mutant X'', ''Young Blades'' and ''Flash G ...
) was the first member added to the original Mutant X team. As a "chromatic molecular" mutant, she can bend light to make herself and anything she is touching temporarily invisible. In addition, she can shoot beams of light from her fingertips and can project blinding flashes. She is searching for her long-lost brother, and her methods and motives leave her untrusted by her teammates. (season 3)


Recurring

* Mason Eckhart (
Tom McCamus Tom McCamus (born July 25, 1955Tom McCamus' bio
at www.northernstars.ca
) is a Canadia ...
) is the former head of security of Genomex and the current head of the Genetic Security Agency (GSA). After an accident involving Adam and the production of the new mutants, Eckhart's immune system has been severely weakened, forcing him to wear a white wig, synthetic skin, and thick gloves. He formed the GSA to protect the public from what he deemed as a threat from the new mutants, capturing them to perform further genetic testing to find a "cure". He is put into stasis after being double-crossed by one of his agents and Dr. Harrison, allowing Ashlocke to rise to power. Some time before the season 2 finale, he escaped his imprisonment and convinced Shalimar's father to fund his research to cure Eckhart, but he is ultimately killed by Brennan. * Dr. Kenneth Harrison (Andrew Gillies) is a biogeneticist working for Tricorp Botanicals, and a former employee of Genomex. Eckhart seeks him out to produce a mind-controlling toxin from the plants he studies so he can create new mutants under his own control. He continues to work with the GSA, but ultimately double-crosses Eckhart to allow Ashlocke to take control of Genomex. * Gabriel Ashlocke (
Michael Easton Michael Easton (born February 15, 1967) is an American-Irish film, television and voice actor, writer, and director. Although the Emmy-nominated actor may be best known for his work on the series ''Ally McBeal'', ''VR.5,'' ''Total Recall 2070, O ...
) is patient zero of the new mutants. He possesses the abilities of all known kinds of new mutants, particularly the Mutant X team. In the past, Adam was hired by Genomex to attempt to hamper the young Ashlocke's powers and psychopathy, but he failed to prevent the boy from killing his parents in a powerful rage and only damaged the young boy's genome. To prevent his death, Ashlocke was put in stasis, only to be freed by a member of the GSA to usurp Eckhart's power. Ashlocke takes his revenge against Adam and Mutant X in his attempts to prevent his own death, but is ultimately unsuccessful. However, his loyal followers known as the "Links" use the genetic material of four similarly-powered new mutants, including Brennan, to produce a child that would effectively be Ashlocke's second coming. Another new mutant whose DNA was used to make this child took the boy into her own care to raise him to be a kind person instead of the monster Ashlocke turned out to be. (seasons 1–2) * An unnamed individual (played by
George Buza George Buza is an American-born Canadian actor who is best known for voicing Beast in the '' X-Men Animated Series''. Personal life Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Toronto, Ontario, as a young man and became a Canadian citizen in 1998. C ...
) acts as the liaison between Lexa and the Dominion, as the Mutant X team works for the Dominion to solve new mutant-related mysteries and crimes. (season 3)


Episodes


Home media

ADV Films released all three seasons on
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
in region 1 in 2004 and 2005. In late 2008, a complete series collection was scheduled to be released by ADV Films, but was later cancelled. In 2008, Beyond Home Entertainment also re-released each season for region 4. In 2010, Alliance Home Entertainment re-released each season on DVD in Canada. Season 1 was released on August 31, season 2 on September 28, and season 3 on October 26. In region 2,
Revelation Films Revelation Films is a British film and television production and distribution company delivering visual entertainment via cinema, television and digital platforms. Tony Carne founded Revelation Films in 1992 as a video and television production ...
released all three seasons individually on March 25, 2013. They released a complete series set on DVD in the UK on June 20, 2016. On October 24, 2016, Revelation Films released a region free complete series Blu-ray set.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, doing business as Lionsgate, is a Canadian-American entertainment company. It was formed by Frank Giustra on July 10, 1997, domiciled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is currently headquartered in ...
released the complete series on DVD on February 26, 2019.


Comic book tie-in

In May 2002,
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
released a tie-in comic called ''Mutant X: Origin'', which chronicled the early life of Adam Kane. In the story, Adam and a friend Paul did research on the DNA of the mustard plant in college that drew the attention of the U.S. government, who offered them the Genomex company to work on a cure to genetic diseases. During this story, Eckhart is exposed to radiation, which leads to his vulnerability to diseases.


Lawsuits

On April 15, 2001,
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
sued
Marvel Marvel may refer to: Business * Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company ** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment ** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe ** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics * ...
, Tribune Entertainment, and
Fireworks Entertainment Fireworks Entertainment (originally Skyvision Entertainment) was an independent studio originally founded in 1991 by Brian K. Ross and later bought out by Jay Firestone in 1996 to produce, distribute and finance television shows and feature film ...
for breach of their licensing agreement and false advertisement. Fox stated it had exclusive rights from Marvel to develop the
X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in ...
property, and anything similar was an infringement. Fox claimed that ''Mutant X'' was too similar to ''X-Men'', and ''Mutant X'' was being advertised as an "''X-Men'' replacement". Marvel countersued Fox, saying that the two were dissimilar and asking the courts to allow ''Mutant X'' production to go forward. Production was allowed, as long as ''X-Men'' material was not used in the promotion of ''Mutant X''. On March 9, 2003, Fox and Marvel resolved their differences in a confidential settlement of their suits. Meanwhile, Fox continued to pursue their case against Tribune and Fireworks. Tribune sued Marvel for
fraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compens ...
and
breach of contract Breach of contract is a legal cause of action and a type of civil wrong, in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party ...
, claiming Marvel encouraged Tribune to connect ''Mutant X'' to the X-Men, misrepresented what they were getting in their license, and caused millions in losses due to the need to alter storylines and characters to ensure the mandated distance between ''Mutant X'' and ''X-Men'', as well as fighting Fox's litigation. In November 2005, the dispute was settled in private.


References


External links

* {{X-Men in television 2000s American science fiction television series 2001 American television series debuts 2004 American television series endings 2000s Canadian science fiction television series 2001 Canadian television series debuts 2004 Canadian television series endings ADV Films American superhero television series Canadian superhero television series English-language television shows First-run syndicated television shows in Canada First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Television series about genetic engineering Television series by Tribune Entertainment Television series by Marvel Studios Television shows filmed in Toronto